Praktica Appreciation Thread

[AgX]

Well, in the GDR more than 90 mounted lenses for 35mm cameras were made.

 

[cuthbert]

Well, in the GDR more than 90 mounted lenses for 35mm cameras were made.

We might start with the PB system that is smaller (but quite capable) perhaps also with some examples of the lenses in question.

 

[Alan Johnson]

There is this list for the B series:
http://praktica.planetaclix.pt/lenses.html

 

[cuthbert]

There is this list for the B series:
http://praktica.planetaclix.pt/lenses.html

That's an old website but not completely accurate: it states that the Pancolar 1.8 is just a Pentacon Mayer Optik rebadged for the Jenaflex, also there was a 28mm and a 29mm and I've also seen a true Jena 24mm that costs a fortune today.

However this is for M42 lenses:

http://www.carlzeissjena.com/

This is even MORE interesting:

http://www.pbase.com/kkawakami/mylens_prakticars

As it does have the schematics of the lenses:

http://www.pbase.com/kkawakami/prakticar_lens_designs

Family tree of CZJ lenses:

http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/files/zeittafel_objektive.pdf

 

[Alan Johnson]

Meyer Optik: http://allphotolenses.com/lenses/brands/c_85.html
Pentacon: http://allphotolenses.com/lenses/c_305844.html

 

[Alan Johnson]

I think the Prakticas were always good value, mid priced compared Russian and with Japanese cameras. From Amateur Photographer June 1970:
Zenit E + Helios GBP 38; Praktica Nova 1 +Tessar GBP 50: Praktica Super TL +Tessar GBP 68, Pentax +f1.8 GBP 120.
I like my Super TL because it has built in match needle metering:

 

[AgX]

What I find strange with the L -series (as with Zenit E) is that at the bottom are not sunk screws, but half protruding lens-screws, and that there is no decent base for the tripod mount. The VLC has got a tiny lateral bulge at the tripod base and it protrudes slightly to the front compared to the basic L model, but all is not significant.

 

[cuthbert]

Finally got a Pancolar, that I would like to use on a VLC or PLC:

Out of curiosity, the red MC variant was the last one to be produced? Would it fit a VLC3 from an historical point of view?

I was also capable to get finally a Flektogon 35mm f2.4 in PB mount for a DECENT price...now I think my PB system just needs some long lens, like the 300mm and the 500mm.

 

[Sewin]

cuthbert,

Missed your previous post regarding my preference to prime over zoom, I should have said the prime I was referring to was my CZJ 135mm GDR Sonnar.

Your collection is building up nicely

I've been playing around with my Nikons recently, film and digi, upon returning to my B series they feel small and slightly awkward,... strange, but I still have a soft spot for them.

 

[cuthbert]

cuthbert,

Missed your previous post regarding my preference to prime over zoom, I should have said the prime I was referring to was my CZJ 135mm GDR Sonnar.

Your collection is building up nicely

I've been playing around with my Nikons recently, film and digi, upon returning to my B series they feel small and slightly awkward,... strange, but I still have a soft spot for them.

These damned Prakticas are addicting and the fact they are affordable makes the things worse...in few days I won this:

For the Pancolar, then I saw this set:

And who wouldn't like to have a Carl Zeiss Jena bag with original DDR hoods and filters for £20? Then if we also add the mint Bx20 and relative TTL flash we sweeten the pot, right?

Then I saw one of my "totem" Bs, the ultra rare BC3, that is my Jenaflex's sister (basically a BC1 with grip):

And even then I pulled the trigger...the gold Pentacon logo was impressed in my mind as a mesmerising Masonic sumbol..I HAD to have that cameras!

And now I'm broke...BUT I'm still hunting for a Pancolar in B mount to found out if it's really better than the Pentacon 50/1.8...do you think I am sick?

 

[onre]

do you think I am sick?

Incurable, in a very positive way.

 

[Sewin]

Definitely sick, I've the same ailment.
However I'm in recession and might have to sell some of my Praktica gear, not for money reasons,as the value is small, just to clear some space!

