EXA and PRAKTICA Film SLRs - Desirable Classic Cameras - For Peanuts!

[@liveinaweorg]

Love my little Exa 500 - beautiful design and lovely to use.

[@AinCa1]

Lovely episode! I used an EXA-1c in the early 90's, That's all I could afford. Unfortunately, the plastic parts of the winding mechanism broke during a -40degC Russian winter. Camera shops in Dresden still maintain and repair these models. Another outstanding GDR camera is the sixties era Penti (I and II). The winding mechanism of this one is spectacular.

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@tomredd9025]

The Exa 1c is a strange mix of Ihagee and Pentacon influences. Lots of plastic. With the original Exa, I don't think you would have had any problem. I collect Exaktas and I have seen a lot of original Exas. Only one did not work.

[@tonyhayes9827]

These cameras and lenses always look better through your eyes. Must be the Zen. Love these videos. Keep up good work. You're building up a library of very fine work

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@petersnow389]

Hello Nigel, Thank you very much for another excellent video. The EXA you have, is in fact version 6, approx 1961. There were earlier EXA's, from around 1952, up to around 1966 or so. Some of the later cameras had a vertical running, focal plane shutter, offering speeds up to 1/500 second, (EXA 500). However, Pentacon introduced another model, the EXA 1c, which was in production around the mid 1980's, with a return to the old sector shutter, and M42 lens mount, instead of the Exakta bayonet. You still sometimes see the odd brand new example on Ebay.

[@zenography7923]

Whoops - thanks for the correction Peter. A brand new Exa would be a very interesting camera!

[@robinj.9329]

I really love these fine old cameras! Grew up shooting with very similar equipment. So their familiar old Friends!

[@zenography7923]

They were a pleasure to shoot - very nice to come back to film now and again!

[@Goat.Herder]

The MTL 5B I have is my favourite camera, I've come to enjoy shooting Praktica as they are just simple, no fuss and dependable... Plus they're dirt cheap. I'd like to get my hands on a Pentagon Six sometime

[@HumanClouds]

Thanks for another very interesting video. Wouldn't mind to see a video about lens maintenance!

[@zenography7923]

Thanks Bert - that's vote number 1!

[@GeorgeK356]

The history of photography throws up some lovely, and interesting, cameras. These 3, from the GDR are just scratching the surface. I have recently begun collecting the rather nice metal compact cameras of the 60's to the 80's. Ricohs, Fujicas, Olympus etc. These cameras are increasing in price rapidly, 3 months ago I bought a Fujica GEr with a jammed shutter - this is a well known problem with this model, and is easily fixable - for £7. I noticed yesterday that another with the same problem is starting on the auction site at £20. Ricoh's and Ollys are the same, there are some lovely cameras around, I have a few Yashica Ministers, the III, the D, the 5, and some Minoltas, 7's etc. Great stuff. Next episode? anything you like, but the cheap 50's intrigues me. Regards George

[@zenography7923]

Thanks George, glad you enjoyed the episode!

[@joecarey7123]

I've taken a risky punt or two on lenses, not always successful, so I'd love to see a restoration/maintenance tutorial.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks Joe!

[@tomredd9025]

Always enjoy your videos! I have that "EXAKT" camera and lens. The Zeiss Jena Pancolar lens is legendary. It is my favorite camera lens in my entire collection. That particular Exa was made in the late 1950 and early 1960s. It was the last variation of the original Exa (with no number), which was designed to be the second body for persons with an Exakta or as a pocket or for a lady's purse camera. At the end of their production, you could pick one up for around $25. Great deal on a great camera. You hit it on the nail when you indicated that you can change the lens or the viewfinder and focusing screen. You can even put on one of the behind the lens TTL meters made for Exakta. With the exception that you pointed out the slow speed, it is a very versatile camera. As far as the slow shutter speeds, you have to remember that when camera came out that, top film speed was 200 ISO, so the 1/150 or 1/175 of a second was perfectly reasonable. Carry a neutral density or a dark yellow or orange filter I agree that the model we both have is beautiful. However, the variant with the name plate in the older "Embossed" shiny chrome is stunning. I would love to get one. Same camera just different cosmetics. Finally, people need to be careful on what take up spool to use. The spool comes out so you can put in a film cartridge if you like so you don't have to rewind. However, a word of caution. The original Exa take up spool is the same as the Exakta. However, Ihagee changed to a larger body with a rapid advance lever in the early 60s but kept the same shutter. This take-up spool takes up the film in an opposite direction. If you use a newer Exa take spool in an original Exa it will break the film. When I bought the camera, I used it for a couple of weddings of relatives. Unfortunately, the camera without a take-up spool so I put one in from the newer Exa model. After a couple of broken films, the camera sat on the shelf for almost two decades, until I was alerted by a post from an Exakta website. Changed the spool and it works beautifully! Use it a lot now!

