Do not buy a 35mm Film camera without watching this ! praktica nova

[@peteringram01]

Hi Robert. Agree completely with you on this, but a word of warning. As you indicated selenium cells will deteriorate significantly over the years, especially if left exposed, making light readings not just inaccurate but actually unusable. If the camera has been stored in its case then this is less of a problem, but otherwise beware. Much better in my opinion to go for a later M42 Praktica with Cadmium Disulphide light sensors such as one from the LTL or MTL range. The later MTL3B is a classic and a really great camera.

[@rrafal]

Agreed. One of my batteryless cameras from USSR has non functioning light meter, and the reason is probably it didnt have a case when I got it.

[@alexcarrillo5510]

Oh Yes the Praktica Nova 1B came out in 1967, and I got it in 1972, and the person that sold it to me later became my co-worker at the camera store that I work for 33 years in San Francisco, as you should do a video on Camera store that are Family own since they are disappearing, and it was a time that working there was not only fun, but working with a family in the owners, and co-workers. - Now it is CLOSED, and Gone as some of the viewers rather go to a Big Box stores that can sell you to the up to date cameras as still when they use it, that well lets say that they do not not know how to Cropped, Compose, played with the menu to set it in what they want to have, BUT when they done that the scene is gone. Love your Nikon Collection but like I said I really prefer using Old Mecha as I do like my Nikon Gear Both Film, and Digital, but seeing German Optics gear just makes me to go shoot more Film....

[@klausrickert3607]

Hi Robert, the Nova came up in 1966 sucseeding the Praktica V and VB models. Yours is a later so-called PL-model available not earlier than 1967. Yours is a PL-B version "B" for German "Belichtungsmesser" meaning "light meter". Thus you have a sophisticated version of the NOVA PL. Alternatively the TOP-model was the 1967 Praktica SUPER TL .... employing their first TTL-metering system. And yess .... these cameras are realy high quality cameras .... well made, solid and extremely reliable even decades after production! If a camera simply works without issues, it could be a PRAKTICA! VEB PENTACON (the manufacturer) made a total number of about 850.000 NOVAs. Actually, it was an extreme success. Those days it used to be value for money! Nowadays it is what you put it ... A BANG FOR THE BUCK! Quality which is widely underestimated and cheap as can be. in 1969 the NOVAs were followed by the L-Series-PRAKTICAs ... an even greater success. The L-series made it up to around 10,000,000 pieces to the end of production. It is BOTH .... mass-production but a piece of art the same time. Enyoy the NOVA! Yours Klaus Rickert

[@robbellphoto]

Wow thank you so much for an excellent comment !!! I mean what can I say , these are so much fun and I’ve already fired through a bunch of kentmere 400 with it !!! Thanks again so much

[@VirtualGuth]

Praktica cameras were very inexpensive here in the States, perfect for me as a high school student with a keen interest in photography. It was the mid-70;s whem I bought my first 35mm SLR - a Hanimex Praktica LTL. It was the cheapest new camera I could find at the time, but it was built like a tank and was a big step up from the Kodak Instamatic that I started out with. The LTL was an all mechanical unit that had a built-in battery powered light meter of the match needle variety. It also came with one of those heavy duty leather cases like the one shown here. It was the perfect camera to learn the basics of photography with. Had I kept the camera I'm sure that it would still be working fine today.

[@robbellphoto]

It’s funny, the way we over look these technical advancements, the way we throw them aside. The images I get with the older cameras blow my mind. I’m be actually started using this lens regularly with my Spotmatic for fun also. Check out my graflex 35 video. Images are so cool

[@cwbunny2010]

picked one of these up at a flea market on a trip to Canada about 5 years ago! First time shooting a roll with it. So excited to see the results!

[@robbellphoto]

AND THATS what it’s all about ! I mean …. My first roll was a disaster by technical standards but the images are of the people I love so they still went in my Album as wonderful memories:-)

[@j.c.103]

thanks for this review ! i have the Nova IB since long years, and you are right : it looks cool, it is reliable, it's a joy to use this wonderful SLR. There are lots of extremely good M42 lenses to use them on the Nova IB. My favourite lenses are : Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mmf2.4 for wide angle , Helios 44M for standard, Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 80mmf1.8 for portrait and Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primotar 180mmf3.5 for telephoto and sports photography.

