Thanks for this review 👍 I use Praktica cameras since 1990 and i can recommend them highly. My favourites are Praktica MTL3, MTL5 and PLC3. The Super TL 1000 cameras are very similar and very good too, only without a self timer. When you treat it carefully, these cameras are sturdy and reliable for long years. Furthermore you can get lots of very nice M42 lenses from Pentacon, Carl Zeiss Jena, russian lenses like Helios 44 or Mir 1b, Pentax Takumars, some Fujinon and Yashinon lenses.
Thanks for your feedback! I also am very happy with all my Praktica cameras and lenses - as you say, there's a gorgeous selection of M42 glass out there! I'm glad to hear that you're happy using these cameras since such a long time!
My first SLR was a Praktica LTL3. Lovely camera. The Pentacon 1.8 50mm is an excellent lens, at least as good as the Japanese competition of the time. I believe the famous Pentax lens coatings were originally developed by Praktica. I now have six of the M42 mount cameras and a couple of PB mount ones. I find they are slightly louder than Pentax, definitely louder than Olympus, but nonetheless very good and usable.
Getting a Praktica sounds a great way to start photography! And yes most of the lenses are very good. Personally I like the ones that were made by Zeiss Jena the best. Often they're not branded with "Zeiss", just "aus Jena" or something. Because in the cold war days, the international brand rights belonged to the West German Zeiss company in Oberkochen exclusively. But of course the other optical companies in East Germany produced some great glass as well!
My parents gave me a Praktica MTL3 (said to be a refinement of the LTL3) for my 18th birthday in 1983 and over the next years it travelled the world with me. I’ve got it still in great condition but I need to get a battery to check the light meter. After that I moved to Pentax because my older brother and best friend had them and they were smaller, more refined and great SMC Pentax lenses. I still shoot Pentax K-1 DSLR today and recently a FujiFilm X-E4 for something different. I have fond memories of learning on that Praktica though
I have a Praktica MTL 5. Surprisingly it is my only camera body that never needs servicing while I use it most of the time, very very very reliable. I even prefer its loud mirror slap and rough film stroke, gives me the sense that it is an immortal German machine. Couple it with Takumars, best marriage ever.
Yes these are sturdy cameras! But I guess that using it frequently also helps, cause in my experience it's often the lack of use that eventually will lead to sticky shutters and sluggish slow times ... and also yes, Pentax Takumar lenses are fantastic even though many Zeiss Jena lenses are also superb!
I have a Praktica VLC2 and VLC3, which have the added bonus of interchangeable viewfinders and focusing screens. Very reliable and easy to use camera's. While I've had many mechanical problems with more expensive Olympus and Mamiya camera's, these just keep on going!
I also have a VLC3 here with the detachable finder. A nice thing of the design is that the light meter work with all finder types like the loupe or waistlevel finders (in contrast to Nikon F and F2). I remember my brother once used my VLC3 for a trip to South America, together with the Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 which is a fantastic, sharp and contrasty lens!
Thank you for supporting East German kameras…… I love my Praktica kameras…. Maybe not the finest, but easy and great fun to shoot with! I like the nice results that you got!
Thanks for your feedback !! Yes, the Praktica is a bit basic, that's true. But it works very well and you feel how they put a lot of thought into the design. That's why I really enjoy shooting these cameras! Also I absolutely love the older models like the Praktica FX2 - in the 1960s, the East Germans were still at the forefront of things, but they sadly couldn't keep that position for long ... but many, many innovations that we still take for granted today, hark back to the engineering efforts and the ideas and patents of the East German camera industry. By the way, if you haven't already, also watch my Praktica FX2 review and the review about the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primoplan 58/1.9! :)
I thought of buying a Praktica back in 1981 when I was 13. Sears sold them through their catalogs in the U.S. But when I asked about them, most photographers I knew were pretty negative. As a result, I didn't get an SLR for quite a few years to come (I shot a Kodak Retina IIIc for the next ten years). Now that I know more about Eastern Bloc cameras, I wish I had gone ahead and bought one. Thanks for an interesting review!
Thanks for your comment! The Praktica cameras do feel more basic then many other SLR's, but they surely get the job done and will give you the same great results as any other camera! Not sure how the prices at Sears were, but I can imagine they were very cheap ... cause the Eastern German government subsidized all exports. A pity that they talked you out of getting one back then!
@@tomscameras Just did a quick browse through old Sears catalogs from the era and found the price (with lens): about $150 US. That's equivalent to about $450 in 2021. The closest SLR of the era in price was the Pentax K1000, which was just a bit more.
I love my Super TL1000. My first film is getting returned tomorrow. It reminds me of a Pentax K1000 in its 'clunky' operation...but that is what I love. Also a video coming about it some time.
Yes, these two were also targeting a similar market! I just saw your latest video about the Kodak Retina. Just sold a 1939 Retinette 160 yesterday! Super-nice camera!
What a fun video, and very nice photographs. I like Praktica cameras and also have a Super TL1000. They are uncommon here in the US and often found in poor condition, but mine works well. I wish we could buy black and white film in the drug store, I would have to drive almost a hundred miles to buy it in a store.
Thank you very much for your feedback! I can imagine that Eastern Block gear was not that common in the U.S. but I believe there are some rebranded versions. I know some collectors over here find exactly those rebranded Praktica's very interesting! And yes, maybe we analog photographers have to accept that we'll have to shop online for our supplies more often than not ...
Praktica cameras are sometimes overlooked by people, but they are a good choice for people, just beginning to shoot film or people, looking for a film SLR on a cheap. I have a Praktica MTL 5 B and so far I'm satisfied with the results.
Well , Wiki says the super TL1000 was actually build between 1980 and 1984 ( although it really looks like a Camera from 1969). It is very similar to the MTL3 built at the same time but without the selftimer. I like your Videos very much .
Hi Thomas, thanks for your comment. Maybe I was not very precise in my video. You are absolutely right: The "Super TL 1000" arrived in 1980. But what I intended to say is that the whole camera series (the Praktica L series) was launched in 1969 and there were very little changes throughout the whole production run. Basically the 1970 Praktica LTL was already exactly the same as the 1979 MTL 3, I think the only real change is that they went to an LED readout for the light meter at some point. The last one of this "middle-of-the-range" L series lineup was the MTL 5 B which was made from 1985 to 1989. But in the end, they all were the same thing since 1969 ... The Super TL 1000 was a bit of a cheaper version, hence no self timer. Similar to the Pentax K1000 compared to the Pentax KM.
Thanks Georgios! It’s a nice camera! The best alternative is the Pentax Spotmatic but they’re also not that easy to find in a perfect cosmetic and working condition anymore. So the Praktica’s are a great buy!
just getting back into film but my MTL5 needs repair to film counter. A friend has gifted me a TL1000 which I cannot wait to load with battery and film. Great presentation.