[@zenography7923]

The Exactas are lovely cameras for sure, I very much enjoyed borrowing this one. Good to hear yours gets regular use!

[@norfener]

I bought a secondhand Practica in th early 70's when I was an apprentice. The guy in Jessops also persuaded me to buy a Pentacon 3.5/30 (aka Mayer-Lydith) and I still have it!

[@zenography7923]

I'm glad to hear it - do you still use it?

[@nounejm2761]

I own praktica Nova from 1960's also very stylish beautiful and great to use, so easy to get used to and very handy as if they made it exatly for my palms :D

[@gerritpost1909]

Owned the Exakta VX1000. Somewhere around 1966 I guess. Unfortunately the shutter locked up after a couple of years. Made great pics though. With a lens from Jena indeed. Shooting birds was a bit of a challenge due to the noise it made.

[@andrewlee1655]

Wonderful, Zenful, Professional and Passionate content and advice as always! Thank you!

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, very glad you enjoyed it!

[@utekopka7920]

Great episode! I have bought my Praktica MTL5B new in 1988, with the insurance money for my Exakta varex IIa that sadly got stolen. It still works like new. Love it so much - buy far my favorite camera for film. The cover isn't plastic but mat chromed metal. Mine has a small bow on the top, which wouldn't be possible with plastic. Just two additions about the timeline: the MTL5B was produced between 1980 and 1989 and the Exa changed the color of the plate from silver to black in 1960. So your camera should be from the early 1960s.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the info Ute, very interesting! I've had a number of comments suggesting that the Praktica LTL/MTL is made from plastic, with a thin coating of metal - but as you say it would tend to break rather than bend. Sounds like at least the MTL 5B is metal then!

[@klauspetermann2373]

Schneider-Kreuznach is in West Germany. But after the fall of the wall they whre the owner of the rest of pentacon. This company has the name Schneider - Dresden. The only camera in the world who comes from east and west is the exakta 66. Body from pentacon, modified with parts from Schneider- Kreuznach and lenses from Schneider-Kreuznach. Personally i have the last carl zeiss jena lens. A Zeiss Jena Biometar but essembled with a body from Schneider -Kreuznach. I've bought this lens for 240DM, now it cost 800€! Good investment. zenografi is so cool, no frills and everytime valuable information! Thank you!

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the info Klaus very interesting. The Exacta 66 sounds like an interesting camera. Glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@justlikeswimming5988]

I'm always happy to hear about new-old lenses. Would love to watch your review of mamiya lenses (some of my favorite m42 and 645). An episode on how to maintain and work on old lenses (thanks to you, I'm up to about 30 old lenses in my collection) would be great! Also, any chance of reviewing the praktina camera? I'm trying to get one fixed (pinholes in curtain), it's a beautiful beast that I loved the first time out (light leaks and all). Thanks for your great show!

[@zenography7923]

I've yet to try Mamiya lenses - thanks for the reminder!

[@petersnow389]

How I wish now that I had joined one of the UK Pentacon Club visits to Dresden, offered to club members in the 1970's. Amongst other delights, club members were given a tour of the Pentacon factory, then in full operation!.

[@zenography7923]

That would indeed have been something to see!

[@marksantostefano1637]

I have an Exa 500 which I love to use!

[@tomredd9025]

Oh, wanted to add that you should do one of your great videos on the Praktica Mat. This camera from around 1964 was the very first European camera with a behind the lens meter. Yes, beat everyone - Leica, Zeiss Ikon, Edixa etc. It has a more complicated and accurate camera meter that later Prakticas. Also, the finish is stunning, it is the best I have seen on any Praktica. It was aimed at the professional and discerning amateur. It was only made for a very short time until they brought the Super TL which was a step down from the Praktica Mat. I picked one up at show for $30. Neither the seller nor I knew anything about it, but I was immediately smitten by it.

