Exakta Kine Exakta II (1949)

The Kine Exakta II (1949) represents Exakta's continued development of their revolutionary 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera line, which originated with the groundbreaking Kine Exakta of 1936. This model refined the established Exakta form factor, featuring a robust all-metal body characteristic of the period and maintaining the waist-level finder that defined Exakta's iconic, boxy silhouette. It offered standard 35mm SLR functionality, including interchangeable lenses via a unique bayonet mount, a focal plane shutter with speeds up to 1/1000th second, and a standard flash synchronization socket. The Kine Exakta II exemplified Exakta's commitment to the SLR concept during a pivotal post-war era, solidifying the basic design that would influence countless subsequent SLR models.

While it lacked the groundbreaking nature of the very first Kine Exakta or the later market dominance of cameras like the Nikon F, the Kine Exakta II holds importance as a tangible link in the evolution of the modern 35mm SLR. It demonstrated Exakta's engineering continuity and the practical viability of the SLR format for advanced amateurs and professionals. Its production in 1949-1950 placed it at the dawn of the post-war camera boom, contributing to the momentum that would soon see the SLR rise to dominate the 35mm market. It remains a historically significant example of early SLR refinement.