[@robbellphoto]

CORRECT ! We love the M42 lens Mount my goodness there are lost if great options for sure ! I’ve not tried that specific Carl Z but I’ll keep an eye out for it ! THANKS for the great comment

[@tobysummers471]

Sorely underrated cameras. I would urge anyone with £10 in their pocket to buy one and have fun. Solidly built, mostly very reliable. The meters rarely work these days from experience. An external meter is a must. Really nice Carl Zeiss Jena lenses available as well as others which can be found for cheap too. The Pentacon/Praktica name is derived from Pentagon pentaprism and Contax! The East were not allowed to use the Contax name in Western Europe/North America etc. They make stunning images and you would be silly not to buy one. Great video.

[@Kolibri1337]

A much better Praktica for beginners would be the MTL 5B. It is far superior over the nova 1B, but the only downside is that it requires a battery (SR44) for the light meter. Similar to the MTL 5B but with selenium cell (and without battery like the nova 1B) are the LB or LB2. But the selenium cells age when exposed to light so become less effective and will degrade the accuracy of the light metering. And there are no new parts to exchange the selenium cells. But you're totally right, many people just buy the expensive cameras because an influencer uses them too, despite their being a lot of gems waiting for little to no money, which noone notices.

[@christopherwelch5568]

I agree, this is a great way to get into analog photography. However... I made this mistake and now have a camera that can't be repaired. I wanted a rangefinder and did a deep dive on them. I found one that I liked the look of black and white images from it- a Petri 7s. It was dirt cheap on ebay and in abundance. I paid $10 for a pristine one plus shipping. And I never got to use it. In turning the aperture ring and firing the shutter to see how it worked, an aperture blade came loose. So it has an oddball aperture opening that could still be useable. And then the shutter stopped working. This is just me playing with it, before using it. I never got to use it. I bought a Yashica Electro 35G, got it CLA'd and it works like a champ. Save yourself some grief and buy a brand name camera that's proven.

[@questions6746]

They're more than $5 on ebay and not sure about the "Prakticability" of thowing the case across the room on the floor.

[@acherion]

Great find there Robert! The camera club I used to go to had a donation made from someone in the community of their Praktika Nova 1B + 5 lenses (two of them being Carl Zeiss Jena lenses!) complete with books and receipts, alas no leather case though, which I picked up. It needs a service, there's some fluro green gunk at the bottom but I have been leaving that to the wayside - I think your video has prompted me to get the service / CLA sorted on my Praktika.

[@robbellphoto]

Wow ! I mean , that is pretty darn special ! I’m also excited to try the lens on my SV …. This little old fellow has some fungus around the edges for sure but I think I can clean it up ?! Great to have saved them right ?!

[@freisein8046]

the next models from the 70s got an internal lense measuring light meter, very precise and also do not cost much more. I love those and the Practica B200, which is the perfection of an electronic measuring and automatic or manual shutter. All Japanese cameras are copies of it. The later ones had lower quality plastic casing then...

[@Alpha_Rocking]

Due to the permanent shortage - the main characteristic of socialist regimes - we Ossis (East Germans...) tried to do the best we could with the few things that were available. Many things could only be obtained through relationships and in exchange for other desires. Which is or was nothing more than a well-organized black market.😎 Basically, it was a constant struggle for the few usable things. And I think that this contributed to the construction of such robust devices. If we Ossis needed something of value, then it was built to last. I recently discovered a Praktica IV in a small antique store & bought it for little money. My first analog SLR. After researching the most important criteria for the camera, I gradually realized what I had actually bought; the camera is around 60 years old and in such incredibly good condition! The mechanics are neither defective nor has lubricant caused any damage. It almost seems to me as if it was overhauled not so long ago. However, this would have exceeded the value of the camera many times over - based on the hourly rate of a specialist. I have now understood all the functions of the camera - I think. What's missing now is that I insert a black and white film & (try to) shoot my very first analog photos. 🤓 One thing is for sure; if these photos don't turn out well, really nothing at all, then it's not because of the Praktica IV. I really made a great catch with it. And what could be cooler than having the right camera fall into your lap for your first experiences in analog photography? 💫 And yes: _Don't do it for Instagram - Make it for you!_ Sincere regards, Alpha 🦉

[@robbellphoto]

Great comment ! Happy that you found what I hope is a great camera body to start making memories !!!! Good luck

[@Oakdenalan]

Nice vid! I was after a camera that had character, wasn't an SLR (already had a DSLR), but also had some good quality to its pictures without breaking the bank. Settled on a Kiev 4 from 1973, really happy with it and came with an original case.