[@zenography7923]

That sounds like an interesting camera, I'll look out for one. Thanks for the tip!

[@aarjaycee3601]

lovely trip down memory lane there, my dad had an MTL5B I think it was, wonder if it's still around

[@tadeusz1]

Still have a Praktica LLC with Pancolar 1.8 from the early 70's. Love the combo. Well balanced too.

[@zenography7923]

They're great little cameras, and the pancolar is outstanding - a great combination!

[@columjevens4612]

Have a Praktica packed away and I feel guilty now so will take it out and give it freedom , I used it with some Tamron lens and have been using them as vintage . Enjoying all your videos, thanks 👍. lens care etc would be a great subject

[@zenography7923]

It sounds like that Praktica is overdue for an airing!

[@pefawa]

I really enjoy your channel. You're informed and pleasant. I purchased my third Soviet camera last month after a weeks worth of binge watching your channel, and I couldn't be happier. I have a question for you, though it's unrelated to this video I hope you can answer it. I'm finding these white plastic cards tucked into the back of two of my Zorki camera cases. Do you know what they are, or what they're used for..?

[@johnflett7228]

Some very cool cameras and very worth consideration. I have been tempted to go back and try film again. That Praktica reminds me of my first real camera, a Pentax K--1000. I wish I still had that.

[@zenography7923]

It's well worth shooting some film from time to time - an altogether different experience to shooting digital - and these cameras are a great way to do it for a fairly low cost!

[@klauspetermann2373]

For the Praktica B all lenses called prakticar. Most lenses came from meyer Görlitz, but also from Zeiss Jena. Zooms come from japan. There also exist an M42 Adapter with electronic contacts from pentacon (min 15.10)

[@Renegade1127]

I have a CZJ Sonnar 135mm F4, Exakta mount. It is the silver version, and the serial number dates it to 1958/59. Fantastic lens, but is now suffering from 'spider' fungus inside the rear element. Do you know where I can find any maintenance diagrams etc. for this lens? I have another old lens you would probably like - a Rubinar 500mm f5.6 Catadioptic (M42 mount). Generally regarded as the best of the old 'mirror' lenses. Both of these lenses are used on Canon bodies - 700d (w/magic lantern for remote focus stacking), 7d mark ii and M5 mirrorless. M42-EF and Exakta-EF adapters are easily found on eBay.

[@somegeezer]

That Praktica 5B is actually a late 80s camera. Though the technology inside it certainly makes it seem older. It was the second to last fully mechanical Praktica before the fall of the Soviet Union. The MTL 50 being the final. Also, the Prakticas for about a 20 year span were near identical. All that really differed were things like the ground glass, did it have a self timer, how the lightmeter worked. But you can't go wrong with really any of them. I have myself a Super TL 1000 from the early 80s, and the aforementioned MTL 50. Could recommend either.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the info - I didn't realise that!

[@somegeezer]

@@zenography7923 No worries. I think everything you mentioned about the way it works and feels was spot on all the same. and the price is unbeatable. I got my two for £25 and £20, with the 50mm lenses attached. and definitely plenty of body only sales for less. Though the lenses on their own often go for more. I was very lucky to find the matching 29mm Pentacon for a good price, which was difficult to find less than about £50. Took a long while and a lot of luck, but mine is in flawless condition. and the 135mm can be had at decent prices, too. Mine is a little beaten, but optically great for about £25, too.

[@subbbass]

i don't understand what "the fall of the Soviet Union" has to do with Praktica cameras. Can you please explain it for me.

[@somegeezer]

@@subbbass They were built in the Democratic German Republic [East Germany], which was controlled by the Soviet Union.

[@subbbass]

@@somegeezer there was control over foreign and military policy from the Soviet Union but not in details of any industry. especially not since 1985 when Gorbatschow took office.

[@kennener8446]

Would love to see digital IR episode. I've shot IR film, but have not even explored IR digital. Thanks for the excellent content!

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote Ken!

[@solidamber]

I've got an mtl3..I never realised it was plastic, the camera is so heavy the finsh is perfect and looks like metal, even after all these years no scratches or cracks.

[@zenography7923]

There seems to be some debate about this - some say it's a kind of metal plated plastic, while others say they're metal, so I may be mistaken here. Not sure where we'd find the definitive answer!