Hello Thomas, nice review of the praktica camera. I like these simple L series cameras. With this you can still take pictures at -18 degrees, with a good lens great results are also possible. Where did you get that beautiful strap?
Thanks for your feedback! Ah, the strap. I got asked quite a few times. I can't tell you honestly what strap it is exactly. I got it as a gift from a fellow photographer like 15 years ago and don't remember. There's no brand logo anywhere to be found! Sorry!
My 1st serious camera I bought 1976 was the Japanese equivalent to the Praktica was Canon TX. The TX was all metal , mechanical shutter , single coin battery match needle light meter , built like a Panther tank it weight with the 50mm lens about 1 3/4 pounds or 800kgs . But it was a great student camera you quickly learned how to get the most out the simple camera like the TX or the Praktica Super TL1000 by manipulating the old exposure triangle . All of Praktica's SLR cameras are great reasonably priced Film cameras that are great learning tools to this day . Unlike MOST Soviet era 35mm rangefinder and SLRs cameras were your fighting with the camera's antique crudeness of it's design and or lack of functioning light meters. Where as the East German Praktica's SLRs are of excellent design , functional and useful features making them practical photographic tools (very German 😉). Although the may lack some fancy features your never fighting the camera and can focus creative use of the exposure triangle and composition to create excellent photos. That's what makes DDR era Praktica cameras great , the true German of spirit good design and function was live and well creating quality cameras during the darkest days of the Cold War in one of Eastern Europe's most repressive Marxist countries .
Yes, there are many many great old cameras out there, like your Canon TX or the very similar Canon FTb! I also like the old Minolta SRT's, but never ever shot one so far. They also look like they were built like a tank! By the way, I like your channel name as I love all Gerry Anderson sci-fi series! :)
@@tomscameras Yes I am huge fan of all things Gerry And Sylvia Anderson UFO, ThunderBirds , Captain Scarlet all tied in 1st place for me. Plus I loved all of british ITC dramas of 60s and 70s my old channel handle was Drake Is Six until TH-cam struck it down in 2020 Presidential election shenanigans oh well. Now it a tribute to Cmdr Ed Straker 😉. Love your content keep up the great work
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Hello Thomas, can you tell me what kind of camera strap was shown and used with the Praktica on the video? I really like it, maybe I can order it. Thank you in advanced!
Hey! Sadly I can’t tell you what brand it is: I got this strap as a present from a photographer friend many years ago and there’s branding on it, unfortunately!
Thomas, 4.50 Euros for a roll of B/W film at the drugstores would be absolute heaven for us living in places like Australia! Here are some extra information that should be of interest. 4:39 Electric contacts for data communication between camera and lens, first seen in the 1969 LLC, was an enabling technology that no one else understood at the time, but when greater data have to be transferred this became the only possible way to do it. 5:03 When the B-series was first developed, nobody in the DDR could produce the flexible circuit board and integrated circuits for it, and NEC was contracted to make them. Production facilities were then developed, so from the BC1 onwards, the electronics were made in DDR. 10:37 The metering circuit incorporates a Wheatstone Bridge, meaning that metering accuracy does not depend on the voltage of the battery itself. Voltage variance only results in the degree of meter deflection, but the "correct" position stays the same. 12:47 The vibration happens after the shutter is closed so it should not cause any trouble.
Thanks a lot for providing those details of history - very much appreciated! About the €4.50 per roll of Agfa APX 100: That was when I made the video ... today (late 2022) they sell at €5.95! But it's still affordable, at least!
Thx Thomas. My first slr was an electronic praktica in the 80s, but got robbed. Like yourself I have a contax ii with a full set of jupiter lenses, a helios and a sonnar 50, but would like may be an option to go wider without excessive cost. So I think I may pick up a mechanical praktica again to have other options for cheaper wide angles and with a basic meter. I was going to go for a meter less pentax, but these look sufficient.
I ha e always enjoyed the photo products from Praktica and Exakta. My VX 1000 Exakta, and my Werra with interchangeable lenses are jewels in my camera collection. I would like to know what became of the factories that made these great cameras and the optics from Jena.
Sadly, things didn't go well for many industries of former East Germany after the two parts of Germany were unified again. The West German industry was too advanced in comparison and East German manufacturing methods were old-fashioned and very labor intensive. But still, there were many promising enterprises in East Germany that would have deserved a second chance, but they never got it. Having said that, Zeiss of course was unified as well, but this time heavily under the control of former West German Zeiss. So Zeiss, of course, still is a big player in optics. Pentacon survives also to this day and is still located in Dresden, but they don't produce cameras for the amateur market anymore. It's today a part of the (originally West German) Schneider-Kreuznach group. And the last Praktica SLR camera, the BX20s, also got a second chance, it was produced until the early year 2000. There are many later products, also digital cameras, called "Praktica" but it's just a brand name used by many e.g. Far East suppliers.
I have a few Praktica L-Series SLR's... My 1st was a Super TL 3 I bought well over 20 years ago for $15 at a thrift store... I still have it... I also have a Super TL 1000, a couple o' MTL 5's, and I'm in the middle o' getting a couple more... These are highly underrated cameras! The only downside is that they weren't manufactured to be able to be fitted with a Motor Drive(Although there is one fellow on here that built one!)... I prefer the ones with the textured rubber grips, as apposed to the ones with leatherette... I've always loved their simplicity & reliability... Not to mention, I love the location o' the Shutter Release! When coupled with a 50mm Prime lens, they really shine! I've also got a B200, another one that looks like a B200(Just a slightly different model which escapes me at the moment), and a Nova B... P.S. This is the 1st I've heard about them having plastic housings? I'm pretty sure that mine are aluminium? (I'll have to check, I've got an MTL 5 apart on my desk, back home...)
I actually really prefer the L series over the B series, not only because of the super-versatile M42 mount. But the Praktica B models are also very interesting. And they did enjoy some success. Even after the wall was torn down and many East German companies folded due to economic pressure, the Praktica BX20s remained into production until 2001! As for the plastic: Yes the top plate is plastic! The chrome finish is designed and produced so well that you'd never guess! I was at the Photokina booth of one of the modern follow-up companies of Praktica in Cologne a few years ago, and they had a history wall there where the Pentacon patent of that ingenious chrome-on-plastic finish from the late 1960's was mentioned.
@@tomscameras Interesting... They are very well made cameras... Not to mention they came stock with some o' the best Lenses ever made! I love the fat that they don't have any extra bells or whistles... They are just a great Manual SLR... I have huge hands so I really like the way that the L-Series SLR's fit my hands...
Hi Tom, i've found and bought the old (not cheap) special eyecup/eye piece for the Praktica MTL/TL/L Series - it costs usually everything nowadays between 8 to 15 EUR. Because that was something, i disliked. Every SLR of mine does have it's own eyecup, but Praktica was a bit tough to find.
