The EXA Exakta mount (also often only referred to EXA or Exakta mount) is a bayonet mount that was widely used in East Germany. It is possible to use EXA Exakta mount lenses on a digital camera using an adapter. Adapters for EXA Exakta mount lenses exist for Canon EOS, Nikon F, Sony NEX, micro 4/3 (MFT), Sony Alpha and Pentax-K. Not all camera to lens combination allows focusing to infinity. As with all vintage lenses used on a digital camera using an adapter, focusing and aperture setting has to be set manually.

Brands using the EXA Exakta mount were Carl Zeiss, Meyer-Optik and Praktica. The advantage over the M42 mount is that EXA / Exakta lenses are often cheaper to buy. Unfortunately the disadvantage are the adapters themselves. I had quiet a few frustrating tries at using EXAKTA lenses with an adapter. As the Exakta mount is a bayonet mount, the adapters have to be really well made to enable a tight fit – otherwise you are constantly just fiddling around with the lens.

EXA / EXAKTA mount adapter for Micro 4/3, Canon EOS, Sony NEX E-Mount and Fuji-X cameras

There are a lot of adaptors available – they all work a bit differently for each camera system:

EXA / Exakta to Canon EOS adapter

Mounting an EXA Exakta lens to Canon EOS is unproblematic. It will allow you to focus to infinity. Of course, focusing and aperture settings are done manually.

EXA / Exakta to micro-4/3 adapter

Connectivity to micro-four-thirds is unproblematic. The adapter is always quiet large which will increase the “size” of your lens. Focusing to infinity works fine. The only major drawback is that the images are cropped compared a full frame SLR. Even a 35 or 50 prime lens will feel like a telephoto.

EXA / Exakta mount to Fuji X adapter

Connecting a EXA / Exakta lens to a Fuji-X mount camera is unproblematic. Focusing to infinity is possible.

EXA / Exakta mount to Sony NEX adapter

Connecting a EXA / Exakta lens to a Fuji-X mount camera is unproblematic. Focusing to infinity is possible.