Praktica Mtl 50 shutter speed problem

Eugene B. · Oct 7, 2021

I was given an mtl 50 with three lenses included. The shutter curtain speeds do not change when adjusted. The film advances, The shutter speed knob turns normally. The camera itself inside and out looks to be in perfect condition. I'm not familiar with the marque and wonder if these cameras have shutter issues.

foc · Oct 7, 2021

Hi Eugene, do you mean the metal horizontal shutter blades?
Do they open at all?
One way to test this (the camera is not loaded with film) You can unscrew the lens and open the camera back.
Set the shutter speed to 1/60 and looking from the back, fire the shutter. Can you see light through the camera?
Try it at 1/15 and 1/4.
Let us know how you get on, please.

Eugene B. · Oct 8, 2021

foc said:
Hi Eugene, do you mean the metal horizontal shutter blades?
Do they open at all?
One way to test this (the camera is not loaded with film) You can unscrew the lens and open the camera back.
Set the shutter speed to 1/60 and looking from the back, fire the shutter. Can you see light through the camera?
Try it at 1/15 and 1/4.
Let us know how you get on, please.

Thnx foc, the blades open ok, the problem is I can't change the shutter speeds. So it's not the blades, it must be the linkage between the speed control mechanism and the shutter itself. That's my guess. Any advice would be appreciated.
Regards,
Eugene B.

AgX · Oct 8, 2021

Or the linkage between the knob and the control mechanism.

Eugene B. · Oct 8, 2021

AgX said:
Or the linkage between the knob and the control mechanism.

However, the slow speeds 'seem' to work ie, 1/15 to 1 second.

AgX · Oct 8, 2021

Which means that the fast speeds escapement are out of order. Typically it is the other way round with that Praktica series (and most mechanical cameras).

Eugene B. · Oct 9, 2021

AgX said:
Which means that the fast speeds escapement are out of order. Typically it is the other way round with that Praktica series (and most mechanical cameras).

Interesting. Is the shutter a version of the old Contax rf shutter? That would make it difficult to fix. If so I wonder if it is worth repairing.

Eugene B. · Oct 10, 2021

Eugene B. said:
Interesting. Is the shutter a version of the old Contax rf shutter? That would make it difficult to fix. If so I wonder if it is worth repairing.

Correction - it's looks like the shutter on my Nikkormat which has the same sort of problem...

chuck3565 · Oct 12, 2021

In the shutter speed mechanism, under the camera top, there is a small silver-colored piece on a pivot. It is located on the right side of the shutter speed mechanism looking from the back of the camera.'. It has to move freely and there is a spring end that has to be on the outside of this piece. Also, there is a vertical lever that must be in a slot on the left side of the assembly. Either issue will cause speed problems.

AgX · Oct 12, 2021

Maybe this is helpful for hintingt at the parts likely disconnected:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/praktica-l-serie-repair-thread.141505/page-3#post-2286546
(2 photos)

Eugene B. · Oct 19, 2021

Thanks to all who replied to my query. On further investigation I discovered on shooting a whole film, instead of a few frames, that the shutter worked. I think I fluffed loading the film which must not have advanced correctly - my bad. The CZ Jena Flektogon f2.4/35 that came with the Praktica looks like a good one. So all's well that ends better.
Eugene B.

Praktica Mtl 50 shutter speed problem

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