I wasn't aware that these eyecups are already somewhat rare and expensive. Just the other day I was shocked to find out that an original 1970s/80s Nikon lens cap is 25 Euros on ebay ... you really feel how all these things get more and more rare over the years!
@@tomscameras Yes, i know Tom! That's the thing. :) And you know what? All my old "classic" Lenses get more expensive year by year, and so are the small, subtle AddOns, like eyecups. Hint: For most Minolta SLRs, also Yashica, the cheap (3rd party, i buy that online) "Pentax Pb or PB" called eyecup suit it very well. ;)
What i do like on the Super TL 1000 - it's a *very* basic SLR, even into it's heyday, it was being considered "old tech", because the competition (Canon, Nikon & Minolta) featured a LED Meter, -Shutterspeed via OVF, but the Praktica just a basic match needle meter, like the way old Kowa E from 1961. But i am okay with that. Only drawback for myself, the eyecup, or -eyepiece. I've never seen a matching, good shading one. On every other brand, one can simply exchange the eyecup, for a new one, if it's broken. This one is plastic. The good thing: It takes M42 lenses, so literally every Lens since the legendary CONTAX S does fit here. The lens can tilt in the M42 thread, therefore, i always prefer otherwise a real lens bajonet mount system. Otherwise, i like the classic metal camera design, and any zerbra lens, or from any brand, which is being silver, black or silver and black, suits well to this Praktica. The Shutter position is somewhat "unorthodox", but you can use a cable release - and also attach a soft release button, my Praktica does have a blue one. I've found this model being a cute, brick-design, which was afaik being build between 1980-1984.
Yes, I agree with all that you say. The Praktica L series are nice cameras and they were basic in the 1980s ... but in a good way! I absolutely love the shutter position by the way. I did never experience problems with mounting M42 lenses ... but yes, you are right, most modern bayonet mounts are much nicer. But the legacy of M42 is just awesome!
@@tomscameras Just right, Tom. The L Series are way basic, but into a cute way. Perhaps you'd test some M42 lenses on your channel. I'm always for 35mm, because it's very versatile, whereas 50mm are usually being faster, give better bokeh options, but also being more narrow from the PoV. I have not used much the Praktica, so i'll figure out, if the shutter position is fine for me into the long run. :) Update - i've shot the 1st roll with the TL 1000, the Shutter position is fine. As on the MTL Series, etc.
Hi Tom, I work for Praktica and we're interested in adding your review of the TL1000 to the Praktica website. Please could you let me know if this is ok or if you'd like any further details. Thanks, Christopher
Hi Christopher. Thanks for your message. I'm interested, but yes would like to know more details. You can contact me via instagram: instagram.com/my7views/ Thanks!
Won the auction for one on ebay some years ago fo 1€ (plus 10€ for shipping). Practically mint. Unfortunately the battery contact broke with oxidation. I´ll try to fix it soon.
@@jpspider That's acceptable I guess. However I notice my Prakticas need a lot of practice ... if you just leave them in a closet for several years the long shutter times can get a bit problematic. They want to be used!
@@tomscameras i think it´s acceptable, since it has more than 30 years. Apart from that everything is working good and it has been used for about 4 years by a friend of mine! :)
Hi, I have my 1st analog camera,praktica super tl, which battery do you use? I also dont understand the lense domiplan f2.8 /50, I will check if you have any video about it. Great video, thank you for sharing
Hey there! Do you have the "original" Praktica Super TL? It looks different from the camera in this video. It takes the old PX625 batteries. In many areas of the world, you can't get them anymore. You can use an SR44 battery as a replacement even though the SR44 is a bit smaller than the PX625. The Domiplan 50/2.8 was not made by Zeiss, but by the other big lens manufacturer that there was in East Germany - Meyer-Optik Görlitz. Later their name was changed to VEB Pentacon ... but the manufacturing continued in the same factories. Unfortunately, I don't have a Domiplan myself. It is a simpler design than the Zeiss Tessar 50/2.8. The Domiplan has only three lens elements so it is really basic and classic design. When shooting landscapes or detailed sceneries, I would advise to stop down to f/8 or f/11 for best sharpness. Have fun with your Praktica!
@@tomscameras thank you so much for your reply, yes it is the original and I bought it on “kleinenzeigen” , I also bought batteries LR44 in DM. I will check for the SR44. This is my first camera ever and is like a new world to me with so much that I’ve to learn and so little info available 😅. Thank you!!
@@tomscameras Do you hold it down and change the setting until the needle is in the middle? Mine indicates overexposures regardless of the setting. Do you need to put a film in the camera for it to indicate properly? Or is it broken perhaps?
If you look at my video at 1:20: There's this black plastic tab on the camera that you press for taking exposure readings. (If your Praktica doesn't have that tab, it might be a model with open-aperture metering ... those are a bit more rare.) What that tab does is it (1) activates the light meter circuit and (2) sets the camera to "working aperture" mode. Let's say it's daylight, you're outdoors, not in the shade: Set film speed to 100 and shutter speed to 1/125. Now depending on the weather, correct exposure should be anything between f/4ish (winter, cloudy) and f/16ish (summer, open sun). So you press the black tab and hold it! Now start at f/4 and go through f/22. You will see how the image gradually gets darker in the viewfinder. And you should see also how the needle reacts at some point because correct exposure in the situation I just described above will be anything between f/4 and f/16ish! If your meter needle still doesn't work properly: (1) When you set f/22 and press the black tab, do you see the image darken? Does the aperture of your lens close down properly? (2) If there's no problem with (1), then the meter system might be non working.
@@tomscameras The image in the viewfinder does not go darker when i hold down the black tab and adjust the aperture, which i'm assuming means the system does not work? Is that a problem with the lens, which isn't an original btw, or is it the camera? The lens is longer than the one you're using in the video. Seems to be a beroflex f 80-200mm f/3.9 mc auto zoom.
