Very good pages about byonet and thread mount Prakticas are maintained by
Tiago Franko:
http://www. geocities.com/RodeoDrive/Mall/2536
(Geocities is gone)
Another good site,
http://home. worldonline.nl/~ferdix
(site is gone), which include not only technical
information, but some very nice photographs and historical information. It is
maintained by Ferdi der Broeder
The first Praktica model with the M42 mount. Earlier Praktiflex (1938) used
smaller 40 mm lens thread.
Several models were made: IVB, IVM, IVBM, IVF and IVFB
B - expose meter, selenium cell at the pentaprism front, needle next to the
rewind knob
M - Split image range fined
F - Split image range finder surrounded by the ground glass collar. This
model introduced the freshnel lens over the viewing screen. Unfortunately, there
was no ground glass. As the result
the screen area outside the range finder can't be used for focusing.
Shutter: 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/200, 1/500, B
Shutter (F model): 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/500, B
(note that there is no 1/15).
Automatic diaphragm
No instant return mirror
Flash: Standard F and X Flash contacts. Synchs are 1/30 for F and 1/40
for X (marked with the flash symbol on the shutter dial)
Shutter: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/500, B
(note that there is no 1/15).
Metering: none, but Nova B model has buildin selenium meter.
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Nova IB has a build in selenium meter.
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Quick load system
Flash: X Flash hot shoe. Sync is 1/100 (marked with the flash symbol
on the shutter dial)
Shutter: 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/500, 1/1000, B
Metering: none
(LB model has buildin selenium meter)
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Quick load system
Note from Ken Hancock: I have recently purchased a new battery for this camera (28th October 2000) as a Panasonic PX-21, so it is still available.
Work with the automatic diaphragm lenses on LLC model is not easy. Three
operations need to be done simultaneously:
1) Depress the shutter-release button to switch on meter.
2) Operate stop-down switch on the lens (and it may not be available!).
3) Operate aperture control or shutter speed dial to centre the needle
visible in the viewfinder.
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Quick load system(?)
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Quick load system(?)
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
|
|
| Lens | Focal Length | Max Aperture | Diaphragm |
| Meyer Orestegon | 29 | 2.8 | Auto |
| Schneider Curtagon | 35 | 2.8 | Auto |
| Zeiss Pancolor | 50 | 1.8 | Auto |
| Meyer Oreston | 50 | 1.8 | Auto |
| Meyer Orestor | 100 | 2.8 | Auto |
| Schneider Tele Xenar | 135 | 3.5 | Auto |
| Lens | Focal length | Max Aperture | Diaphragm |
| Zeiss Flectogon | 20 | 4 | Auto |
| Meyer Orestigon | 29 | 2.8 | Auto |
| Meyer Lydith | 30 | 3.5 | Preset |
| Zeiss Flectogon | 35 | 2.8 | Auto |
| Zeiss Pancolor | 50 | 1.8 | Auto |
| Meyer Oreston | 50 | 1.8 | Auto |
| Zeiss Tessar | 50 | 2.8 | Auto |
| Zeiss Pancolor | 55 | 1.4 | Auto |
| Zeiss Pancolor | 75 | 1.4 | Auto |
| Meyer Orestor | 100 | 2.8 | Auto |
| Zeiss Jena S | 135 | 3.5 | Auto |
| Meyer Orestor | 135 | 2.8 | Preset |
| Zeiss Jena S | 180 | 2.8 | Auto |
| Meyer Orestegor | 200 | 4 | Preset |
| Zeiss Jena S | 300 | 4 | Auto |
| Meyer Orestegor | 300 | 4 | Preset |
| Meyer Orestegor | 500 | 5.6 | Preset |
| Zeiss Catopric Lens | 500 | 4 | Fixed |
| Zeiss Catopric Lens | 1000 | 5.6 | Fixed |
Note 2. According to [2] all Meyer lenses will eventually be known as Pentacon lenses for the non-electric models and Pentacon Electric for the Praktica LLC.
Note 3. Of course, all thread mount lenses can be used on the Praktica cameras. (See, however, note about LLC).
From :
I've noticed some absence into the lens list for Praktica cameras: There was
also a Carl Zeiss Jena MC Flektogon 2,8/20 (MultiCoated, I own one of this
wonderful lenses). I never saw a Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2,8/35, I saw many
f/2,4 (MC or not MC). There was a Carl Zeiss Jena MC Pancolar 1,8/80 (I owned
one) There was a Carl Zeiss Jena MC Sonnar 2,8/200 (It seems to be an
outstanding lens, definitely better than the ancient Olympia Sonnar 2,8/180. I
saw one modified to fit Leica R cameras, but is a very rare lens).
On the other hand, to quote [1]:
"For me, the golden age of the Praktica was during the late fifties and
early sixties, during the IV, IVF and VF period. Find a good, little-used
example of any of those, preferably with the f/2.8 Tessar or an f/2 Biotar, and
you will have more picture-taking ability per pound spent than you could obtain
from almost any other camera".
And another one from [1]:
"The Praktica line took a decided turn for the worse when, during 1965, VEB
replaced the IV and VF series with the Praktica Nova cameras. These are lighter,
altogether cheaper in feel and operation, and far less likely, thirty years on,
to be working as they should. During the gestation of this book I have bought a
Praktica Nova, Nova IB and a Super TL. None of them worked properly in all major
respects, although the Nova survived about four films before the shutter
developed problems."
Some more comments from [3]:
"These latter Prakticas (including LTL) are probably the least expensive
SLRs that still do the job reasonably well. ... Praktica's vertical shutter is
very reliable and does not normally require attention."
