Praktica Appreciation Thread

[cuthbert]

Another Praktica, another test roll, I used Fuji Pro400 with the new BX20S, besides the scary advance lever it's a nice little camera.

Here I used the AE lock:

 

[Sewin]

Hi cuthbert,

Just wondering are they all taken with the same lens?

 

[cuthbert]

Hi cuthbert,

Just wondering are they all taken with the same lens?

Yes, the cheap and underrated Pentacon 50mm f1.8, the only Praktica equipment I have with me in the UK at the moment is the BX20S with the standard lens.

I wanted to get a Pancolar but now I'm thinking it doesn' worth it, I would like to try to get an early Pentacon hat focuses at 0.33mt, they also look better made with a proper rubber ring and not just moulded plastic.

 

[Sewin]

Pentacon on my PLC3 goes down to 0.33m.
B200 it goes to 0.25m
BC1 it goes to 0.45m

 

[Sewin]

R.I.P.......... PLC3

Well,

After loyal service my PLC3 has finally died.

The meter wouldn't wake up this morning, even after trying to revive him with a new battery and defibrillator.

Not a flicker.

Back to L series and my B's.

 

[miha]

Speaking of Prakticas, is their 50mm f2.4 MC Prakticar any good?

 

[cuthbert]

Speaking of Prakticas, is their 50mm f2.4 MC Prakticar any good?

No idea, never tried...it appears it's a sort of pancake design, perhaps in the future I'll try to get it, here they say good things about it:

http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00YVxR?start=0

For me I'd like to get a Pancolar in B mount but they are rare.

 

[AgX]

Yes, the cheap and underrated Pentacon 50mm f1.8.

I got that one in one of its early forms (M42, automitc diaphragm).
The stops at the aperture ring are so weakly spring loaded that the ring likely gets useless as it is easily twisted whilst focusing. I have to modify the spring assembly.

 

[Sewin]

Speaking of Prakticas, is their 50mm f2.4 MC Prakticar any good?

I've got one , it came with one of my Prakticas as it is sometimes cheaper to buy camera and lens just to get the lens.
It was the lens I was after.

Anyway I've never used it, but it does seem to be of decent quality, nice and smooth with nice clicks between apertures.

Although it is compact, it is easy to operate, not like some "pancake lens"

I'm off to the mountains this afternoon with the dog, so might take it with me.

 

[cuthbert]

I got that one in one of its early forms (M42, automitc diaphragm).
The stops at the aperture ring are so weakly spring loaded that the ring likely gets useless as it is easily twisted whilst focusing. I have to modify the spring assembly.

I also have it in M42, it was the standard lens of my MTL50 and it works fine, I assume yours was abused.

These are made with the bayonet version, Gold 200 (not as good as Fuji Pro as you can notice):

These were taken with the MTL50 and Ektar if I remember correctly:

 

[AgX]

I also have it in M42, it was the standard lens of my MTL50 and it works fine, I assume yours was abused.

A spring assembly of that kind cannot be abused (provided it was good designe). Only the groves in the aperture ring could wear out (shoulders getting shallow).
But I assume the spring to have aged. Bad material?

 

[darthj]

R.I.P.......... PLC3

Well,

After loyal service my PLC3 has finally died.

The meter wouldn't wake up this morning, even after trying to revive him with a new battery and defibrillator.

Not a flicker.

Back to L series and my B's.

If you feel Lucky you could try this one :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2768-Prak...nt-/271963718069?hash=item3f524d01b5#shpCntId

The seller states that the camera is in working mechanical condition but never mentions a battery.

 

[Sewin]

Thanks darthj,

But I think I'll pass on the PLC, LLC series, they are the only Prakticas I've had trouble with.

 

[cuthbert]

The Praktica of the day:

Perfect working conditions, £6 plus shipping including strap, lens and battery.

 

[Sewin]

Virtually new 99 pence which included postage.

 

[darthj]

I didn't have that chance. Earlier this evening I found a nice Praktica camera on Ebay, with only a few hours to go still at a reasonable price. Then 2 bidders started a bidding war. You know, bid-counterbid-counterbid-etc ... .Certainly one of them was a more experienced buyer and should have known you don't win an auction this way. And they didn't : in the end, with only a few seconds to go a "sniper" stepped in and got away with the camera ... paying about 100 GBP more than the reasonable amount at the beginning.

