Help identifying value and rarity of Carena MS TL

GerPag · Jun 23, 2025

Hi everyone,

I recently found a Carena MS TL at a local flea market. I've tried to research it online, but there’s very little information available beyond some basic Google results and the user manual I managed to find. From what I’ve gathered, it shares the same body and mechanism as the Exakta Twin TL, but I haven’t found any listings or recent sales on second-hand platforms to get an idea of its value.

Currently, the camera is not in the best condition:

The lens is stuck and won’t come off.
The film advance lever is frozen.

That said, even though I’m relatively new to film camera repair, I’ve managed to fix a few basic models before and I’d love to restore this one if it’s worth the effort.

I’m not planning to sell it — I just want to know if this is a rare or special piece, and if it’s worth investing time and resources into repairing it properly.

Any help from someone more experienced would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Gerard

Kino · Jun 23, 2025

It certainly looks like a derivative of the Chinon CE series (Memotron) which took M42 screw mount lenses, but the dial on the face of the camera has me thinking GAF for some reason.

I think Carena was a brand that re-badged various manufacturer's cameras and didn't have any manufacturing facilities of their own.

ic-racer · Jun 23, 2025

It is probably worth what you paid for it.

GerPag · Jun 23, 2025

ic-racer said:
It is probably worth what you paid for it.

5 euros lol

xkaes · Jun 23, 2025

Given that it's a Carena, it was undoubtedly sold under other labels -- as has been mentioned. Carena never sold a valuable camera -- as has been suggested. Doesn't "Carena" mean "bargain" in Scottish?

The lens, if you can get it off -- and it works -- is probably worth more than the camera!

As to repairs, your best hope is to figure out what camera it really is, for example a Chinon XYZ, and find a service manual for that camera -- but that could prove next to impossible. You could try some general camera repair books, but you'll need the tools, patience -- and skills might help. But what have you got to lose? You might learn a lot.

https://www.subclub.org/creative/selfrep.htm

GerPag · Jun 23, 2025

xkaes said:
Given that it's a Carena, it was undoubtedly sold under other labels -- as has been mentioned. Carena never sold a valuable camera -- as has been suggested. Doesn't "Carena" mean "bargain" in Scottish?

The lens, if you can get it off -- and it works -- is probably worth more than the camera!

As to repairs, your best hope is to figure out what camera it really is, for example a Chinon XYZ, and find a service manual for that camera -- but that could prove next to impossible. You could try some general camera repair books, but you'll need the tools, patience -- and skills might help. But what have you got to lose? You might learn a lot.

https://www.subclub.org/creative/selfrep.htm

Thanks a lot for the advice! I really appreciate it. And you're right, I've got nothing to lose. Might learn something along the way too.

Kino · Jun 23, 2025

Looking at the manual, did you see this?

Also, the camera can take Exacta Bayonet Mount lenses, which definitely points it toward Praktica manufacture in MHO.

Search around in here and you might find it:

Mike's Praktica Home

GerPag · Jun 24, 2025

Kino said:
Looking at the manual, did you see this?

View attachment 401413 View attachment 401414

Also, the camera can take Exacta Bayonet Mount lenses, which definitely points it toward Praktica manufacture in MHO.

View attachment 401416

Search around in here and you might find it:

Mike's Praktica Home

Yeah, I noticed that too. I think it could be one of the reasons why the lens is stuck. That switch feels a bit loose, so it might not be working properly. In fact, it has a small screw and can be taken apart, but once opened, there’s not much to see.

Thanks for the help! If I manage to make any progress fixing it, I’ll post an update here.

xkaes · Jun 24, 2025

Is that an Exakta lens mount???

GerPag · Jun 24, 2025

xkaes said:
Is that an Exakta lens mount???

I'm not very experienced with this, so I might be wrong, but from what I’ve seen, I don’t think it’s an Exakta mount. It looks more like a Cosina/Chinon-type proprietary bayonet.

xkaes · Jun 24, 2025

Looks like an Exakta mount lens to me -- and if it is, that should work in your favor, depending on what it is, and if you can get it off intact.

Dan Fromm · Jun 24, 2025

Hmm. I checked the manual, which can be found here: https://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/carena_ms_tl.pdf

The body accepts lenses in Exakta mount and in M42x1 mount. The photo in post #1 above shows it with an M42x1 mount lens, probably made in Japan. An "E-type" ring must be used between body and a lens in Exakta mount. A "P-type" ring must be used between body and a lens in M42x1 mount. In other words, it has interchangeable lens mounts. Apparently made by Cosina, not, as suggested in post #7 above, made in the DDR.

xkaes · Jun 24, 2025

Miranda sold SLRs with a mixed bayonet/44mm screw mount, so why not Cosina?

The M42 lens database does that list that exact lens, but it does list it two brothers -- both made by Cosina. And since it's a M42 f1.4 normal lens, it's definitely worth more than the camera. I hope you can get it off:

https://m42lens.com/m42-database-search/search/results?ssid=175080361701.66.9

GerPag · 2025-09-13T12:22:02-0400

Hi,

After 3 months I finally managed to get the lens off the camera. Here’s the result. I’d love your help confirming what lens this is, because I still don’t know exactly which model it is (I’m no expert).

I’ve also attached a photo of the camera mount in case it helps. The lens works perfectly and is in great condition. The camera, as you can see, is in rough shape.

I’m sending a Google Drive link because the images are too big.

Carenar - Google Drive

drive.google.com

Help identifying value and rarity of Carena MS TL

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