C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile35mm SLR
Ihagee Varex1950
- Format
- 35mm
- Mount
- Exakta
- Years
- 1950–1970
- Weight
- 700 g
- Shutter
- 12s – 1/1000s
The Exakta Varex (1950) is an East German 35mm single-lens reflex made by VEB Ihagee in Dresden. The Exakta line traces back to **1936's Kine Exakta** — the world's first 35mm SLR. The Varex added an interchangeable viewfinder (waist-level or pentaprism), refined shutter mechanism, and refined Exakta proprietary mount. Distinctive: the **shutter button is on the left front of the body** (a 1936 design quirk that survived through the entire Exakta line), and a separate slow-speed dial extends rearward for 12s, 6s, 3s, 1s, 1/2s exposures.
Reference
Find film for your Ihagee Varex
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
ISO 400
BW
Kodak Tri-X 400
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profileC41
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
- **Cloth shutter pinholes** — verify.
- **Slow speeds** — the rear knob mechanism is mechanically complex; stick frequently.
- **Left-hand shutter** — initially disorienting; verify it operates smoothly.
- **Foam light seals** — minimal but verify.
- **Pre-war vs post-war** — verify Varex (post-war) vs Kine Exakta (pre-war collector item).
- Service: independent shops; Exakta service is scarce but not impossible.
About this camera
The original 35mm SLR. Made by Ihagee in Dresden — pre-war ancestor of every modern SLR.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What film does the Ihagee Varex use?
- The Ihagee Varex shoots 35mm film.
- What lens mount does the Ihagee Varex have?
- The Ihagee Varex uses the Exakta mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Ihagee Varex offer?
- The Ihagee Varex's shutter speeds range from 12s to 1/1000s.
