Praktica LTL3, loading with ColorPlus 200

[@j.c.103]

Hi from the continent too ! Thanks for this important video ! I'm shooting Praktica cameras since 1990. And i can recommend them highly. They are very reliable and sturdy. The best versions are the LTL3, the MTL3, the MTL5, the PLC2/3 and the VLC2/3. A great advantage is to have the choice of hundreds of M42 lenses, some of them are awesome and legendary.

[@nevillewatkins4997]

I've just put a roll of film through a Praktica LLC. I'd never used a Praktica before and I was impressed by it, to be honest. At the time I had a Pentax, so the humble Praktica was frowned upon. I see it very differently now. Simple and reliable.

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, agreed, totally overlooked but was a sensible option back in the day, still very under valued in my opinion, may it bring happiness for many years!

[@professionalvr]

I have a Praktica MTL 5 B with Pentacon f 1.8/50 mm lens. Works like a charm. The best thing about it is that the light meter uses LR 44 button cells, which means that cells are readily available.

[@ianhand5006]

I’ve had a few Prakticas and they are remarkably reliable.

[@thephotographersbag]

They were the first SLRs that I ever saw, a teacher at school had one, been hooked ever since.....very underrated

[@jensknappe2485]

I agree. Remarkably reliable cameras ! Use it since long years.

[@Gerard-hu6kp]

Owned an MTL 3 The one with the razor sharp Zeiss 1 .1 lens These are great cameras for anyone starting out with film camera

[@jensknappe2485]

Thanks for this video ! Very sturdy, reliable and underrated camera. Using Prakticas since 1990. Great lens on your LTL too !

[@chriscard6544]

amazing Im using a Praktica LTL3 since 1990 as well

[@jensknappe2485]

@@chriscard6544 well done !

[@andrewwilkin1923]

The Praktica SLR's are probably the most underrated cameras ever. Whilst the Russians (Zenith) continued with the cloth shutter till the very end the East Germans innovated with metal shutters and much more. My favourite is the mtl3, I can use the vast range of m42 lenses available. The later BC range is pretty good although the electronics in them and the lenses don't age well. Envious you have that Voigtlander lens, I'm slumming it with a Pentax SMC 50/1.4 on my MTL3.

[@thephotographersbag]

Thanks Andrew, and I agree, it was the first SLR I saw, a teacher at school had one, great value, the Pentax lens is hardly slumming it but the Voigtlander is a cracking lens...

[@jensknappe2485]

Purchased a Takumar SMC 50/1.4 a few days ago, testing the first roll now with this lens in a Praktica. But the standard Pentacons 50/1.8 are very good too.

[@markosjohns6078]

I've got an mtl3 recently but when i press the light meter button above the lens, the needle doesn't move its stick just below the circle do you know how to fix?

[@andrewwilkin1923]

@@markosjohns6078 Hi Markos, has the battery died? Takes a PX625. The Praktica's use stopped down metering so when pressing the light meter button the screen in the viewfinder should darken assuming you haven't got the lens wide open. Set the lens to f8 and see what happens. The meters on these cameras are a weak point.

[@markosjohns6078]

@andrewwilkin1923 yeah when I press it the viewfinder darkens, I tested the battery and it read around 12volt

[@Cairol58]

Hi from the Continent.🙂I started to get a liking of these analoge SLRs again and got a Practice EE3 (without a lens) vor 30€ last week. I was a bit worried first when it arrived despite the seller had it advertised as "working". But it does work, there is a M42 from my late father's Praktica FX4 (which he had bought at the beginning of the 70'ies as a Porst brand) in the house I could use it for testing. The thing works fine! So I decided on getting a Pentacon Praktica "Electric" 2.8/28 mm lens for it which came in a set together with a Pentacon Practica 2.8/135 mm. This one is standard, non-"electric", but of course works with the Praktica EE3 in manual mode as well, just there is no electrical connecting between the camera and the lens. I learnt the Praktica EE2/EE3 models are fairly rare as they were not produced in high numbers compared to the rest of the Pentacon L-series. And there is also a Pentacon Praktica Bx 20 with a couple of lenses here. Looking forward to use the thing for some analog photography, I have a collection of analog Canons and Nikons (all with lenses) for some time but never used them because I had hardly any time for such things, which has changed recently ... 🙂

[@dumarest61]

Another great video. I had an STL1000, followed by a BMS, both great camera's and the lenses were used Pentax lenses when I picked up a Spotmatic and various other Pentax SLR's. Had some lovely lens back then, wish I still had them!

