Praktica BX20 Film Loading?

Llamarama · Nov 9, 2014

Hello everyone, I've recently acquired a Praktica BX20 with a couple of lenses and flash in mint condition, almost pristine. So i'm a little bit anxious about loading film as the label on the back says to only load film in B mode, where the previous owner has written "fast" above it.

Can anyone say which one is right? I've killed too many cameras by jumping headlong into using them (RIP Minolta 110 zoom SLR, you are missed dearly)

Thanks, Mike

summicron1 · Nov 9, 2014

here's a link to the owner's manual

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/praktica/praktica_bx20/praktica_bx20.htm

it looks like a normal compact slr of the 1980s vintage -- Olympus, Leica r4, etc. According to the manual, you want to set it to a manual shutter speed that is reasonably fast so that when you load it you can rapidly wind on the film to take pictures. If yu don't, the camera may, in automatic, select a very slow speed, forcing you to wait until the shutter opens and closes before you can wind the film on.

I sincerely doubt you could damage the camera either way, unless you force the film lever before the camera has closed the shutter again. In "B" the camera would open and close as quickly as you could push and release the button.

good luck. looks like a nice little camera.

AgX · Nov 9, 2014

As Summicron indicated, technically it is a middle of the road camera. But seemingly in its manual a topic is adressed other manuals just ommit.

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 10, 2014

The first SLR I bought new was a Praktica BX20S, the last of the series.
They have nice specs, but the plastic casing and some plastics inside aren't the best.
In my case, the DOF lever brook internally.
Watch also for the lens: they have 3 golden contacts in them which are encased in plastic behind the metal mount. I had 2 50mm lenses where the plastic case brook rending the lens difficult to use as it needs the golden points to make contact with the body mount for the meter to work.
The only difference between the BX20 and BX20S was the adding of DX contacts in the body and a different body shape on the right side making a grip in that part.

But seemingly in its manual a topic is adressed other manuals just ommit.

The manual for the Olympus OM-2SP refers to hold the camera in good light when doing the blank exposures. It says: "Face the camera toward light and take two blind shots."

Llamarama · Nov 14, 2014

Thanks for the replies, I don't understand how loading it can damage the lens either. I guess for safety's sake i'll just load film with the lens off, makes it slightly easier to handle at the same time!

GRHazelton · Nov 14, 2014

I glanced at the manual and it looks like a nice unit. I still have the Praktica LTL I bought new, it still works fine, even after bouncing on the sidewalk. Its film loading is about the easiest I've ever used. See this: http://www.cameramanuals.org/praktica_pdf/praktica_ltl.pdf Page 10. While it is stop down metering, that function is also very convenient. See page 19. While it used mercury cells, since the meter is a bridge circuit and thus relatively insensitive to voltage a silver oxide cell will work also.

I really should clean it up and use it. A decent camera despite the East German origin.

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 14, 2014

Thanks for the replies, I don't understand how loading it can damage the lens either.

Read again, please. No one said that loading the camera can damage the lens.
I referred that the lens contacts can break internally with use in some lenses. Just something to watch for.

Manwithacam · Nov 17, 2014

Mine stopped metering with my 50mm after I loaded it without setting the camera to B first. Setting it to B turns the meter off, saving the battery when not in use.

Llamarama · Nov 18, 2014

Ahh, sorry, my mistake. There must be a flaw in the circuit where something shorts out if the lens is removed with the meter on. Either way, it's now loaded with some APX400 and is in my camera bag

Praktica BX20 Film Loading?

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