batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
I've had a bit of a blind spot for East German cameras for a long time (family history, my mother grew up under that rotten regime) so I just recently realized how nice and compact those early Prakticas look. And the Praktina! Squint a little and it's a Contax RF with a waist-level finder. Love the direct finder, it's like the poor man's Asahiflex! Not hard to find or overly expensive, either, particularly on ebay Germany.
On the other hand, I do have an Exa 1b, and between the lowly lens (Domiplan 50/2.8) and the masochistic ritual of a non-square WLF, it's not exactly getting a workout. So somebody please me get through this particular GAS attack.
By the way, that Domiplan is currently my only M42 lens, to say nothing of the proprietary Praktina mount. See how nuts I am to even think about this? Help!
On the other hand, I do have an Exa 1b, and between the lowly lens (Domiplan 50/2.8) and the masochistic ritual of a non-square WLF, it's not exactly getting a workout. So somebody please me get through this particular GAS attack.
By the way, that Domiplan is currently my only M42 lens, to say nothing of the proprietary Praktina mount. See how nuts I am to even think about this? Help!
Livesteamer
Well-known
Find one with the 58mm f2.0 Biotar. A wonderful old lens. I like the Praktina's better but the old Praktica's can be fun also. There are also many variations of the Praktina with different forms of aperature activation from manual to preset to semi auto. Interchangeable finders too. I've got several of each but just don't use them much. They are fun though.
Joe
Joe
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
I always liked the L series Praktica SLRs although the finder on them was quite dim compared to the higher priced japanese SLRs but they never let me down mechanically. The Zeiss Tessar was always preferable to that triplet Domiplan lens in the slow 50mm lens category.
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
You're not helping...
I'm only too aware of all the lenses and variations and accessories--that's what makes this such a dangerous affliction. In fact it must have been the Biotar 58/2 that started me down this path on ebay in the first place. One just went for 37 bucks, attached to a Praktica FX2...
See, one day you think to yourself, I have more K mount bodies than I need so why not use the M42 adapter and what's a nice lens to get and you know, it's usually a better deal to buy lens and body together...
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Well. Where to start? When his pre-war camera died probably in 1956, my father chose the Praktina.
It's a very attractive camera, the 58mm f/2 Biotar is great, it's a little awkward to use (film advance, no instant return mirror). Produces great images... Till it breaks.
I remember several problems. One day the diaphram turned to a disorganized mass of leaves in front of my eyes. Then, on a big trip, the shutter started not closing all the way, but this is hard to notice till the film is developed.
Nonetheless, I have now, so many years later, taken another Praktina plunge. Every Praktina you see is likely to have the shutter closing problem. Many have pinholes. I have one like this.
To get a good one, make contact with Gejza Dunay in Slovakia (eBay seller cupog). Buy from him or send him yours for a reasonably priced repair. Thanks to Gejza, I now have a Praktina in excellent condition that works fine.
But, all in all, I wish my father had made his choice a few years later. By 1959 or 1960, he would have had much better options.
Does this help with the GAS attack? If not PM me, and buy one of mine!
It's a very attractive camera, the 58mm f/2 Biotar is great, it's a little awkward to use (film advance, no instant return mirror). Produces great images... Till it breaks.
I remember several problems. One day the diaphram turned to a disorganized mass of leaves in front of my eyes. Then, on a big trip, the shutter started not closing all the way, but this is hard to notice till the film is developed.
Nonetheless, I have now, so many years later, taken another Praktina plunge. Every Praktina you see is likely to have the shutter closing problem. Many have pinholes. I have one like this.
To get a good one, make contact with Gejza Dunay in Slovakia (eBay seller cupog). Buy from him or send him yours for a reasonably priced repair. Thanks to Gejza, I now have a Praktina in excellent condition that works fine.
But, all in all, I wish my father had made his choice a few years later. By 1959 or 1960, he would have had much better options.
Does this help with the GAS attack? If not PM me, and buy one of mine!
Crazy Fedya
Well-known
You're not helping...
...See, one day you think to yourself, I have more K mount bodies than I need so why not use the M42 adapter and what's a nice lens to get and you know, it's usually a better deal to buy lens and body together...
That's how it started for me as well,with K10D, and now I have 17/3.5, 35/3.5, acouple of 50/1.4, a few 55/2 and 55/1.8, 85/2 and 105/2.8 Takumars, and H1a, 2 H3, SP to use them on(not counting 2 MX and MESuperand some K lenses). I only wanted to try...:angel:
Prakticas
Prakticas
Oh, go on, get one. They don't cost an arm and a leg. I'm not crazy about them really, I like the West German stuff, but I've still found myself picking one or two up. I mentioned recently giving one away I knew I'd never use. I paid $5 for it, the young owner's happy though. And I spent a couple of hours cleaning and lubricating an early IV model that turned up with a box of bits. One of these days I must put a film through it. And I have an FX sitting here with a torn curtain, that looks like it should be a piece of cake to replace. I've never owned a 35mm SLR with a waist level finder before, so I would actually like to try that one. Prakticas are a long way down the repair queue though, too many Rolleis and Contaflice waiting to see film again first.
Besides, apart from anything else, they come in handy for door stops; God knows, they're heavy enough...
Praktinas I haven't experienced yet, one day.
Regards,
Brett
Prakticas
Oh, go on, get one. They don't cost an arm and a leg. I'm not crazy about them really, I like the West German stuff, but I've still found myself picking one or two up. I mentioned recently giving one away I knew I'd never use. I paid $5 for it, the young owner's happy though. And I spent a couple of hours cleaning and lubricating an early IV model that turned up with a box of bits. One of these days I must put a film through it. And I have an FX sitting here with a torn curtain, that looks like it should be a piece of cake to replace. I've never owned a 35mm SLR with a waist level finder before, so I would actually like to try that one. Prakticas are a long way down the repair queue though, too many Rolleis and Contaflice waiting to see film again first.