@@linusdn2777 Okay. Next round of trouble shooting! :) Maybe have a look at this video of another Praktica camera where I explain how the aperture control works: th-cam.com/video/XrAEj_P3Klw/w-d-xo.html Go to th-cam.com/video/XrAEj_P3Klw/w-d-xo.html&t=450s where I start talk about the M42 mount. Also you see at th-cam.com/video/XrAEj_P3Klw/w-d-xo.html&t=466s that there's a sort of wide lever inside the camera that moves forward. This operates the aperture. (1) If you press the black tab on your Praktica, that lever should move forward just like it does in the video! It also should move forward when you fire the shutter! (2) Is this your lens? www.ebay.de/itm/363722609659?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item54af8e93fb:g:OoEAAOSwtV1iBOSH&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAAA4HhzqOSGy0XjtT5EWqxmuFxfXBEUOpHKDFCeykkJd%2B2agYUUhJ9MOnXzu%2BxRVQBiL2Xi%2FjYHPSBxa1w7nLD75FXZSIlyEwq5IZna5RDIAGaus%2BUAnRjLnaa7PDhC07W6Gc5ybNkSeTft0CO%2Fhl2AAFGf134IfL1JbJBQBnPoZEF0nYfgXRHaX%2B4mJIOf61OyhShzVPe4ZOaJC2ZAPLWcMjxlZMLTItRNRZeOpJTR67GZTQKZpM1yaHl6Vwjde1uDG4HvA5Ith%2BkoF2%2BVCzWu3XdWJ8pYGBEFv8HkI%2FyI6afu%7Ctkp%3ABFBMiIuu0_5f (The ebay link above might be inactive after some time) So the lens should have a small silver pin that protudes from the back side, it sits just next to the rear lens elements. Check if that pin moves freely and if you set the lens to f/22, and you press the pin, the aperture of your lens has to close. If it doesn't, the problem is with the lens. (3) Check if your lens has an A-M switch, usually next to the aperture ring. If it sits on A, move it to M. Now the lens itself is in "working aperture" mode that means it should open and close the aperture according to how you set it, independently from you or the camera pressing any pins.
I liked the camera and the lenses that are available for it but unfortunately the film advance broke down on me... Seems to be a common problem with praktica camera's. But still a good review!
Hey! Sorry to hear you had these problems with your Praktica. I have got 6 or 7 different ones over the course of the years and if mine failed then it was always connected to the slow shutter speeds or the 1/1000 ... both just happens to almost any old camera if it is not used frequently. I do know that the Praktica B series with the bayonet mount have a problematic film transport mechanism but wasn’t aware that this can also happen to the M42 bodies. So thanks for sharing your experience and pointing out!
@@tomscameras No problem! The mechanical error I experienced resulted in overlapping frames and caused about 3/4 of my roll to be totally useless... Luckily my other praktica (nova PL) is still in working condition and the lenses are interchangeable :)
@@hamish5214 These old Prakticas are also great cameras, oh yes :) But my two Praktica FX II (even older than the Nova) don't work anymore cause they have holes in the cloth shutter curtains :p ... for sure a problem that's not exclusive to Prakticas, because it's common with many old cameras with cloth shutters ...
I buy via dm the APX 100 for a hell long timel, but i must admit, APX 100 (or -400) is not a Film, for tonality fans. Acros is, but way too expensive. And APX 100 is often not being as contrasty, as i'd like to have it. Therefore, i push it, and shoot it at ASA/ISO 200. A great, old Film is Fomapan 100 classic, which costs less than APX 100, but does have a "classic" tones, -tonality and rendition, much more contrast, than Agfa APX 100. It's a classic, like Kodak TX400 (Tri-X 400) Not to everybody's taste, but i like it. :)
In general, I'm a fan of the super-fine ISO 100 films, like T-Max or Delta 100. I also love Acros, it's gorgeous for night shots because of the low reciprocity failure. It was not available for some time which is when I started loving T-Max ... I use APX 100 especially when trying out "new" old cameras, mainly cause it's cheap and readily available at all those drug stores here in Germany. It's just cool that they still carry film so I kinda support them. BTW about a year ago, I also made a short video about ISO 100 black and white films: th-cam.com/video/bHiMiyEG2oY/w-d-xo.html
There are two possibilities: #1 you use a film scanner, there is a huge amount of different models out there, #2 you use a digital camera with macro lens and take a photo from the negative, e.g. the negative is positioned on a light table ... I went for option #2 Here's a video from sanleesnaps that shows how to do it: th-cam.com/video/VKMbEBg1Il4/w-d-xo.html
@@tomscameras Thanks you! I have found one of these for 5£. Also what recommendations do u have for dslr cameras? And are dslr cameras better for basic photos or smartphones? I like to take pictures of my girlfriend and i was looking for some recommendations.
@@serbandavid5552 Well that's a big topic. Smartphones are really good these days! I'm sure you already have a smartphone? Just start taking some photos with that! If you have a newer one, it maybe already offers some extra features like it can computer-generate background blur, etc ... and a good portrait lives from posing, situation, capturing the right moment etc. just as much, a better camera is just an added bonus on top! If you want to take your photography one step further, of course a system camera with kit lens plus a 50/85mm prime lens (this is for portraits) will give even better results. But there's a learning curve. Personally I would not buy a DSLR anymore in 2021, rather get a mirrorless camera from Sony, Panasonic, Nikon, Canon or Fuji. It really also depends on your budget to choose the right model!
Yes and no! :) Let me explain: Yes = originally they were supplied with mercury batteries. No = the metering circuit of this generation of Praktica cameras has a so-called bridge circuit so it operates well even if the battery voltage is slightly off. So you can just as well use any modern 1.5V batteries that physically fit in there!
I have a V625U (= PX625A) in it. It's an alkaline battery which is normally not perfect as their actual voltage changes over time. Whereas a silver oxide battery is more stable (like the SR44). But the Praktica's light metering circuit is "balanced" so it works with varying voltages very well. This is a difference to many other classic cameras (like Olympus OM-1 for example) that are really designed to work with exactly 1.35V and show different readouts at 1.5V already. I just put the one battery in this Praktica and shot away, and all shots looked good in terms of exposure. So, of course, all this is not a specific test.
Thanks for this review 👍
I use Praktica cameras since 1990 and i can recommend them highly.
My favourites are Praktica MTL3, MTL5 and PLC3. The Super TL 1000 cameras are very similar and very good too, only without a self timer.
When you treat it carefully, these cameras are sturdy and reliable for long years.
Furthermore you can get lots of very nice M42 lenses from Pentacon, Carl Zeiss Jena, russian lenses like Helios 44 or Mir 1b, Pentax Takumars, some Fujinon and Yashinon lenses.
Thanks for your feedback! I also am very happy with all my Praktica cameras and lenses - as you say, there's a gorgeous selection of M42 glass out there! I'm glad to hear that you're happy using these cameras since such a long time!
That’s my very first camera at the age of 15, how time has passed so quickly.
Yes, I know that feeling! Great first camera! I remember when I was 16 and working at a supermarket for my first dream camera, a used Nikkormat :)
My first SLR was a Praktica LTL3. Lovely camera. The Pentacon 1.8 50mm is an excellent lens, at least as good as the Japanese competition of the time. I believe the famous Pentax lens coatings were originally developed by Praktica. I now have six of the M42 mount cameras and a couple of PB mount ones. I find they are slightly louder than Pentax, definitely louder than Olympus, but nonetheless very good and usable.
