For a long time at least, I hadn’t known or paid attention to the names ‘Wirgin’ or ‘Edixa’. And that’s despite the fact that I’ve been involved with analogue photography for decades now. I could most often be found with my favourite Pentax, the MX or LX. Then about a year and a half ago I came across the Edixa-Mat Reflex on YouTube. In the video, the beauty and the interchangeable viewfinders were given special mention. This was my first brief contact.
Less than two weeks later I spotted such a camera at a flea market and could hardly believe my luck. The state… well, there was a lot of work to do. After a few hours of cleaning, lubricating and adjusting, the Edixa-Mat Reflex B finally ran again; at the end she received a new, self-cut leather dress.
In the picture you can see her with the Revuenon 50mm f/1.8; a very nice, no-frills lens that’s cheap to get and with good imaging performance. Despite the age, the adjustments are absolutely smooth and the optics are absolutely clear.
The Pentagon 50mm f/1.8 is even sharper, and also quite cheap to find, just I don’t find it to be quite as stylish. The original lenses for the Edixa models look much more stylish, of course, but when used on the street, the practicality prevails – in this case bright and smooth-running, clear lenses make for a more pleasant shooting experience.
The waist level finder reduces the overall height considerably. When open, an additional magnifying glass can also be folded out for focusing. If you press the two buttons on the side, you can change the finder.
The bright viewfinder image is simply amazing. The focusing screen is a really big chunk, mostly made of glass – there were also models with a focus screen made of plastic
The Edixa Reflex – made by WIRGIN in Wiesbaden, Germany – first appeared on the market in 1954, with various models being released over the following years. Depending on the model, the shutter speeds usually vary between 1/500 and a maximum of 1/1000, and not all of them have the very slow times. Of course, the interchangeable viewfinder is ingenious. The waist level viewfinder is fun to use, also it is very bright – although portrait orientated photos are hard to take.
The lens selection is huge with the M42 mount.
Since my first purchase at the flea market, I can’t keep my hands off these models and have bought one or two more, refurbished them nicely and sold them again to other enthusiasts. I use Pentax, Pentacon and Revue lenses.
I’d like to show you some pictures below that I have taken with the Edixa in 2022.
Since I am enthusiastic about these cameras (like many others), I will certainly write more detailed posts about them in the future. Until the next post there will always be new pictures on my f16.ch Instagram account. I look forward to your opinion on this camera
Andy Hertig
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Comments
Dave Powell on Wirgin Edixa-Mat Reflex B – A Brief Look at a Camera I’d Never Heard of
Comment posted: 28/03/2023
I also love the whole interchangeable-finders idea, and the Edixa-Mat Reflex seems to have implemented it in a smaller, lighter body than the Topcon Super-D (which is also no slouch in the style and glass departments). And the barn doors over the viewfinder are a lovely touch.
With a bright viewfinder and those smaller barn doors, the camera might also work for digital TtV photography... which is usually done through TLRs' larger "bubble" finders. (If you ever need another project, that is.)
Inspiring work!
Comment posted: 28/03/2023
Stuart Jenkins on Wirgin Edixa-Mat Reflex B – A Brief Look at a Camera I’d Never Heard of
Comment posted: 28/03/2023
Trouble is, there's M42 lenses, and there's Edixa M42 lenses. Note how your Pentacon lens looks like it has screwed down a little too far. If you put an Edixa-marked lens on a screw-mount Pentax, it would appear to stop short. The Edixa version of the M42 mount is indexed about five degrees differently to the standard one.
I've no idea why. In a lot of cases, it can stop the auto-aperture mechanism working, because the 'pusher' bar on the body misses the stop-down pin.
Now I've just got to restore this nice Isco-Gottingen Auto-Westagon 50mm f1.9 with its Edixa-M42 mount. When I work out how to accurately shave 0.014mm off the mount, then it should stop in the right place on my Pentacon FM!
Comment posted: 28/03/2023
Ibraar Hussain on Wirgin Edixa-Mat Reflex B – A Brief Look at a Camera I’d Never Heard of
Comment posted: 28/03/2023
Comment posted: 28/03/2023
Robert Kapp on Wirgin Edixa-Mat Reflex B – A Brief Look at a Camera I’d Never Heard of
Comment posted: 29/03/2023
I bought a Revue Singlex TLS with Revuenon 50mm f/2 for an unbelievable 25 € in the bay. Those are some nice lenses for the price.
Comment posted: 29/03/2023
Michael Avison on Wirgin Edixa-Mat Reflex B – A Brief Look at a Camera I’d Never Heard of
Comment posted: 05/04/2023
Comment posted: 05/04/2023
andy hertig on Wirgin Edixa-Mat Reflex B – A Brief Look at a Camera I’d Never Heard of
Comment posted: 11/06/2023
If you unscrew the two connections for the flash, they may not function afterwards because the contact behind them has shifted; otherwise it would have to be correctly positioned from the inside when screwing in.
It doesn't matter to me, I don't use a flash with the camera anyway.
I don't use expensive lenses... I always have something lying around.
Cheers, Andy