Starting out needed tips and help

Dinis Figueira · May 4, 2016

Hi Guys,

I'm starting out to learn film photography.
But before starting out I need some advice.

I have a Praktica MTL-3 with a Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm 2.8f, with the original bag (and I'm trying to buy a Tamron Adaptall 2 75-135mm)
Now, the camera itself, has some yellow spots when looking through the viewfinder (it's not the lens). Is it fungus on the prism? What's the best way to clean It without damaging it?

Other thing is, what are the best accessories, besides a notebook and a better strap, to help me out, considering that I will only shoot Black and White film?

Thank you.

onre · May 4, 2016

Is mirror clean? Fungus on the prism sounds unlikely. Not impossible, but unlikely.

Accessory-wise, get a yellow filter, that will make the sky deeper when shooting B&W. If I were you, I'd skip the Tamron. Shoot with the 50 mm, maybe get a Jena 135 mm Sonnar too.

mehguy · May 4, 2016

There might be fungus on the mirror. Unscrew the lens and check.

Dinis Figueira · May 4, 2016

The Carl Zeiss 135mm is kinda expensive for me... but I'll keep it in mind for the future.

If it's fungus, should I have to be more careful, or is the same process as the lens?

FujiLove · May 4, 2016

You may want to consider investing in a hand-held light meter because the meter in your MTL may not be very accurate (or working at all?) The good thing is you can keep the meter if and when you decide to upgrade or change cameras. The MTL3 was my first 'real' camera, and I still miss the ergonomic placement of the shutter button. Much better than on the top of the camera in my opinion.

Dinis Figueira · May 4, 2016

FujiLove said:
You may want to consider investing in a hand-held light meter because the meter in your MTL may not be very accurate (or working at all?) The good thing is you can keep the meter if and when you decide to upgrade or change cameras. The MTL3 was my first 'real' camera, and I still miss the ergonomic placement of the shutter button. Much better than on the top of the camera in my opinion.

I have a Gossen Sixtomat (the camera and this, were from my parents)
And I gotta agree, I love the way they placed the shutter button.

MattKing · May 4, 2016

Welcome to APUG!

If the yellow spots are sharply defined, most likely they are on the focusing screen.

Cleaning screens is a fiddly task, but it can be done. Not surprisingly, it is much easier to clean a removable screen then one that is permanent in the camera.

cooltouch · May 4, 2016

About that Tamron, are you sure of that focal range? I just looked at the zooms at adaptall-2.com, and there are only two that begin with 75mm, and they are both 75-250mm zooms.

Dinis Figueira · May 4, 2016

cooltouch said:
About that Tamron, are you sure of that focal range? I just looked at the zooms at adaptall-2.com, and there are only two that begin with 75mm, and they are both 75-250mm zooms.

Aww... sorry men. I was viewing lenses at the time and mixed up. I saw an ad for a Tamron 70-150mm, for 10€, all cleaned up and stuff. I was going to get it, if someone on the other side answered my calls

canvassy · May 4, 2016

welcome to APUG

Dinis Figueira · May 4, 2016

Thank you all for your warm welcoming

cooltouch · May 4, 2016

Dinis Figueira said:
Aww... sorry men. I was viewing lenses at the time and mixed up. I saw an ad for a Tamron 70-150mm, for 10€, all cleaned up and stuff. I was going to get it, if someone on the other side answered my calls

Okay, unless it's the uncommon SP 70-150mm f/2.8 Soft, it's probably either the 02A or 20A zoom. The older 02A is a two-ring zoom based on an old adaptall-2 formula and is just ok optically, but it's probably worth 10 euros. The 20A was a new push-pull design with much improved optical performance. So if it's the latter 20A, then 10 euros will be a very good buy. Many photographers, me included, consider the 70-150mm focal range to be ideal for portrait photography.

Info obtained from:
http://adaptall-2.com

HiHoSilver · May 4, 2016

Welcome Dinis. With a Zeiss normal lens, you're hardly undergunned. Camera position - zooming w/ your feet will do more for your shooting than any lens. 'Hope you have a wonderful time here. I've not found more skill & ready help anywhere else.

FujiLove · May 5, 2016

HiHoSilver said:
Welcome Dinis. With a Zeiss normal lens, you're hardly undergunned. Camera position - zooming w/ your feet will do more for your shooting than any lens. 'Hope you have a wonderful time here. I've not found more skill & ready help anywhere else.

Completely agree. You can't beat a nice compact standard prime lens for quality, simplicity and usability.

Dinis Figueira · May 5, 2016

I just wanted something to take photos of isles on my zone, distances ranging from 50m to 150m from me. With the Zeiss, It will look too far away.

*BTW: I don't have caps for this lens. Is it 42mm on rear and 49mm on front or it has other measures?
Can't find info anywhere..

Considering that I have the original bag with strap of this camera (which takes up the lens mounted at the same time) and a normal bag to carry it, what would I need more than this:

- Yellow Filter;
- Cleaning Kit;
- Lens Caps (Front and Rear, since Ill need them whenever I get a long range lens);
- Cheap tripod maybe, for bulb??;
- Notebook;

Sirius Glass · May 5, 2016

Welcome to APUG

Mainecoonmaniac · May 5, 2016

What you can try is to remove the lens and look at the viewfinder. If you see the same spots, it's in the prism or mirror which shouldn't affect the lens. I don't think any dirt on the lens will show up in the viewfinder anyway. Just shoot a roll of film and process it. Sometimes beginners are too worried about the small stuff.

Dinis Figueira · May 5, 2016

Mainecoonmaniac said:
What you can try is to remove the lens and look at the viewfinder. If you see the same spots, it's in the prism or mirror which shouldn't affect the lens. I don't think any dirt on the lens will show up in the viewfinder anyway. Just shoot a roll of film and process it. Sometimes beginners are too worried about the small stuff.

It's like you said, It's not in the lens, but it kinda annoys me, on sunny situations.

seezee · May 5, 2016

Don't bother with a front lens cap. Put a UV filter on it & forget about it.* Or if you're primarily shooting B+W landscapes, a yellow (K2) filter. Hoya's UMC line are quite nice and at a decent price point.

*Some forum members will vehemently disagree, saying you should never put anything between your lens and subject, believing it to degrade the final image. Fair enough. If you are careful, you can get by without any protection on the front element. And any minor damage will be unlikely to affect your images any way.

Dinis Figueira · Sep 6, 2016

Yes I am reviving this post again..

I'm having problems with opening the MTL3 and I cant figure out how to take off the top.
Any ideas?

onre · Sep 6, 2016

Where are you stuck? The black covers on top of cocking lever and speed dial come off, they're just glued on. Be very careful getting them off to avoid damaging them.

Dinis Figueira · Sep 6, 2016

How do I take the black cover from the cocking lever?

onre · Sep 6, 2016

I used a small "hobby knife" to get it off, putting it in between the black part and the lever and carefully prying a bit from different places on the rim until the cover lifted off.

Dinis Figueira · Sep 6, 2016

onre said:
I used a small "hobby knife" to get it off, putting it in between the black part and the lever and carefully prying a bit from different places on the rim until the cover lifted off.

I can't get any knife to go there. They are too thick...

onre · Sep 6, 2016

These usually have narrow enough tips to work.

Starting out needed tips and help

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