[@klauspetermann2373]

The Exakta was the first 35mm in the world. There was a soviet model a bit earlier but it was later in production. (2.41)

[@burkhardmatzing3159]

I' like to see all of the videos you proposed. I just can't decide the order of appearance ... LOL

[@zenography7923]

Thanks! :)

[@alpcns]

That was delightful and brought back lots of good memories, having used all of these. Thanks! I'd be interested in where to obtain and develop film these days.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@norfener]

I use AG-Photographic / AG-Photolab in Birmingham UK. Some film is in short supply at the moment.

[@dezmondwhitney1208]

Yes, the MTL3'Ss and MTL5s were fine manual 35mm cameras to use. Great.

[@zenography7923]

Indeed - very nice cameras. Thanks for looking in!

[@andreasmotzkus6181]

Great episode! I would like to see some infos about storage of lenses. No one handles that topic! I find all various ideas about storage quite contradictory (for example shall I expose them to light against fungus and get dust inside, or store them in a dark case, where fungus is growing? Which materials are feeding the fungus, and so on). My beloved new Fujinons will quickly become glass waste and may develop fungus over time. However there is big difference to the lenses from the 60s and 70s: you cannot maintenance that lenses by yourselve, since these have delicate optical stabilization and you have to store calibration data from a optical bench inside their electronics after (re-)mounting. Therefore proper storage of current and old lenses is of major importance for everybody who wants to enjoy their gems over years.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote Andreas, I hope you enjoyed the storage and maintenance episode!

[@cameratrav]

Thanks Nigel, another enjoyable video. Batteries are a relevant subject too, the bonus with the MTL5B was a change from a mercury cell to the safer and easily bought LR44. A vote for lens maintenance next please. Could be worth looking at solving problems with purchased lenses. Of course it is sensible to buy clean vintage lenses from good sources but we can't resist an apparent eBay bargain of unknown condition :-)

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote Richard, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@tmandel1]

Btw, as always this was a terrific video. These days, when I think about one of my old cameras or lenses, one I once had or one I still have, I think... "when will Zeno do a video about this one..." :)

[@zenography7923]

Thanks Tom, very glad you enjoyed it!

[@jimboblivesforever]

I bought a Praktica MTL 5B in the Mid 80s brand new. It taught me everything about the basics of photography, and it never let me down until a 10 meter fall finally destroyed it in the early 2000s. I miss it a lot. Unfortunately, they aren't that cheap anymore here in Germany, at least when they're still in good shape. It seems the MTL5 and 5B models can have film transport problems these days. I don't know if the MTL3 or LTL models are any better in that respect.

[@zenography7923]

I would think they'll all be showing some sort of wear by now. Even if you could find a new in box example, rubber and various other components can degrade over time. Nothing a competent repairer can't sort out though!

[@jimboblivesforever]

@@zenography7923 True. Unfortunately, I am not a competent repairer of cameras 😉

[@kevinroberts1888]

Nice cameras. Might pick up an EXA sometime. I have a Praktica MTL3 in my collection and it's one of my favorite film cameras. Another one I really like and still have is the first SLR I ever got, a Canon A-1 that I got in 1986 when I was starting photography school. It's a great film camera, with access to Canon's wonderful FD lenses, but looking on eBay, I see that it's a little pricey these days.

[@zenography7923]

It is indeed - it's a very nice camera though!

[@TL-vt8uk]

Great episode! I would be keen to see an infrared photography episode. Thanks.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote!

[@MyRetroJourney]

Many East German made products are still in use today, because they were designed to last and not to break after a few years of usage, like most of todays products do. Greetings from (West) Germany :)

[@zenography7923]

They seem to have stood the test of time, for sure!

[@maxgrau9083]

A wonderful post, nice would be a video about tripods and their handiness !?

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the suggestion Max, I'll keep it in mind!

[@davidb9682]

Wow, love those moving depth of field arrows on the Exa. Very original, never saw that on a camera again. Re: future episode, my vote goes to infrared photography.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks David. Those dof scale arrows are pretty cool I think!

[@arcanics1971]

I'm always up for an episode on nice glass, but to be honest all those options sound good to me!

[@zenography7923]

Fair enough!

[@markusklein6309]

Would like to see a video about infrared!

[@zenography7923]

Thanks Markus!

[@johnembry9055]

Another great video. Thanks from a Pentaxian.

[@klaustomasini]

As always very interesting! Thx for your videos. I would like to get more information about IR photography. Would be nice!