[@robbellphoto]

….. I do not have a Kiev ?????? Now I’ll hav to pick one up lol :-)))) thanks for the excuse ! Although we do kit need excuses to pick up more equipment lol

[@Oakdenalan]

Haha they're cool. Contax clones made by the Soviets after they stole blueprints from the contax factory (and some of their staff) post war. 99% the same, lenses fit too.@@robbellphoto

[@robbellphoto]

@@Oakdenalan just sold my MA 137 quarts… shipped it yesterday and already miss it :-( had Carl Z lens also. I just never shot it and what a waste to sit in a shelf … a cheaper option would be nice

[@terryroth2855]

Good one. Most of my cameras are no name vintage cameras, including a Praktica. I really enjoy shooting them all and have rarely spent over $30 for one, and that included a lens or two.

[@robbellphoto]

Splendid work ! Trends come and go…. However there are some true classics out there to be snagged for sure

[@JohnDeBrazen]

I have a Praktica Nova 1B and Zenit E - I got into film photography because I was trying to get my grandad’s Zenit to work again. The Zenit is cool and very similar, but the Praktica just feels so much nicer to use. Only issue is that is leaver’s are weaker on the 60s Prakticas than the Zenits which are like unbreakable bricks. Im looking forward to developing my photos to compare the 2.

[@robbellphoto]

Thanks so much for the comment and fuel our G.A.S ….. we should look at comparing the models also ;-) HOORAY

[@user-ve3gh5xg9q]

I bought now Practica Super tl. Is very very nice 😊

[@robbellphoto]

Great camera body ! Huge fun

[@user-ve3gh5xg9q]

@@robbellphoto But I must now how works light metter?. Help me?

[@robbellphoto]

@@user-ve3gh5xg9q HA ! Please download a light meter app and use the app on your cell phone ! These are more reliable than the 50 year old light meters

[@user-ve3gh5xg9q]

@@robbellphoto I already know everything. The light meter works. Very solid camera and really well made. Thanks for the answer 👍

[@SchwarzPoet]

Hi Robert, if you're already with the Praktica camera brand, why not take a look at the Praktica VLC, the Praktica VLC2 or the Praktica VLC3? These three cameras are a real alternative to the Nikon F2, the Nikon F3, the Canon F-1, the Canon F-1n, the Canon F-1New or the Pentax LX. And the Praktica cameras are many times cheaper than the others mentioned, at least as robust and reliable and all three Praktica cameras allow internal exposure metering, even with a waist-level viewfinder, without any problems. Greetings from Germany

[@robbellphoto]

Any alternatives to the Nikon money pits are welcome on my page ;-) Thanks so so much for the heads up and greeting Germany

[@SchwarzPoet]

@@robbellphoto The only thing you need for the Praktica VLC cameras is a 4.5 volt adapter where you can insert three LR44 batteries, but you can get this cheaply and you can even get it with a pack of ten LR44 batteries on the usual internet platforms. If you want to work with the camera with a flash, there is a suitable hot shoe from Pentacon / Praktica including a short connecting cable between the hot shoe and the camera and, as already mentioned, the three clip-on viewfinders, i.e. prism viewfinder, waist-level viewfinder and magnifying viewfinder. All lenses from Pentacon or Carl Zeiss Jena that have electric written on them allow you to work with TTL and open aperture metering and for all other M42 lenses you can conveniently switch to working aperture metering on the camera with a dial under the rewind crank. With a bit of luck, I paid less than 200€ for the complete equipment and accessories including two lenses (Usually between 200 and 300€.), for which you would have to pay 600€ or more for the Nikon F2 and for the Nikon F3 you would have to pay four figures for the complete equipment. Just to give you an idea. I can't say what the prices are like in the USA or UK, but they're certainly not much different than in Germany. And as I said, Praktica cameras are robust and reliable. In any case, mine works perfectly and without any problems. Best regards

[@alexcarrillo5510]

My First SLR was a Praktica Nova 1B, and use it during High School, and mostly use it when I was in High School Yearbook, and Paper, It lasted me for about 4 years worth and then switch over a Nikon Nikkormat then lead to my Nikon System, However as I was still looking at German cameras as I got the Last Model Praktica B20Xs, and Praktica BMS along with two of my babies, A Pentacon F, and Praktina FX as using these models as I love the results in using Carl Zeiss Jena Lenses as have been using them with good luck for a 70 year cameras as been also using the Zeiss lenses on my Digital Mirrorless models. Good Video

[@robbellphoto]

Amazing insight and input thank you ! This is my first experience with this camera …. What a beast. I loved that it lasted you that long, and that you used it how it was intended to be used ! Thanks for the comment:-)

[@LosPeregrinos51]

"There's so much of hipster stuff that goes on . . . " said he, sitting there in a Patagonia baseball cap . . . indoors 😉 Still, not a bad video 👍