Praktica Appreciation Thread

[Dinis Figueira]

I prefer rather bright to very bright focus screens. MTL5B's screen is not that bright.

Are there any prakticas which have bright screens?

That's the main problem of why I don't use my MTL3.
The viewfinder/prism is very dark and it's dirty too. So it's even harder to see.

 

[baachitraka]

Mine is clean but bit dark compared to OM-1n/2n stock screens.

 

[Dinis Figueira]

Mine is clean but bit dark compared to OM-1n/2n stock screens.

In the whole Praktica series (comparing by internet pictures of other Praktica viewfinders) I prefer the PL Nova 1B viewfinder. Almost clear as clean water.
When I went on my trip, it helped me alot when doing the Sunny rule.
I hope my upcoming FX mirror will be close to that.. even thought it has that vignette on the sides..

 

[Alan Johnson]

I prefer rather bright to very bright focus screens. MTL5B's screen is not that bright.

Are there any prakticas which have bright screens?

My BX-20 has a brighter screen than my MTL-3 or original Super-TL and the image appears about the same size.
The BX-20 screen actually appears brighter than that on my OM-1n but the OM-1n image appears larger and also brighter than that on my MTL-3 and Super-TL.
IDK about the other B-series cameras.
I only used them for outdoor pics and never noticed this before, except the apparent large image size on the OM-1.

 

[Helios 1984]

Hi guys,

I would like to add a second Praktica to my stable but I'm hesitant between the following cameras:
- Super TL 1000
- MTL5B/TL5B
- MTL3
They all have 3 things in common, needle meter (I don't like LEDs), split screen & button battery.

 

[baachitraka]

-MTL 5B

 

[AgX]

Was a consumer data back offered (for the B-series)?

Maybe not by Pentacon, but maybe by the importers (as Beroflex).

 

[Agulliver]

I've been out and about a bit with my BX20S lately.

These were shot on Sunday at the BBC Radio 2 Festival In A Day. The rules state "no zoom lenses" so to be safe I took a Prakticar 50mm prime lens and two Prakticar 2x teleconverters 'hidden' in my cargo shorts. However, I saw lots of people with SLR's and long zooms so if I go again, I will perhaps be less observant of the rules. This selection was shot on Ilford HP5+, processed in ID11.

 

[Agulliver]

Praktica BX20S again.....Sigma 28-200 lens, shots from Pentewan in Cornwall August 2016. Fomapan 100, developed in Microphen

I know these are not very good scans, but all I can muster posting from work. Thought I'd share some of me Praktica-based exploits.

 

[Agulliver]

Some more from my favouite BX20S.....this was Adox Silvermax.

 

[Agulliver]

Knebworth Country Fair July 2016, Praktica BX20S, Sigma 28-200 lens....Fomapan 200 and Ilford HP5+ in Microphen.

 

[Agulliver]

Testing out my Praktica B100, after it had been in the garage for a good decade. Expired Acupan 800 film (in Microphen) plus Agfa APX160, also long expired. Prakticar 50mm lens. Shot at London's South Bank while I was waiting for a committee meeting in June.

 

[onre]

Not bad at all! I just packed my LTL in a bag along with a Pancolar, a Flektogon and ten rolls of Velvia. Holiday begins the day after tomorrow.

 

[Agulliver]

Some from 2015...Megagissey in Cornwall with the Praktica BX20S, Efka KB25 film.

 

[Alan Johnson]

Here are some Praktica lenses I bought at car boot sales. It's not GAS, it's an investment, recently I saw a Domiplan go for a high price due to its bokeh (like Trioplan it said).
The Pancolar is said to be good at wide aperture but I have not tried it yet .It seems to have got bigger as it progressed from Zebra Stripe to black plastic.

 

[darthj]

A new acquirement, the Praktica BX10. Basically a BX20 with DX coding. Only 488 made 1989-1990, other details can be found here :

http://www.praktica-collector.de/236_Praktica_BX10DX.htm

So, quite rare and I'd rather not remember how much I paid for this one. A few blemishes which are not so obvious without a flash.

 

[AgX]

Are these slots under the strap-eyelets? Is the cap pushed over the eyelets?

 

[darthj]

Yes and Yes. You can check the design with a much cheaper BX20, they are almost identical.

 

[Agulliver]

Been out and about with my BX20S again....this time to a gig at the Shepherd's Bush Empire....ReGenesis (Genesis tribute band) performing the 1974 concept album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway in it's entirety - hence the weird stage show and costumes.

The Empire doesn't allow anything that resembles a professional camera...which to them is anything with a lens that sticks out. So you can take a compact bridge camera with a 24x optical zoom and 24MP sensor but not something with a nice 28-70mm zoom. It is the only music venue where I actually know people who have had been searched for cameras and had them confiscated. So I took the BX20S with the Prakticar 50mm lens as it's pretty short...and stowed a 2x teleconverter in my cargo trousers. The body just about fit in a top trouser pocket and I security were more interested in whether I had a bag, so I got in fine. I used to love being at the front of the stalls when it was all standing, but now the Empire is all seated so I chose the level 1 balcony. And here are the results...

 

[darthj]

There is an annual "adult entertainment" event in Berlin that only allows cameras which fit in a box of 20x20x20 cm. Lens and flash included. Anything larger or other accessories (selfie sticks ...) you have to leave behind at the reception. Rigorously checked by the doormen with a real box that size.
This year they extended their restrictions to bags which could not be larger than 30 cm.
All this because such large equiment would disturb other visitors (it didn't for the first 16 years of the event). Yet no restrictions whatsoever are imposed on cellphones which are even worse.

 

[Helios 1984]

I changed the light seals on my L2's door and used the opportunity to test the shutter speeds with Florin's tester.
Here my results with Audacity:
1 = 0.945
1/2 = 0.450
1/4 = 0.242
1/8 = 0.127
1/15 = 0.066
1/30 = 0.032
1/60 = 0.016
1/125 = 0.010
1/250 = 0.005
1/500 = 0.002
1/1000 = 0.002

Fortunately, now I know that my 1/1000 is at the same speed as 1/500.

 

[Helios 1984]

A few shots took with my L-2 & HP5+.

 

[AgX]

 

[Helios 1984]

I love publicities from the 60s, ahh and these zoom-in shots.

 

[darthj]

Latest acquisition : a GREEN Praktica BX20S. Only 277 made, hence a bargain for 189 Euro.