[@zenography7923]

Thanks Klaus, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@tmandel1]

You might well enjoy looking into the Russian Kiev rangefinders. Super interesting. &, in a sense, one might look at post-WWII Nikon as having emerged from the Contax/Kiev lineage. Certainly the lens mount of Nikon's rangefinders (the S, S2, S3, etc.) is a version of the Zeiss mount, & the physical design of those cameras reflects Contax/Kiev as well. Plus, since the design of the Nikon F owes much to these rangefinder predecessors, the Contax/Kiev legacy continued for quite a while. They are interesting in many ways -- e.g. vertical, rubber shutters. Beautiful machines! Enjoy...!

[@zenography7923]

The Kiev cameras are very interesting - not least because they're exact Contax 1 copies, made, as I understand it, on the original Contax machine tools. You're right, Nikon does owe a debt to Contax, although a Nikon rangefinder will cost quite a bit more than a Kiev!

[@benjaminhinkeldey6079]

Schneider Kreuznach is from a city called Bad Kreuznach about an hour west of Frankfurt - nowhere near GDR...

[@zenography7923]

Whoops - thanks for the correction!

[@jezztech]

Hello sir, excellent video as usual, I still have my MTL5, boasting advantageous features for the time and cost, such as self timer, 1/125 th flash sync speed, hot shoe AND flash remote sync socket and Swedish steel vertical travel focal plane shutter. Variants of the B200, B100, BCX, BCA, and its final guise the Jenaflex had contacts / couplings for an autowinder ,made for Praktica by a Japanese company ( I am not certain but seem to remember Minolta, historically have been a company willing to collaborate with other companies). It also had a rudimentary TTL flash compatibility again as a result of a DDR/ NIPON collaboration. BUT, I digress, If you did a video explaining what DYNAMIC RANGE actually is, i for one would appreciate it because as you my guess i started out on 35mm cameras, and quite frankly never heard of it back then, and to be equally candid dont have my head round it now, its something my Fuji,s do for me, sort of. LOL, if you do take up the challenge, make it last as long as needed, cheers.

[@zenography7923]

Some interesting info there, thanks! As for dynamic range, you're right - I don't remember hearing of it until the advent of digital photography - probably because the earlier sensors couldn't easily re-produce a wide range of brightness values. An interesting idea for an episode!

[@nevillewatkins4997]

I recently picked up a Praktica Nova 1b for a song. Although, as Prakticas go it's not very practical. You'd have to have super vision to read the dials and fingers like toothpicks. But, I think, it does look good, and is quite ingenious in its way. I'm looking forward to trying it out. Although, it will have to be in conjunction with a digital light meter I am expecting from Germany. As for what I'd like to see next. Well, all of them really. Although maintaining lenses always interests me.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote - hope you enjoyed the storage and maintenance episode!

[@thedondeluxe6941]

Lots of great, cheap cameras to choose from in this category! I love my little Exa 1b with the waist level viewfinder. The only annoying thing is that the shutter button is on the left side for some reason :-)

[@ianwilkinson4602]

I found the Exa's and Exakta's I have, totally intuitive in every respect from the start, don't know why as I am right handed? I have nine Ihagee's working, including four Exa500's with a fixed viewfinder, and two "unrepairable" Exaktas. I have an Exa 1 and a IIb amongst them, favourite, an Exakta VX1000. Cheers

[@zenography7923]

It's unusually placed, for sure, but I found it easy enough with a little practice!

[@zenography7923]

It sounds like you have the definitive Exa collection!

[@subbbass]

thank you again for an interesting video! By the way Schneider Kreuznach is located in Rheinland-Pfalz (or rhineland-palatinate) in West-Germany (French occupation zone after WW2) But the Schneider Kreuznach Company had some legal fights about name/trademark rights in the 1990ies, long after the cameras in your video were produced.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the correction!

[@subbbass]

for the western market there were different labels like Porst, Quelle, Revue, RevueFlex on Praktica cameras.

[@zenography7923]

I didn't realise that, thanks!

[@ronaldsand3000]

It would be great to get your take on lens and camera storage All the very best

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote Ronald, hope you enjoyed the episode!

[@LeendertCordemans]

Schneider-Kreuznach is sattled in Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany ( former west Germany).

[@zenography7923]

My mistake, thanks for the correction!