Getting a Praktica sounds a great way to start photography! And yes most of the lenses are very good. Personally I like the ones that were made by Zeiss Jena the best. Often they're not branded with "Zeiss", just "aus Jena" or something. Because in the cold war days, the international brand rights belonged to the West German Zeiss company in Oberkochen exclusively.
But of course the other optical companies in East Germany produced some great glass as well!
My parents gave me a Praktica MTL3 (said to be a refinement of the LTL3) for my 18th birthday in 1983 and over the next years it travelled the world with me. I’ve got it still in great condition but I need to get a battery to check the light meter. After that I moved to Pentax because my older brother and best friend had them and they were smaller, more refined and great SMC Pentax lenses. I still shoot Pentax K-1 DSLR today and recently a FujiFilm X-E4 for something different. I have fond memories of learning on that Praktica though
I have a Praktica MTL 5. Surprisingly it is my only camera body that never needs servicing while I use it most of the time, very very very reliable. I even prefer its loud mirror slap and rough film stroke, gives me the sense that it is an immortal German machine. Couple it with Takumars, best marriage ever.
Yes these are sturdy cameras! But I guess that using it frequently also helps, cause in my experience it's often the lack of use that eventually will lead to sticky shutters and sluggish slow times ... and also yes, Pentax Takumar lenses are fantastic even though many Zeiss Jena lenses are also superb!
I have a Praktica VLC2 and VLC3, which have the added bonus of interchangeable viewfinders and focusing screens. Very reliable and easy to use camera's. While I've had many mechanical problems with more expensive Olympus and Mamiya camera's, these just keep on going!
I also have a VLC3 here with the detachable finder. A nice thing of the design is that the light meter work with all finder types like the loupe or waistlevel finders (in contrast to Nikon F and F2).
I remember my brother once used my VLC3 for a trip to South America, together with the Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 which is a fantastic, sharp and contrasty lens!
Great review! Your videos are a joy to view because of the mix of technical and history, I always find myself at home.
Thanks! I always worry a bit that I go too much off topic ... so it's good to see that you do enjoy watching my review videos!
@@tomscameras it's perfect I think, especially for cameras that have some history.
@@25myma Great! Appreciate your feedback!
Thank you for supporting East German kameras…… I love my Praktica kameras…. Maybe not the finest, but easy and great fun to shoot with!
I like the nice results that you got!
Thanks for your feedback !!
Yes, the Praktica is a bit basic, that's true. But it works very well and you feel how they put a lot of thought into the design. That's why I really enjoy shooting these cameras!
Also I absolutely love the older models like the Praktica FX2 - in the 1960s, the East Germans were still at the forefront of things, but they sadly couldn't keep that position for long ... but many, many innovations that we still take for granted today, hark back to the engineering efforts and the ideas and patents of the East German camera industry.
By the way, if you haven't already, also watch my Praktica FX2 review and the review about the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primoplan 58/1.9! :)
I thought of buying a Praktica back in 1981 when I was 13. Sears sold them through their catalogs in the U.S. But when I asked about them, most photographers I knew were pretty negative. As a result, I didn't get an SLR for quite a few years to come (I shot a Kodak Retina IIIc for the next ten years). Now that I know more about Eastern Bloc cameras, I wish I had gone ahead and bought one. Thanks for an interesting review!
Thanks for your comment! The Praktica cameras do feel more basic then many other SLR's, but they surely get the job done and will give you the same great results as any other camera! Not sure how the prices at Sears were, but I can imagine they were very cheap ... cause the Eastern German government subsidized all exports.
A pity that they talked you out of getting one back then!
@@tomscameras Just did a quick browse through old Sears catalogs from the era and found the price (with lens): about $150 US. That's equivalent to about $450 in 2021. The closest SLR of the era in price was the Pentax K1000, which was just a bit more.
I have a Praktica LTL3 from my father, I started photography with it in 1990
Nice that you still have that camera! I'm sure there's a lot of memories attached to it by now!
@@tomscameras My first photos, my first b&w developments
@@chriscard6544 Sounds like fantastic memories ...!
I love my Super TL1000. My first film is getting returned tomorrow. It reminds me of a Pentax K1000 in its 'clunky' operation...but that is what I love. Also a video coming about it some time.
Yes, these two were also targeting a similar market!
I just saw your latest video about the Kodak Retina. Just sold a 1939 Retinette 160 yesterday! Super-nice camera!
What a fun video, and very nice photographs. I like Praktica cameras and also have a Super TL1000. They are uncommon here in the US and often found in poor condition, but mine works well. I wish we could buy black and white film in the drug store, I would have to drive almost a hundred miles to buy it in a store.
Thank you very much for your feedback! I can imagine that Eastern Block gear was not that common in the U.S. but I believe there are some rebranded versions. I know some collectors over here find exactly those rebranded Praktica's very interesting! And yes, maybe we analog photographers have to accept that we'll have to shop online for our supplies more often than not ...
Great camera Review Vlog, thanks for sharing
Tony, many thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed viewing it!
Praktica cameras are sometimes overlooked by people, but they are a good choice for people, just beginning to shoot film or people, looking for a film SLR on a cheap. I have a Praktica MTL 5 B and so far I'm satisfied with the results.
Well , Wiki says the super TL1000 was actually build between 1980 and 1984 ( although it really looks like a Camera from 1969). It is very similar to the MTL3 built at the same time but without the selftimer.
I like your Videos very much .
Hi Thomas, thanks for your comment. Maybe I was not very precise in my video. You are absolutely right: The "Super TL 1000" arrived in 1980. But what I intended to say is that the whole camera series (the Praktica L series) was launched in 1969 and there were very little changes throughout the whole production run. Basically the 1970 Praktica LTL was already exactly the same as the 1979 MTL 3, I think the only real change is that they went to an LED readout for the light meter at some point. The last one of this "middle-of-the-range" L series lineup was the MTL 5 B which was made from 1985 to 1989. But in the end, they all were the same thing since 1969 ...
The Super TL 1000 was a bit of a cheaper version, hence no self timer. Similar to the Pentax K1000 compared to the Pentax KM.
Great review. Thinking to buy one
Thanks Georgios! It’s a nice camera! The best alternative is the Pentax Spotmatic but they’re also not that easy to find in a perfect cosmetic and working condition anymore. So the Praktica’s are a great buy!
Thanks Tom, I found an TL1000 at 30€ but it was sold today! Will check out the Spotmatic too.
Oh that’s a pity! But happy hunting! Either are gorgeous cameras in their own way!
just getting back into film but my MTL5 needs repair to film counter. A friend has gifted me a TL1000 which I cannot wait to load with battery and film. Great presentation.
Thanks for your comment! I hope you‘ll have a lot of fun with your TL1000 then!
Hello Thomas, nice review of the praktica camera. I like these simple L series cameras. With this you can still take pictures at -18 degrees, with a good lens great results are also possible.