From
I own a Praktica LLC with the Pancolar 1,8/50 (very good lens), but the battery
I use is a normal AA 1.5V; it's a reliable camera, with a dark finder.
From Stanley Buck
I used the Super TL for about 14 years during the early 1970s. I was very
satisfied with it. I got the whole outfit, mailorder, with extra lenses for
about 99 dollars. I took hundreds of excellent pictures with it, many of
professional quality. Yes, the camera body lacks the quality of a good Pentax
SP, but it worked for me. I still have the camera, and it still works and looks
good. I haven't used it for a few years, since I normally use a Minolta XGA body
with a Tamron 28 to 70 zoom macro. When I want to do good copy work, I use the
Praktica's lens, a Meyer Oreston f1.8. The lens has nearly macro focusing, and
is as good as any lens that I have owned, and I have some good ones. Once in
awhile, I use the Meyer lens on my Minolta, using a thread mount adaptor. Big
deal, so I have to open and close the lens manually, it still produces excellent
pictures, and it is superior to many Japanese lenses, especially cheaper Minolta
products, and Vivitar, which I dislike. I wouldn't feel too uncomfortable if I
went back to using the Super TL regularly; after all, it's the pictures that
count, and the Super TL, with all its worts, works great.
From Silvan Urfer
I love the Praktica PLC 2, especially with the Pentacon lenses (50mm, 1:1,6).
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find the batteries at the moment. But if
I wanted a semi-auomatic camera without any computerized features (which I hate)
that still has stop-down switch lenses, I would have to buy a Leica. I use this
PLC 2 since 1990 and have got it from my father who used it since 1977, and it
has never ever had any technical problems. The Pentacon lenses, on the other
hand, have made trouble several times because of the aperture mechanism. I also
use some non-electrical lenses on the PLC 2 (mostly a 55 mm 1:1,8) and have
never found it difficult to make measurments using the stop-down switch.
From
My first SLR Camera was the Super TL 1000, bought in the early eighties, when i
was a pupil. They sold it very cheap in West Germany (half the price as a
Japanese SLR), cause the GDR needes western currency, and so they sold all their
"good" products in West Germany (Radios, TVs, Motorcycles) for dumping prices.
It's one of the best cameras, I still use it. Easy to handle, stronger than
steel and thougher than diamonds. Survived travels in the whole world. I changed
the orignal Objektive (50mm/f2.8) to a russian (Zenith/helios 58mm/f2.0) cause
the original objektives surface was scratched (i never used a filter for
protektion or ever a cap)
Resume: A f...... good camera.
While I (aab) agree in general with the previous letter about Super TL 1000, I must note that in order to make it cheap, the designers used metall with a high persentage of carbon for internals of the camera. As the result, it may not handle drops very well. The weak places are the strap lags. Strong impact on them may cause serious damage to the camera.
From For me, the Praktica LLC is the standard by which all other cameras
will be judged. The optics - Meyer - are hard to match and no other camera that
I encountered during the seventies truly was truly automatic. The so-called
Automatic and Spotmatic cameras from Pentax only metered by use of the light
actually making it through the stopped-down lens. Even today, when I encounter a
camera touted as "automatic" I have to ask what they really mean. The Praktica
is a very easy-to-use, reliable camera.
I should add that after twenty years I had this camera dismantled and inspected
by a repair man. He noted that I had had this camera "at the beach". In fact
this camera had spent twenty years on the ocean with only a very mild deposit of
salt inside.
(Note from aab: Indeed for most of the M42 thread mount cameras in 60th and early 70th, the word automatic means that they use lens with automatic diaphragm. Even more confusing word "semiautomatic" used in Russian Zenits - it mean just that the camera has TTL meter. But it doesn't mean that there were no auto exposure cameras. For example, Cosina Hi-Lite EC II and Chinon memotrons used aperture priority auto exposure (AE) with any screw-mount lens. Fujica AZ1 and ST901 offered AE for lens with Fujica's screw-mount lens. And, of course, pentax ES and ESII offered AE for lens with Pentax F screw-mount (SMC takumars) ).
I have used the Praktica LB (my first SLR) and the MTL5 and they were both fine
until they developed the same shutter fault. I have since been wary of the
cameras but the Carl Zeiss Jena lenses can be superb. I use the 300/4 and
180/2.8 'Olympic' Sonnars on my Pentax SPII and on the medium format Pentacon
6TL camera. I also use the 50/1.8 Pancolor and the 35/2.8 Flektagon - these are
excellent lenses - equal to the Pentax M42 and Canon equivalents that I use. The
Tessar 50/2.8 can be pretty good but it is not multicoated. The 135/3.5 Sonnar
is excellent and often cheap to buy in the UK The 20/2.8 and the 80/1.8 are also
superb but I cannot find either, so I guess the people who have them, keep them!
One more to add to the lens list - I have seen a 25mm F4 wide angle Zeiss
Flektagon lens that appeared to be contempory with the 20/4 Flektagon of the
1960's.
I can confirm there were 2 versions of the 35mm lens, the earlier F2.8 version
with a bigger front element and the later F2.4 version. Both are excellent to
use but the earlier version is better constructed.
Praktica also made good quality bellows and viewfinder accessories that are
often very good value.
Just a comment about 50/1.8 Pancolor lens. I (aab) used it a little and found it to be soft wide open. But may be it was just my version. Also, according my own experience and some other sources, the Pancolor has a tendency to develop diaphragm problems. Apparently, the small holes which keep the diaphragm blades in place may became loose.
Do you have any experience in using Prakticas that you want to share?
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