[@Notso_Wild_Bill]

Read yesterday, that Topcon went with the Exacta bayonet mount, with their initial SLRs. You could mount Exacta glass on you RE, but most Topcor glass did not really work on Exacta cameras, (Just trying to justify, finding a Super D, ha). Stay safe.Peace

[@zenography7923]

I didn't realise that, thanks for the info!

[@smkunder1]

I have the Exa camera body, that I picked up from a garage sale for 5 bucks. It has a Meritar 2.9 50 mm. If I wanted a Ziss lens like you have , what mount would I search under?

[@zenography7923]

You need to look for Exacta or Exakta mount lenses - good luck!

[@unbroken1010]

Howdy just got a exacta but need a focusing screen. Hopefully I can use a old Pentax one

[@zenography7923]

I guess you could adapt one if the dimensions are the same - good luck!

[@petersnow389]

If you can, buy the genuine Ihagee item, there are usually some available on Ebay.

[@danielmalter3373]

Bad Kreuznach, where Schneider still sits I believe, is in what was West Germany. Their vintage lenses are exceptional, too, in particular the 50mm Xenon. It is on par with the best German vintage lenses.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the correction!

[@danielmalter3373]

Not for that. If you have the opportunity, you should test a version from 1960 or later. For black and white, they are as good as the Pancolar. I am not equally convinced and don’t remember well enough it‘s color rendering. The color rendering of the 35 (called Curtagon), on the other hand, is every bit as good as the Flektogon‘s (which is my all time favorite lens).

[@alexanderpowerman7825]

Благодарю Вас за прекрасный обзор этих замечательных камер. Я счастливый обладатель одной из них - Praktica MTL5b. Это мой любимый фотоаппарат. И у меня есть прекрасный настоящий Carl Zeiss Pancolar 50mm f/1.8. Но, он требует некоторой профилактики. У него скрипит кольцо фокусировки. Его нужно смазать, но я боюсь его разбирать.

[@john.m.peterson]

Very informative as always Nigel! I would to know how you maintain your camera’s and lenses. I have a little collection of about 20 analogue camera’s (and a couple of digital ones as well), mainly I wonder what you have to do to keep them up and running, seen the fact that I don’t shoot with all of them regularly. But that thing about shooting with infrared is also appealing…you make it difficult to choose ;-)

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for your input - I hope you enjoyed the storage and maintenance video!

[@john.m.peterson]

@@zenography7923 sure did, thanks a bunch!

[@ALFarrell-kv6ok]

Traditional film SLR cameras and rangefinder cameras are just gorgeous machines that can even decorate living room shelves. Camera porn. One of my favorites is the old Konica II cameras. I'm tempted to buy one just for a shelf display in my home.

[@tonyhayes9827]

Lens maintenance and STORAGE would be great. Problem in Oz is lens storage when it hits 30 - 40 degrees C in summer

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote!

[@tmandel1]

A few minor errors in description of the Exa's functioning. All early Ihagee SLRs, including Exacta's through the VXIIA lacked a quick return mirror. But, this has nothing to do with the shutter. Moreover, Ihagee did not innovate the bayonet mount -- the Zeiss Contax, for example, had one (also inherited by the Kiev, btw; the Kiev was to the pre-war Contax what the Fed was to the the pre-war Leica). My first SLR was an Exakta! A complicated but extraordinary camera.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the info - an extraordinary camera indeed!

[@waoamfg]

Maybe you could look at the Pentax transition from M42 to their 'open source' bayonet, and explore the new models - developed from the Spotmatic experience, that sprang from this upgrade (or downgrade if you will ;-) - Thank you for your honest - but inspired, still low key approach to the subject matter :-) We oldtimers like that.

[@zenography7923]

No problem, glad you enjoyed it!

[@georgehuman7253]

Thanks for the video. Prakticar 50mm 1.4 starts from 300$ on ebay US :) in Germany them must be cheaper I guess

[@zenography7923]

The Prakticar 1.4 is very expensive indeed - it's a very nice lens though!

[@lazarkebic4869]

lubrication of the lenses is a good idea :)

[@zenography7923]

Thanks Lazar!

[@robertspeicher5047]

I was stationed in West Germany and I as going to buy a new slr. The base exchange had Nikon, Canon, and Pratica and Minolta. Couldn't afford the Nikon or Canon. So the choice was either minolta or Pratika...I had a Petri F slr...knew the Japanese built good cameras. Knew very little about europe built cameras. I bought the Minolta srt 202

[@zenography7923]

So you ended up with a very nice little camera - thanks for looking in!