 

[cuthbert]

Last Praktica purchase of the week:

I assume that it's a good purchase for £29 as Pancolars are in high demand, but I need to stop.

Seriously.

 

[cuthbert]

I finally found the time to clean the VLC3 that arrived this week (it was the dirtiest camera I've ever received, I should try to get a new screen in particular).

Few interesting remarks:

1) Shooting with it is like shooting with a bolt on rifle, same sound for the lever advance and the shutter release.

2) It feels definitely "pro" in comparison with the MTL50 I also have.

3) A lot of people have problems finding the old battery, but today I found out something interesting: the circuit is completely uneffected by the voltage and the lightmeter works with two standard PX28s (like the ones used by a Praktica B). Also, if insert them with the wrong polarity the lightmeter keeps on working but on the REVERSE, that means that increasing the F stops it indicates overexposure.

Superior German engineering!

 

[Sewin]

Hi cuthbert, check out post No 5 if you want an easy fix for the batteries, it worked on my PLC2

 

[Jerevan]

The Praktica B to m42 adapter - I guess this only works in stop-down mode for metering?

 

[AgX]

I finally found the time to clean the VLC3 that arrived this week (it was the dirtiest camera I've ever received.

My longest time for the outer cleaning of a 35mm camera was 4 hours!

As with yours, under a layer of dirt a fine camera may pop up.

 

[AgX]

Also, if insert them with the wrong polarity the lightmeter keeps on working but on the REVERSE, that means that increasing the F stops it indicates overexposure.

A great way to gain speed in otherwise underexposed situatíons...
Seemingly the perfect low-light camera.

 

[cuthbert]

The Praktica B to m42 adapter - I guess this only works in stop-down mode for metering?

I assume so, I see there are contact just on one side.

And however even the DDR Germans were so smart to make it work open wide it would just do that with Pentacon electric M42 lenses.

A great way to gain speed in otherwise underexposed situatíons...
Seemingly the perfect low-light camera.

Actually I noticed the needle is a little difficult to read in some situations, today I loaded the camera with a roll of Gold 200 and I am curious to see how it comes out, especially because I'm using an "emergency" battery stack.

 

[onre]

As you've noticed, Praktica does not really care much about voltage. Nice design, all lightmeters should be like this.

I should get a normal lens for my LTL finally and go shoot with it.

 

[cuthbert]

As you've noticed, Praktica does not really care much about voltage. Nice design, all lightmeters should be like this.

I should get a normal lens for my LTL finally and go shoot with it.

This is the current battery "arrangement" I used to shoot the test roll.

15 V instead of 4.5...then people worry because of the difference between 1.35 and 1.5 in a Leica!

These are shots I got, I used Gold 200 because I didn't want to waste money on a "good" film. I didn't expect the camera to work, to be honest.

Despite of what they say, Prakticas are serious cameras.

 

[AgX]

In the first photo above one can see reallly good what I had it about the base in post #382.


(By the way, the best camera-battery-issue photo I ever saw...)

 

[Jerevan]

Well, I got the B200 I happened to buy (low bid, €15 with shipping) today. Having read the manual opening the back seems straight forward (pull up rewind knob), but there is no way in h*ll that I can get it to open. Any secret handshake trick? Does it (perish the thought!) need batteries to get open?

If I can't get it open, I'll just throw it in the bin.

EDIT: I managed to bend a small piece straight and now it opens as it should.

 

[cuthbert]

Well, I got the B200 I happened to buy (low bid, €15 with shipping) today. Having read the manual opening the back seems straight forward (pull up rewind knob), but there is no way in h*ll that I can get it to open. Any secret handshake trick? Does it (perish the thought!) need batteries to get open?

If I can't get it open, I'll just throw it in the bin.

EDIT: I managed to bend a small piece straight and now it opens as it should.

Probably the back was bent...post the pic of your B200!

 

[Jerevan]

It was the lower corner that had gotten a small dent, perhaps even from the sellers dodgy package routine and the handling during transport:



Apart from this, it's clean. The Prakticar is a bit schlapp. I need to get a battery to see if the camera works.