Where did you get that beautiful strap?
Thanks for your feedback!
Ah, the strap. I got asked quite a few times. I can't tell you honestly what strap it is exactly. I got it as a gift from a fellow photographer like 15 years ago and don't remember. There's no brand logo anywhere to be found! Sorry!
My 1st serious camera I bought 1976 was the Japanese equivalent to the Praktica was Canon TX. The TX was all metal , mechanical shutter , single coin battery match needle light meter , built like a Panther tank it weight with the 50mm lens about 1 3/4 pounds or 800kgs . But it was a great student camera you quickly learned how to get the most out the simple camera like the TX or the Praktica Super TL1000 by manipulating the old exposure triangle . All of Praktica's SLR cameras are great reasonably priced Film cameras that are great learning tools to this day . Unlike MOST Soviet era 35mm rangefinder and SLRs cameras were your fighting with the camera's antique crudeness of it's design and or lack of functioning light meters. Where as the East German Praktica's SLRs are of excellent design , functional and useful features making them practical photographic tools (very German 😉). Although the may lack some fancy features your never fighting the camera and can focus creative use of the exposure triangle and composition to create excellent photos. That's what makes DDR era Praktica cameras great , the true German of spirit good design and function was live and well creating quality cameras during the darkest days of the Cold War in one of Eastern Europe's most repressive Marxist countries .
Yes, there are many many great old cameras out there, like your Canon TX or the very similar Canon FTb! I also like the old Minolta SRT's, but never ever shot one so far. They also look like they were built like a tank!
By the way, I like your channel name as I love all Gerry Anderson sci-fi series! :)
@@tomscameras Yes I am huge fan of all things Gerry And Sylvia Anderson UFO, ThunderBirds , Captain Scarlet all tied in 1st place for me. Plus I loved all of british ITC dramas of 60s and 70s my old channel handle was Drake Is Six until TH-cam struck it down in 2020 Presidential election shenanigans oh well. Now it a tribute to Cmdr Ed Straker 😉. Love your content keep up the great work
Hello Thomas, can you tell me what kind of camera strap was shown and used with the Praktica on the video? I really like it, maybe I can order it. Thank you in advanced!
Hey! Sadly I can’t tell you what brand it is: I got this strap as a present from a photographer friend many years ago and there’s branding on it, unfortunately!
Very interesting. I have the MTL 5 B model. Very nice.
Yes, a beautiful simple camera, I hope you have a lot of fun with it!
Thomas, 4.50 Euros for a roll of B/W film at the drugstores would be absolute heaven for us living in places like Australia! Here are some extra information that should be of interest.
4:39 Electric contacts for data communication between camera and lens, first seen in the 1969 LLC, was an enabling technology that no one else understood at the time, but when greater data have to be transferred this became the only possible way to do it.
5:03 When the B-series was first developed, nobody in the DDR could produce the flexible circuit board and integrated circuits for it, and NEC was contracted to make them. Production facilities were then developed, so from the BC1 onwards, the electronics were made in DDR.
10:37 The metering circuit incorporates a Wheatstone Bridge, meaning that metering accuracy does not depend on the voltage of the battery itself. Voltage variance only results in the degree of meter deflection, but the "correct" position stays the same.
12:47 The vibration happens after the shutter is closed so it should not cause any trouble.
Thanks a lot for providing those details of history - very much appreciated!
About the €4.50 per roll of Agfa APX 100: That was when I made the video ... today (late 2022) they sell at €5.95! But it's still affordable, at least!
Hi Tomas! Great video. Question: can you make double exposures with this camera? Thank you :)
Thx Thomas. My first slr was an electronic praktica in the 80s, but got robbed. Like yourself I have a contax ii with a full set of jupiter lenses, a helios and a sonnar 50, but would like may be an option to go wider without excessive cost. So I think I may pick up a mechanical praktica again to have other options for cheaper wide angles and with a basic meter. I was going to go for a meter less pentax, but these look sufficient.
I think the Praktica is a great choice. The Pentax models feel better made to be honest. But the Praktica is a very good design nonetheless!
I ha e always enjoyed the photo products from Praktica and Exakta. My VX 1000 Exakta, and my Werra with interchangeable lenses are jewels in my camera collection. I would like to know what became of the factories that made these great cameras and the optics from Jena.
Sadly, things didn't go well for many industries of former East Germany after the two parts of Germany were unified again. The West German industry was too advanced in comparison and East German manufacturing methods were old-fashioned and very labor intensive. But still, there were many promising enterprises in East Germany that would have deserved a second chance, but they never got it.
Having said that, Zeiss of course was unified as well, but this time heavily under the control of former West German Zeiss. So Zeiss, of course, still is a big player in optics. Pentacon survives also to this day and is still located in Dresden, but they don't produce cameras for the amateur market anymore. It's today a part of the (originally West German) Schneider-Kreuznach group.
And the last Praktica SLR camera, the BX20s, also got a second chance, it was produced until the early year 2000. There are many later products, also digital cameras, called "Praktica" but it's just a brand name used by many e.g. Far East suppliers.
I have a few Praktica L-Series SLR's... My 1st was a Super TL 3 I bought well over 20 years ago for $15 at a thrift store... I still have it... I also have a Super TL 1000, a couple o' MTL 5's, and I'm in the middle o' getting a couple more... These are highly underrated cameras! The only downside is that they weren't manufactured to be able to be fitted with a Motor Drive(Although there is one fellow on here that built one!)... I prefer the ones with the textured rubber grips, as apposed to the ones with leatherette... I've always loved their simplicity & reliability... Not to mention, I love the location o' the Shutter Release! When coupled with a 50mm Prime lens, they really shine! I've also got a B200, another one that looks like a B200(Just a slightly different model which escapes me at the moment), and a Nova B... P.S. This is the 1st I've heard about them having plastic housings? I'm pretty sure that mine are aluminium? (I'll have to check, I've got an MTL 5 apart on my desk, back home...)
I actually really prefer the L series over the B series, not only because of the super-versatile M42 mount. But the Praktica B models are also very interesting. And they did enjoy some success. Even after the wall was torn down and many East German companies folded due to economic pressure, the Praktica BX20s remained into production until 2001!
As for the plastic: Yes the top plate is plastic! The chrome finish is designed and produced so well that you'd never guess! I was at the Photokina booth of one of the modern follow-up companies of Praktica in Cologne a few years ago, and they had a history wall there where the Pentacon patent of that ingenious chrome-on-plastic finish from the late 1960's was mentioned.
@@tomscameras Interesting... They are very well made cameras... Not to mention they came stock with some o' the best Lenses ever made! I love the fat that they don't have any extra bells or whistles... They are just a great Manual SLR... I have huge hands so I really like the way that the L-Series SLR's fit my hands...
question can this camera take helios 44m-4 lens without a problem?