[@nickroberts6026]

The Praktica L series actually originally dates to the late 60s, but it's fair to say it's typical of the 70s. However, the MTL5B actually dates from the mid-80s - 1985, to be precise. The BCX is basically the same as the BC1. One of the nicest cameras of its type, regardless of manufacturer.

[@zenography7923]

The BCX/1 is a great little camera - small, portable, with some very nice lenses too! Thanks for looking in.

[@flitsertheo]

The silver BCX is a B200, the black BCX is a BC1. There were silver B200's too, for export only.

[@PMS1950]

Schneider Kreutnach are West German and take the second part of their name from Bad Kreutnach, which is a large German town close to Wiesbaden and famous for providing health clinics and fairly decent wine. I use to stay there during the 1980s. It was surrounded by Nato bases.

[@menacinghat]

i wish someone would make a video about how to get the most retro look. lens, film, developer, the whole thing. :DDD

[@zenography7923]

An interesting idea for a video - thanks!

[@rpgbb]

I have a BCX, it’s a great camera. I got it with a PB-M42 adapter, which can use M42 lenses in automatic mode. The only issue is that the film doesn’t advance properly, it does tend to create double exposures. Sometimes they are nice surprises but sometimes it has ruined some nice pictures. Any solutions for this problem? I read in some forum that one needs to be “steady and slow” but no results so far. It’s a pity because I like this camera. Now I’m using the Praktica MTL50, very nice but no automatic mode and quite heavy. Thanks!

[@zenography7923]

It sounds like a clutch, or some other part, has failed in your drive mechanism. To effect a complete repair I would think you'll need some new parts - which could be tricky. Given that these cameras are not costly, it might be better to find a good used replacement?

[@rpgbb]

@@zenography7923 Yes, it’s a good idea to get a new one. Actually the film mechanism is the MTL50 looks more sturdy than in the B series, the MTLs have some metal wired to hold the film but then I read they risk to cut the film… Oh East Germany 🙃 Thanks a lot, I really enjoy your channel. I got a Zorki 4 after watching your review ✊🏼

[@burkhardmatzing3159]

PRAKTICA's unusual position of the shutter button shall prevent camera shake during release.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the info!

[@Kitsaplorax]

I've got an MTL3 with a Helios 44-2 and the 135mm Jupiter. It's so much easier to use and more reliable than the Miranda Sensorex my dad owned. I paid 20 dollars US for the camera with case but no lens last year.

[@zenography7923]

They're very nice little cameras - enjoy!

[@camedia7291]

Storage and lubrication 👍

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote!

[@klauspetermann2373]

BCX is the BC1, i think the BCX sign is from the british importeur. The times are very exact in comparison to the mechanics.

[@petersnow389]

That is true, the BCX, (in silver finish), was, I am almost certain, a UK only model. I also seem to remember reading that the UK were one of Pentacons biggest customers.

[@solidamber]

I can see the BCX sticker was put on in Britain, as its not been put on straight.

[@flitsertheo]

@@solidamber 100% correct. The British importer received "blanks" and probably put the lowliest paid minion at the tedious task of putting these stickers on a few dozen cameras.

[@eagleeyephoto8715]

Schneider took over Pentacon-Practica Dresden over, but was never DDR manufacturer as far as I know.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the info!

[@flitsertheo]

Schneider "saved" Pentacon from oblivion when these went bust as so many East-German companies after the Wende (1990-1991). Much of the original Pentacon was gone though. Pentacon continued to produce cameras until 2015, even digital ones (badge -engineered Luxmedia). Last time I checked they still exist.

[@madmechanic7641]

Its amazing how many I see breathing on lenses then cleaning with their t-shirts!! How about a little education on lens care (Blowers and Microfibre), Not storing in damp garages etc.. Keep up the good work ( And Im glad you mentioned the trusty old Zenit)...

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the vote, hope you enjoyed the episode!

[@subbbass]

in my experience you can buy a camera & lens combo mostly cheaper than the lens alone. Most people don't know what they have to offer....

[@zenography7923]

It's true, you can usually save money buying a camera and lens together - so much the better I guess!

