I can't wait for my new kit!

dsd 13 · Jun 18, 2015

So here I was, in my classroom looking at some Konica C35 rangefinders. One of the thriftstores I visit had one, I was looking for a decent film camera to try the medium for the first time. The C35 looks decent enough for $10

A teacher walked in while I was searching through photos. He asked if I was interested in film cameras and I said "Yes" of course, with a big smile on my face. "I have a Praktika at the moment but it doesn't work."

The old man raised a brow, he then told me that he might still have a Pentax camera with a few lenses stashed away somewhere. My mouth fell open and my eyes shot stars. Friet -His name- asked if I would like to have the kit that he used a looOONG time ago.

I accepted his KiNd offer of course (duh?) and so he left, biking back home at the moment to search for the kit that he used in his late teens.

I am super excited at the moment! I calculated his age and the camera has to be from the 60's if he bought it in his teens. So as my title, I can't wait to see what he has gotten me (; this is going to be GREAT.

AgX · Jun 18, 2015

Welcome to Apug!

How old are YOU?

Xmas · Jun 18, 2015

Hi AgX

We wanna know how old the camera is?
Even if the camera is kaput an M42 lens is valuable, a FSU or Cosina SLR body is cheap.
I've given a five year old a 35mm camera.
Parents asked after first film was processed why did she take this shot?
It was a normal saleable postcard shot.
When you are five you can learn a second language like a mother tongue, impossible at seven, unless you a linguist.
Painting or photos are the same...

On a different occasion I've bought 5l of oil for auto and got a plastic 35mm camera as a promotion just as serviceable as today's Lomo ones.

Noel

ToddB · Jun 18, 2015

That is exciting.. These kind of stories of running into people that have film camera that don't want them anymore is how I acquired some nice gear. Make sure to post pics of the gear. I'd liked to see it.

Todd

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2015

Welcome to APUG

dsd 13 · Jun 18, 2015

Hey there ^^ so I've recieved the gear.

It didnt end up to be Pentax but it is still a nice upgrade from what I used to own.

Camera: Exakta RTL1000 with a TTL metering prism.

Lenses: Meyer Görlitz Oreston F1.8 - F16 50mm w/ UV haze filter;
Prinzgalaxy F5.8 - F22 300mm w/ mount converter.

Flash: Metz 45 CT-1

Mount converter: Exakta mount to 42mm screw mount.

Filter: 49mm Aroma UV haze filter.

The 1 second shutterspeed might be off by around 0.2 so that's not too bad.

I tried to put my M42 PETRI lens (which I love to bits by the way) on my Exakta by using the mount converter. Most seems to be blurry though, any ideas why? the converter doesn't have glass.

Either way, everything is in nice mint conditon.

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2015

Welcome dsd 13 to APUG

Enjoy your camera.

thewrongdevice · Jun 18, 2015

I'd suggest you to use Exa/Exakta mount lenses. They are usually cheaper than their M42 counterparts and you can find great ones. But this blurriness is not related to the converter IMHO. Maybe the mirror is off a bit or the prism. Or the rear glass of your lens is dirty. You should find a camera repair shop to fix it.

Xmas · Jun 18, 2015

To allow the m42 lens to focus to infinity on an Exackta the adapter has to be less than 1mm thick, if it is thicker it will only do close ups...

I think ...

dsd 13 · Jun 23, 2015

I just bought 3 rolls of film and a px625 battery. alkaline, not the perfect choice I know, not accurate. But the cheapest one.

A thriftstore is selling expired kodak gold film, for 0,50$ a piece I would guess, nice experiment?

Mick Fagan · Jun 23, 2015

Welcome to apug, and welcome to owning an interesting camera. I believe that your camera is a Praktica with AN Exacta badge. I think it may have come out around 1970, so perhaps your old teacher isn't quite as old as you think. That doesn't matter, what matters, is that you can get out there and shoot and have some fun.

Mick.

dsd 13 · Aug 31, 2015

Hello again! I've put 3 rolls through it by now. The camera and lens are working as they should be. The clickly aperture ring moves at every step. All speeds seem to work within a 0.1 second tolerance. There are no light leaks. I see no light bleeding into unexposed or already exposed film. The shutter isnt sticky or anything like that.
The TTL light meter... I'm not sure about this one, I have to set it to ASA 50 or so when shooting ASA 200 film. I used my digital camera in a controlled enviroment to find the compensation that I need. But it still acts a bit weird outside, giving values that I think wont be right. So I am mostly using my smartphone with a light meter app.

Maybe I can try 10 pictures or so with the TTL light meter, to see if it really works or not. I am just using a normal cell battery, not one of those fancy or special tricks that offer a very balanced output. Would ordering one of those special cells be worth it? I heard that they only work for a month or two before it runs out of power. The smartphone's light meter yields fine results.

frank · Aug 31, 2015

Get yourself a hand held light meter or a free app for your smart phone. Then you can check your camera's meter without burning film.

Your camera's meter may require Mercury 1.35v batteries, or steady output 1.5v silver batteries. A manual would tell you that.

Sirius Glass · Aug 31, 2015

dsd 13 said:
Hello again! I've put 3 rolls through it by now. The camera and lens are working as they should be. The clickly aperture ring moves at every step. All speeds seem to work within a 0.1 second tolerance. There are no light leaks. I see no light bleeding into unexposed or already exposed film. The shutter isnt sticky or anything like that.
The TTL light meter... I'm not sure about this one, I have to set it to ASA 50 or so when shooting ASA 200 film. I used my digital camera in a controlled enviroment to find the compensation that I need. But it still acts a bit weird outside, giving values that I think wont be right. So I am mostly using my smartphone with a light meter app.

Maybe I can try 10 pictures or so with the TTL light meter, to see if it really works or not. I am just using a normal cell battery, not one of those fancy or special tricks that offer a very balanced output. Would ordering one of those special cells be worth it? I heard that they only work for a month or two before it runs out of power. The smartphone's light meter yields fine results.

Enjoy. The negative will look even better when you develop them.

I can't wait for my new kit!

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