Besides, apart from anything else, they come in handy for door stops; God knows, they're heavy enough...
Praktinas I haven't experienced yet, one day.
Regards,
Brett
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Praktinas are nice, especially with the motor (which effectively gives you an instant retur mirror). Repairs are another matter!
Praktikas are... cheap old cameras that weren't much good when they were new, and haven't improved with keeping.
How about an Exakta is you're suffering from Ostalgia? Or a Pentacon 6?
Oh, and yes: the 58 Biotar is a lovely bottle.
Cheers,
R.
Praktikas are... cheap old cameras that weren't much good when they were new, and haven't improved with keeping.
How about an Exakta is you're suffering from Ostalgia? Or a Pentacon 6?
Oh, and yes: the 58 Biotar is a lovely bottle.
Cheers,
R.
Tessar.
Established
I second picking up gems attached to a body no-one wants. I got a minty silver Steinheil Cassarit attached to a horrible old Edixa for not much. The auction pics were really blurry, but I could see what the lens was without being able to read the lettering. No one else bid...
I had a Praktica FX2 which worked pretty well, much better than the Nova and Super TL series from the later period. If you're lucky, you may get one with a Primoplan lens, which is a nice alternative to the Biotar.
I had a Praktica FX2 which worked pretty well, much better than the Nova and Super TL series from the later period. If you're lucky, you may get one with a Primoplan lens, which is a nice alternative to the Biotar.
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
No, it's not Ostalgia, Roger. It's really that I'm intrigued by the direct finder but can't afford an Asahiflex or, heavens, Alpa. (I would put an accessory shoe on the Praktica, there should be enough room.) In use, I figure it amounts to a scale focus camera with an optional critical focus/framing device.
A Praktisix/Pentacon would be fun but is also not in my budget. Not to mention a different beast altogether.
Exaktas, well, I'm not crazy about the handling and form factor of the Exa 1b, and that one is not even as weird as its older cousins.
A Praktisix/Pentacon would be fun but is also not in my budget. Not to mention a different beast altogether.
Exaktas, well, I'm not crazy about the handling and form factor of the Exa 1b, and that one is not even as weird as its older cousins.
newspaperguy
Well-known
My first pix published in a national sporting magazine - a sequence of a young Pedro Rodriquez crashing his Porche RSK at Meadowdale in the early 60s - were taken with a Practina FX with the wind-up spring motor drive. It worked, but required constant readjustment. This was back when the stop=down diaphram had to be pre-set.
Stilatip
Newbie
My very first camera was a Practica LTL with a 50mm kit prime lens that my Dad bought me when I was 12, it was great. TTL metering, shutter to 1/1000. Very robust and tough.
I learned about light on that camera, took lots of pics, and I used it reliably for many years till it wore out.
My thoughts? Buy one, I bet they're not expensive!
Best wishes, Andy.
I learned about light on that camera, took lots of pics, and I used it reliably for many years till it wore out.
My thoughts? Buy one, I bet they're not expensive!
Best wishes, Andy.
haempe
Well-known
No chance!
Hmm, I don't know, Roger.
At least, they are honest.
No planned obsolescence, no design tricks for the marketing.
All partial error susceptibility only caused by shortage of best raw materials.
Ok, ergonomics is not a general feature of Praktica...
-
And regarding using a Exa - this would be masochism...
Still have a copy of the pix, Rick? I'm sure a few of us would love to see them. Rodriguez went on to bigger and better things with Porsche, of course, notably in their phenomenal 917 series a few years later (before he met a sorry end).
Regards,
Brett
David Hughes
David Hughes
No chance!
...Ok, ergonomics is not a general feature of Praktica...
Hi,
I dunno; that little lever to stop down and switch on the meter was pretty neat, imo. And some of their lenses are first rate. And remember the 30mm Lydith (sigh).
Regards, David
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
A praktica was my first ever camera. I have used and bought-to-sell many of these but I haven't used a Praktina. I have used some of the B-series (BMS, B100 and BX20), all of them died a horrible shutter death. I've also used a Super TL, a LTL3, an MTL 3 and a MTL5 all of them bought in car boot sales. The LTL3 also developed a problem with shutter (became erratic) but all the rest worked fine. My personal favourite was the MTL 5.
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
Thanks guys but I would really like to keep this to the early Prakticas (and Praktiflexes, I guess) with WLF. No interest at all in pentaprism models.
ottluuk
the indecisive eternity
Well, I was given a Praktica LTL for free. IMHO, it's pretty unremarkable any way you look at it - size, build, ergonomics, finder, meh. If you are inclined to pay money for an M42 SLR you might look at the older Pentaxes or the Fujica ST series maybe.
Edit: sorry, didn't see the WLF-only requirement
Edit: sorry, didn't see the WLF-only requirement
paulfish4570
Veteran
oho! i just figured out what WLF means. well, if they are m42, get one that brings along a meyer-optik oreston 50/1.8. this is a very good, sharp lens with a lovely, kind OOF.
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
+1. I have both the Exakta version that came along with an RTL 1000 (basically an interchangable-viewfinder Praktica in disguise) and the M42 version, and it's a lovely little lens. VERY close focusing, too.
Does anyone have any experience with the Praktica VLC? I've used the MTL3, MTL5 and Super TL, but part of me really likes the idea of the VLC; an Exakta RTL1000 with m42 mount and built-in metering? Yes please...