Yes. And if its condition is good, the Helios 44M-4 (58mm f/2) 's a very nice lens!
In the last months i used a Helios 44M-6 on Praktica MTL3 and MTL5, checked it on LTL3 too and it works very good.
Hi Tom, i've found and bought the old (not cheap) special eyecup/eye piece for the Praktica MTL/TL/L Series - it costs usually everything nowadays between 8 to 15 EUR. Because that was something, i disliked. Every SLR of mine does have it's own eyecup, but Praktica was a bit tough to find.
I wasn't aware that these eyecups are already somewhat rare and expensive. Just the other day I was shocked to find out that an original 1970s/80s Nikon lens cap is 25 Euros on ebay ... you really feel how all these things get more and more rare over the years!
@@tomscameras Yes, i know Tom! That's the thing. :) And you know what? All my old "classic" Lenses get more expensive year by year, and so are the small, subtle AddOns, like eyecups.
Hint: For most Minolta SLRs, also Yashica, the cheap (3rd party, i buy that online) "Pentax Pb or PB" called eyecup suit it very well. ;)
What i do like on the Super TL 1000 - it's a *very* basic SLR, even into it's heyday, it was being considered "old tech", because the competition (Canon, Nikon & Minolta) featured a LED Meter, -Shutterspeed via OVF, but the Praktica just a basic match needle meter, like the way old Kowa E from 1961. But i am okay with that. Only drawback for myself, the eyecup, or -eyepiece. I've never seen a matching, good shading one. On every other brand, one can simply exchange the eyecup, for a new one, if it's broken. This one is plastic.
The good thing: It takes M42 lenses, so literally every Lens since the legendary CONTAX S does fit here. The lens can tilt in the M42 thread, therefore, i always prefer otherwise a real lens bajonet mount system. Otherwise, i like the classic metal camera design, and any zerbra lens, or from any brand, which is being silver, black or silver and black, suits well to this Praktica. The Shutter position is somewhat "unorthodox", but you can use a cable release - and also attach a soft release button, my Praktica does have a blue one. I've found this model being a cute, brick-design, which was afaik being build between 1980-1984.
Yes, I agree with all that you say. The Praktica L series are nice cameras and they were basic in the 1980s ... but in a good way! I absolutely love the shutter position by the way.
I did never experience problems with mounting M42 lenses ... but yes, you are right, most modern bayonet mounts are much nicer. But the legacy of M42 is just awesome!
@@tomscameras Just right, Tom. The L Series are way basic, but into a cute way. Perhaps you'd test some M42 lenses on your channel. I'm always for 35mm, because it's very versatile, whereas 50mm are usually being faster, give better bokeh options, but also being more narrow from the PoV. I have not used much the Praktica, so i'll figure out, if the shutter position is fine for me into the long run. :)
Update - i've shot the 1st roll with the TL 1000, the Shutter position is fine. As on the MTL Series, etc.
Hi Tom, I work for Praktica and we're interested in adding your review of the TL1000 to the Praktica website. Please could you let me know if this is ok or if you'd like any further details. Thanks, Christopher
Hi Christopher. Thanks for your message. I'm interested, but yes would like to know more details. You can contact me via instagram:
instagram.com/my7views/
Thanks!
@@tomscameras Thanks Tom, I'll message you from the Praktica insta account once I find someone with the password 😂🤦♂
Won the auction for one on ebay some years ago fo 1€ (plus 10€ for shipping). Practically mint. Unfortunately the battery contact broke with oxidation. I´ll try to fix it soon.
Well the price sounds great, despite the small flaw! 😎
@@tomscameras The flaw happened last week. About 10 years after ;)
@@jpspider That's acceptable I guess. However I notice my Prakticas need a lot of practice ... if you just leave them in a closet for several years the long shutter times can get a bit problematic. They want to be used!
@@tomscameras i think it´s acceptable, since it has more than 30 years. Apart from that everything is working good and it has been used for about 4 years by a friend of mine! :)
Hi, I have my 1st analog camera,praktica super tl, which battery do you use? I also dont understand the lense domiplan f2.8 /50, I will check if you have any video about it. Great video, thank you for sharing
Hey there! Do you have the "original" Praktica Super TL? It looks different from the camera in this video. It takes the old PX625 batteries. In many areas of the world, you can't get them anymore. You can use an SR44 battery as a replacement even though the SR44 is a bit smaller than the PX625.
The Domiplan 50/2.8 was not made by Zeiss, but by the other big lens manufacturer that there was in East Germany - Meyer-Optik Görlitz. Later their name was changed to VEB Pentacon ... but the manufacturing continued in the same factories.
Unfortunately, I don't have a Domiplan myself. It is a simpler design than the Zeiss Tessar 50/2.8. The Domiplan has only three lens elements so it is really basic and classic design. When shooting landscapes or detailed sceneries, I would advise to stop down to f/8 or f/11 for best sharpness. Have fun with your Praktica!
@@tomscameras thank you so much for your reply, yes it is the original and I bought it on “kleinenzeigen” , I also bought batteries LR44 in DM. I will check for the SR44. This is my first camera ever and is like a new world to me with so much that I’ve to learn and so little info available 😅. Thank you!!
Does it have the same light detection system that the pentax k1000 had? Where you could easily tell if you had the correct aperture and shutter speed
The match-needle light meter in this camera works the same way as in the K1000, yes.
@@tomscameras Do you hold it down and change the setting until the needle is in the middle? Mine indicates overexposures regardless of the setting. Do you need to put a film in the camera for it to indicate properly? Or is it broken perhaps?
If you look at my video at 1:20: There's this black plastic tab on the camera that you press for taking exposure readings. (If your Praktica doesn't have that tab, it might be a model with open-aperture metering ... those are a bit more rare.)
What that tab does is it (1) activates the light meter circuit and (2) sets the camera to "working aperture" mode.
Let's say it's daylight, you're outdoors, not in the shade: Set film speed to 100 and shutter speed to 1/125. Now depending on the weather, correct exposure should be anything between f/4ish (winter, cloudy) and f/16ish (summer, open sun).
So you press the black tab and hold it! Now start at f/4 and go through f/22. You will see how the image gradually gets darker in the viewfinder. And you should see also how the needle reacts at some point because correct exposure in the situation I just described above will be anything between f/4 and f/16ish!
If your meter needle still doesn't work properly:
(1) When you set f/22 and press the black tab, do you see the image darken? Does the aperture of your lens close down properly?
(2) If there's no problem with (1), then the meter system might be non working.
@@tomscameras The image in the viewfinder does not go darker when i hold down the black tab and adjust the aperture, which i'm assuming means the system does not work? Is that a problem with the lens, which isn't an original btw, or is it the camera? The lens is longer than the one you're using in the video. Seems to be a beroflex f 80-200mm f/3.9 mc auto zoom.
