The sound the shutter makes, as distinct from the double-exposure safety, is indistinguishable between shutter functioning correctly at a fast speed and not opening at all. When the shutter malfunctions it does so by releasing both blades at once, rather than first blade -(timing interval)- second blade. Exact same sound as the shutter tripping at 1/500th.
I think the sound you are describing is the same sound the camera makes without a battery?I understand what you say. It may be, however, that my faulty camera has some different issue as, when malfunctioning, I believe that the shutter just does not operate, rather than releasing the blades at all. I've rechecked the camera extensively without film and with all the range of possible exposures and I'm sure that this is the case. Perhaps an intermittent fault on an electrical connection.
My pair of Praktinas are two of my favourite cameras. Whether they were the first to hit the market with an auto stop down system I am not so sure about. I have seen different dates referenced for the introduction of the production FX. Eg Leipzig in September 1953.The less than well known East German KW Praktina cameras. Undoubtably the highest quality and best featured Eastern block cameras every made.
Worlds first professional camera system (6 years before the Nikon F)
Breech lock lens mount, a range of lenses from 10+ companies.
First semi auto lens diaphragm, you cock the lens to full aperture, it stops down on the first pressure of the shutter release
Interchangeable finders
Takes two different motor drives one clock-work the other electric and a bulk film back. Accessories can fetch high prices, a CZJ 75mm f1.5 Sonnar sold recently for $4,000
While some claim that Exacta were the first to introduce a system camera they never had a motor drive or bulk film back and build quality is poor compared to the Praktina.
Praktina camera were made from 1953 to 62, however they were expensive to produce and after merging with the East German Zeiss Ikon all new 35mm cameras were based on KW's budget Praktica camera and carried that name (some were branded Pentacon). KW had taken over production of the Zeiss Contax SLR two years before the actual merger, sold as a Pentacon in the West.
Later the Praktina N prototype became the Pentacon Super again launched as a professional system this time M42 screw mount, fast 50mm f1.4 Pancolar lens, with a motor drive, bulk film back etc but few were made. One KW camera remained in production for many years and was copied the Praktisix, later renamed as the Pentacon 6.
I have a number of Eastern Block cameras, and have used others, the build quality of the Praktina is just leagues ahead of Kiev's, Fed'd,s, Zorki's, later Praktica's. Roger Hicks put's them ahead of the Nikon F in some ways particularly for the way the inter-changeable prisms and view finders fit. It's Leica type precision.
Ian
MINOLTA MAXXUM 7000
This one surprised me, at first glance it was everyting I loathe in a camera - auto everything, plastic, no aperture ring, plastic, utterly battery dependent, plastic, and it came with a 70-210 zoom in addition to the kit 50 f:1.7 (plastic).
But. It has, as well as aperture or shutter priority auto a full manual mode, a nice viewfinder, simple pretty intuitive controls, good handling, the af is accurate and faster than some new prosumer dslrs, the screen is easy to focus manually on, and the zoom actually is pretty good! One thing it lacks is a dof preview. It has a programmed mode that can be modified, and I've been running it on nimh AAAs.
I can see why these things flew off the shelves in 1985. It also came with all original paperwork including reciepts and warraties, also a dedicated Sunpak flash that was $179 in 1988.
MINOLTA MAXXUM 7000
This one surprised me, at first glance it was everyting I loathe in a camera - auto everything, plastic, no aperture ring, plastic, utterly battery dependent, plastic, and it came with a 70-210 zoom in addition to the kit 50 f:1.7 (plastic).
Agreed. I did not know it was the first integrated autofocus slr until I did some research, what impresses me is how well it works. With all my prejudices (still alive and active), the thing is actually fun to use !?!That is also how I felt when they were introduced. With historical perspective now, I see it as a significant camera.
I do not actually own one, but i think no camera in recent history has ever gotten as much "Guff" as the Canon AE-1.
Seems i still read about what lousy cameras they are.
Would be interesting to know the approximate (Huge) number of stunning photos that have been taken with (and still are) the AE-1.
It's always wise to bear in mind that after buying a new or used product, more dissatisfied people vent their spleens on owners' forums and in user reviews than perfectly happy people who are satisfied with their purchases. So the reliability perception becomes unfairly skewed. I only know of one person who had an AE-1, and he owned it from new and used it for many a year without issue. All of them are between 33-41 years old now, so there's bound to be a couple of duds out there, just waiting to be bought by the kind of people who will be sure to complain as publicly as possible on two dozen photography forums about how sh-te all AE-1s were.I do not actually own one, but i think no camera in recent history has ever gotten as much "Guff" as the Canon AE-1.
Seems i still read about what lousy cameras they are.
Would be interesting to know the approximate (Huge) number of stunning photos that have been taken with (and still are) the AE-1.
My A-1, 50mm f/1.4, 100mm f/4 macro and Motor Drive MA are now 37 years old and still work great. The only repair has been replacement of the NiCd cells in the motor drive battery pack with NiMH cells.I've had AE-1 cameras for almost 40 years and never had a problem. Thousands of photos later they still work.
2, the AE-1, like all other A-series cameras (except the AT-1), and T-series cameras, is crippled when used in manual mode. The meter does not reflect the actual aperture ring's position. It gives you the recommended setting, which requires the user to look away from the viewfinder to see where the aperture ring is set, and then adjust accordingly. It was largely because of these two deficiencies that I put my AE-1 on the shelf and began to use an FTb on a regular basis, and then later the old F-1.
There's no denying the AE-1 was a milestone camera, though. It was simple enough to use such that a neophyte like me at the time was able pick it up and almost immediately start shooting with it. It was "good enough" to 'set the hook,' so to speak, so that, relatively soon after, I began to acquire gear that was more to my tastes and preferences.
Canon Rebel G (EOS 500N) with 50/1.8 EF II or 75-300 EF III.
Plastic mount, bottom-of-the-market camera and lenses. Photos were perfectly exposed and sharp. Decent amount of control available. Totally unexpected from a kit that weighs nearly nothing.
The Rebel series was vastly under-rated in my opinion.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?