If you recognize yourself in this story do not expose yourself.

 

[cuthbert]

I didn't have that chance. Earlier this evening I found a nice Praktica camera on Ebay, with only a few hours to go still at a reasonable price. Then 2 bidders started a bidding war. You know, bid-counterbid-counterbid-etc ... .Certainly one of them was a more experienced buyer and should have known you don't win an auction this way. And they didn't : in the end, with only a few seconds to go a "sniper" stepped in and got away with the camera ... paying about 100 GBP more than the reasonable amount at the beginning.

If you recognize yourself in this story do not expose yourself.

I was a sniper for that B200S auction, just I sniped £105 (I already consider it a crazy price for a Praktica, but it was an S plus two lenses I don't have) when the bid had already reached 128 or something like that.

Sorry, I keep the BCX I got for £6.

 

[AgX]

Luckily I'm just a hoarder, not a collector...

 

[darthj]

I was a sniper for that B200S auction, just I sniped £105 (I already consider it a crazy price for a Praktica, but it was an S plus two lenses I don't have) when the bid had already reached 128 or something like that.

Sorry, I keep the BCX I got for £6.

At least you have to try to find the other silver BCX (with waffled leather) and then the black BCX. Both are shown on page 10, post #94.

 

[cuthbert]

At least you have to try to find the other silver BCX (with waffled leather) and then the black BCX. Both are shown on page 10, post #94.

No thanks, I shoot cameras, not collect them.

For the 200S I would have made an exception to see if they are really better than a standard 200, but surely I won't spend that silly money for a curiosity.

 

[darthj]

No thanks, I shoot cameras, not collect them.

For the 200S I would have made an exception to see if they are really better than a standard 200, but surely I won't spend that silly money for a curiosity.

I collect cameras to shoot them. Problem is I get more and more cameras while getting less and less opportunities to shoot them.

I doubt you would notice any difference with a standard B200. The special treatment was meant to make these cameras suitable for professional use, more reliable and durable under any circumstances. Qualities that some standard B200's lacked because of sometimes also lacking quality control.

Well, let's have another picture. Almost 30-year old slide scanned today with a lousy scanner. Hence quality.
Taken way back in 1987 with my original B100 (still alive) at the foot of Edinburgh Castle.

 

[Sewin]

Well, speaking of B100's and hoarding cameras I won a B100 on ebay yesterday with case and flash for £3.

I also treated myself to a 70-210mm Prakticar bayonet mount zoom for £6.

I'm not a great lover of the 70-210mm mass marketed zooms of the 80's which most cameras had with them when being sold as an alternative to a prime lens.

But I read quite a nice write up about the Prakticar zoom so thought I'd give it a go.

I seem to be moving away from the L series these days and using and appreciating the compact B series much more.

 

[cuthbert]

Well, speaking of B100's and hoarding camera

s I won a B100 on ebay yesterday with case and flash for £3.

I also treated myself to a 70-210mm Prakticar bayonet mount zoom for £6.

I'm not a great lover of the 70-210mm mass marketed zooms of the 80's which most cameras had with them when being sold as an alternative to a prime lens.

But I read quite a nice write up about the Prakticar zoom so thought I'd give it a go.

I seem to be moving away from the L series these days and using and appreciating the compact B series much more.

If you want to invest some money in Praktica shooting and not Praktica collecting I might suggest to get the CZJ Vario Sonnar, it is definitely the best zoom I've ever tried...unfortunately it's rare and expensive, but these are some pics I've taken with it:

Today I've also decided to complete my Praktica system and I got a 135 mm Sonnar and a CZJ (I know it's not, but let's pretend it) 28mm f2.8, for £30 each, very good conditions. I miss the Flek 35 mm but they want silly money for it.

 

[Sewin]

I've sold some of my other cameras to "condense" my small collection to be mostly GDR and FSU

Not sure I could justify the cost of a Vario Sonnar , definitely out of my preferred price league, what price was the Flek £150 - £200 or so???

 

[cuthbert]

I've sold some of my other cameras to "condense" my small collection to be mostly GDR and FSU

Not sure I could justify the cost of a Vario Sonnar , definitely out of my preferred price league, what price was the Flek £150 - £200 or so???

Yes about it...more or less the same as the Flek 20mm I'm afraid.