[@thomasaushauser1940]

Well, there are also people who - after huge restoration costs - drive around in an old car without ABS, without airbags and without any assistance system, and end up at the same ice cream parlour as everyone else. This Exa here, for example, delivers a mirror-inverted image via the viewfinder: together with the miserable magnifying glass, it always takes minutes to adjust the camera so that you are finally ready to press the shutter release. Yes, an anachronism. I wonder how they took photos with it back then. They did, of course, and I have enough photo books with excellent shots to show that you can take significant pictures without any automatic. With that Exa and a 36 film you are practically busy for a whole day. 'Anachronism' sums it up quite well: you fall out of time with it. Basically, the Exa is a mirror of one's own impatience. A psycho apparatus. Self-awareness for 30 euros: Where else can you get that? By the way, this Exa is of course a beauty. It fits better in the hand than a Leica M and its proportions appeal to every aesthete.

[@zenography7923]

It is indeed a beautiful thing - I bet it looked proper modern in its day though!

[@tomredd9025]

Actually, the Exa can take a prism with a pretty bright fresnel screen. The view is upright and correct right to left. The waist level is for other types of viewing such as down low or at an angle. The magnifying glass on the waist level is one of the best on any camera and focus snaps in very nicely. The view with both finders is comparable to even modern SLR cameras. A manual camera doesn't take minutes to operate. You do have think but it just takes a second (or fraction of a second) to set either a new shutter speed or lens opening. Also, once you take a meter reading, it pretty much stays the same for all your shots. One quickly develops an eye for the light level and most photographers learn easily to adjust to the changing light level without a meter,

[@user-kcrpine]

The single lens reflex is much older, just not in this format.

[@solidamber]

Just tested the mtl 3 the body is metal not plastic, its a very thin aluminium shell over the chassis not a solid casting so gives the cheap sound when tapped

[@zenography7923]

Thanks Ian. There seems to be some debate about this - quite a few people have told me they're plastic, while others say metal. One viewer says that his has a small dent in the top cover, so it does indeed sound like it's metal!

[@klauspetermann2373]

Ihagee is from a dutch man who founded in Dresden a factory before WWII. (real time😄 comment, now in min 1.28)Also in the GDR Exakta had in the first time dutch ownership, so the soviet can't carry the production machines in the soviet union.

[@zenography7923]

I didn't realise that, thanks for the info!

[@klauspetermann2373]

@@zenography7923 I'm your MI6 agent in germany (photografy department) 😄👍

[@burkhardmatzing3159]

I hope Schneider-Kreuznach will forgive you that you moved them to East Germany! 😉

[@zenography7923]

Whoops - thanks for the correction!

[@ralfjansen9118]

Yes, Kreuznach is a town in the very west of Germany, in Rhineland-Palatinate

[@philipslighting8240]

Had Exa, Exacta and Practica many years ago. Would not want to go back there again. To me they are almost unusable

[@zenography7923]

I've found them really nice, quite the mechanical jewels actually. Maybe you were unlucky?

[@klauspetermann2373]

Praktica BCX don't exist in Germany. Also whe have no silver modells. The names of the B Series in Germany: BC1, BCA, BX, BXS. Great Britain was the best market for praktica in the west. ( Min 1.36)

[@klauspetermann2373]

MTL5: Praktica Practica was the first camera which have chrome on plastic, an east german patent.Ok,not a good innovation...A Mtl5 is rough and have a bit from a pepper mil(Min 11.12)

[@freisein8046]

Nikon are copies of Praktica and other German cameras

[@RudiW1510]

Schneider-Kreuznach lenses are bavarian. So West-German.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the correction!

[@RudiW1510]

@@zenography7923 Always glad to help. :)

[@palesmichael]

Please, dont read ihagee like that. It pains me greatly to hear that.

[@morrisbagnall2690]

It pains me greatly to read your comment.

[@palesmichael]

@@morrisbagnall2690 close your eyes, my man

[@zenography7923]

Sorry for the error - I studied German at school many years ago and was always keen to get pronunciation right! Can you tell me phonetically how it should be pronounced? I'd like to get it right next time!

[@palesmichael]

​@@zenography7923German is, for most part, pronounced as it is written. ee ha(h) ge(h) would be probably the closest to the pronunciation in English (as per wikipedia) as it comes from I-ndustrie und H-andels-G-esellschaft and if you read the acronym(IHG) just like the German alphabet, you get it correctly. English is very special in this regard: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoti For the rest of the names, see kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4jCmnWjiqiSjsU :)