@@linusdn2777 Okay. Next round of trouble shooting! :)
Maybe have a look at this video of another Praktica camera where I explain how the aperture control works:
th-cam.com/video/XrAEj_P3Klw/w-d-xo.html
Go to th-cam.com/video/XrAEj_P3Klw/w-d-xo.html&t=450s where I start talk about the M42 mount. Also you see at th-cam.com/video/XrAEj_P3Klw/w-d-xo.html&t=466s that there's a sort of wide lever inside the camera that moves forward. This operates the aperture.
(1) If you press the black tab on your Praktica, that lever should move forward just like it does in the video! It also should move forward when you fire the shutter!
(2) Is this your lens?
www.ebay.de/itm/363722609659?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item54af8e93fb:g:OoEAAOSwtV1iBOSH&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAAA4HhzqOSGy0XjtT5EWqxmuFxfXBEUOpHKDFCeykkJd%2B2agYUUhJ9MOnXzu%2BxRVQBiL2Xi%2FjYHPSBxa1w7nLD75FXZSIlyEwq5IZna5RDIAGaus%2BUAnRjLnaa7PDhC07W6Gc5ybNkSeTft0CO%2Fhl2AAFGf134IfL1JbJBQBnPoZEF0nYfgXRHaX%2B4mJIOf61OyhShzVPe4ZOaJC2ZAPLWcMjxlZMLTItRNRZeOpJTR67GZTQKZpM1yaHl6Vwjde1uDG4HvA5Ith%2BkoF2%2BVCzWu3XdWJ8pYGBEFv8HkI%2FyI6afu%7Ctkp%3ABFBMiIuu0_5f
(The ebay link above might be inactive after some time)
So the lens should have a small silver pin that protudes from the back side, it sits just next to the rear lens elements. Check if that pin moves freely and if you set the lens to f/22, and you press the pin, the aperture of your lens has to close. If it doesn't, the problem is with the lens.
(3) Check if your lens has an A-M switch, usually next to the aperture ring. If it sits on A, move it to M. Now the lens itself is in "working aperture" mode that means it should open and close the aperture according to how you set it, independently from you or the camera pressing any pins.
I liked the camera and the lenses that are available for it but unfortunately the film advance broke down on me... Seems to be a common problem with praktica camera's.
But still a good review!
Hey! Sorry to hear you had these problems with your Praktica. I have got 6 or 7 different ones over the course of the years and if mine failed then it was always connected to the slow shutter speeds or the 1/1000 ... both just happens to almost any old camera if it is not used frequently. I do know that the Praktica B series with the bayonet mount have a problematic film transport mechanism but wasn’t aware that this can also happen to the M42 bodies. So thanks for sharing your experience and pointing out!
@@tomscameras No problem! The mechanical error I experienced resulted in overlapping frames and caused about 3/4 of my roll to be totally useless... Luckily my other praktica (nova PL) is still in working condition and the lenses are interchangeable :)
@@hamish5214 These old Prakticas are also great cameras, oh yes :) But my two Praktica FX II (even older than the Nova) don't work anymore cause they have holes in the cloth shutter curtains :p ... for sure a problem that's not exclusive to Prakticas, because it's common with many old cameras with cloth shutters ...
I buy via dm the APX 100 for a hell long timel, but i must admit, APX 100 (or -400) is not a Film, for tonality fans. Acros is, but way too expensive. And APX 100 is often not being as contrasty, as i'd like to have it. Therefore, i push it, and shoot it at ASA/ISO 200. A great, old Film is Fomapan 100 classic, which costs less than APX 100, but does have a "classic" tones, -tonality and rendition, much more contrast, than Agfa APX 100. It's a classic, like Kodak TX400 (Tri-X 400) Not to everybody's taste, but i like it. :)
In general, I'm a fan of the super-fine ISO 100 films, like T-Max or Delta 100. I also love Acros, it's gorgeous for night shots because of the low reciprocity failure. It was not available for some time which is when I started loving T-Max ...
I use APX 100 especially when trying out "new" old cameras, mainly cause it's cheap and readily available at all those drug stores here in Germany. It's just cool that they still carry film so I kinda support them.
BTW about a year ago, I also made a short video about ISO 100 black and white films:
th-cam.com/video/bHiMiyEG2oY/w-d-xo.html
Sorry i am just a bit confused, how did u get the pics from film to digital?
There are two possibilities:
#1 you use a film scanner, there is a huge amount of different models out there,
#2 you use a digital camera with macro lens and take a photo from the negative, e.g. the negative is positioned on a light table ...
I went for option #2
Here's a video from sanleesnaps that shows how to do it:
th-cam.com/video/VKMbEBg1Il4/w-d-xo.html
@@tomscameras Thanks you! I have found one of these for 5£. Also what recommendations do u have for dslr cameras? And are dslr cameras better for basic photos or smartphones? I like to take pictures of my girlfriend and i was looking for some recommendations.
@@serbandavid5552 Well that's a big topic. Smartphones are really good these days! I'm sure you already have a smartphone? Just start taking some photos with that! If you have a newer one, it maybe already offers some extra features like it can computer-generate background blur, etc ... and a good portrait lives from posing, situation, capturing the right moment etc. just as much, a better camera is just an added bonus on top!
If you want to take your photography one step further, of course a system camera with kit lens plus a 50/85mm prime lens (this is for portraits) will give even better results. But there's a learning curve. Personally I would not buy a DSLR anymore in 2021, rather get a mirrorless camera from Sony, Panasonic, Nikon, Canon or Fuji. It really also depends on your budget to choose the right model!
@@tomscameras Thank you i will look into that! Thank you very much for ur time!
@@serbandavid5552 You're welcome! Let me know if you have found the perfect camera for you! :)
Does it use mercury batteries.
Yes and no! :) Let me explain:
Yes = originally they were supplied with mercury batteries.
No = the metering circuit of this generation of Praktica cameras has a so-called bridge circuit so it operates well even if the battery voltage is slightly off.
So you can just as well use any modern 1.5V batteries that physically fit in there!
So what battery did you use? Does it meter correctly with it? @tomscameras
I have a V625U (= PX625A) in it. It's an alkaline battery which is normally not perfect as their actual voltage changes over time. Whereas a silver oxide battery is more stable (like the SR44).
But the Praktica's light metering circuit is "balanced" so it works with varying voltages very well. This is a difference to many other classic cameras (like Olympus OM-1 for example) that are really designed to work with exactly 1.35V and show different readouts at 1.5V already.
I just put the one battery in this Praktica and shot away, and all shots looked good in terms of exposure. So, of course, all this is not a specific test.
@@tomscameras Super useful info. Thank you so much.