[@thephotographersbag]

Thanks for your kind words, and sharing your experience, very underappreciated cameras....

[@sonacphotos]

Got myself a MTL3 recently. Used a phone app to check the meter accuracy. It's still accurate after all this time!

[@oystein18]

Just the tutorial I needed 😃 I got a roll of Kentmere Pan 400 safely loaded into the camera now. So expensive to mess this up. The frame counter is not resetting, so I guess I have to log how many photos I have taken.

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, happy to help, shame about the frame counter, you will find the film advance stiff when at the end of the film, enjoy, great cameras 😁

[@TheHatMusic]

A bit naughty having a Voigtlander on an LTL... that line made the whole video! Thanks matey, I was overcomplicating loading mine for the first time, this was a huge help.

[@thephotographersbag]

Happy to help, I hoped to show people that Praktica cameras are quality and silly low prices, hope you can enjoy yours fully, great cameras....

[@TheHatMusic]

@@thephotographersbag Sadly, mine developed a fault half way through the roll. The mirror jammed up. It did drop back down with a bit of gentle pressure, but it now jams up every 3 or 4 actuations. I suspect it's just in need of a CLA, but considering they come up for about £10, I just don't know if it's worth the hassle. I'll probably have a crack at it at some point. I was really enjoying using it up to then.

[@thephotographersbag]

@@TheHatMusic sorry to hear that, agree that with prices so low it may make sense to seek a replacement, I have several bodies that need attention also, too many cameras!

[@TheHatMusic]

The Photographer's Bag ain’t that the truth! I’ve got a couple of electro 35s, the odd few zenits and now this beastie waiting for work. I might just sell it on, along with the numerous super TL variants I have sitting in the box.

[@thephotographersbag]

Really like the Yashica cameras, great when working, had to fix both of mine, good luck...

[@shaneoconnor7588]

quick question, i found this camera at my mothers house and im wondering jow to open it, but the pull up thing is gone and only has a little nub

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, without the pull up rewind crank it will be impossible to rewind the exposed film back into the film cassette, it should be possible to open the back by gently using small pliers to grab what you can and pull, the rewind crank are quite easy to replace, just getting the part is the difficult bit, a spares camera could be useful.....

[@jamescockayne9794]

I've just got one of these as a rookie photographer, thanks for such an informative video! Do you have any recommendations for modern, less moderately deadly batteries for it?

[@jamescockayne9794]

Also any recommendations for film/ any extra tips would be amazing! Thank you

[@jensknappe2485]

Try LR44 or 625 U. For LR44 you need a small ring. Read manuals for this in the web.

[@alesiaaisela2653]

I'm very late to this but you can pick up Wein Cell PX625s which are made to fit physically and maintain as similar as possible charge/ect to the original mercury cells.

[@imaggro4142]

Was I supposed to put the meter on 1 before I loaded it cause I just loaded it and it says 36…

[@MoonSun-vk1mh]

Thank you for your amazing video!

[@travaux.4c320]

😔 I have a Praktica MTL50 and it's broken. In France, the problem is Prakticas are so underrated that nobody wants to fix it... Any solution ?

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, in what way is it broken, what exactly is the issue with the camera?

[@travaux.4c320]

@@thephotographersbag Hello. The shutter seems to be blocked. It's impossible to move the film to snap. The repairman who did the diagnostic don't repair Prakticas.

[@thephotographersbag]

@@travaux.4c320 Hi again, does the camera have sentimental connections, if so then it will have to go to a repair shop outside France by the sound of it, other option is to replace it with another, you could try removing the bottom cover and poke about with a plastic tipped tool to see if it frees up the mechanism...sorry not being too helpful but they are such low valued cameras here in the UK also, which is a real shame....

[@joanacastanheira3702]

nice video, thank you men 🙏

[@abderrhmanehadjkaddour4680]

انا من الجنوب الجزائري امتلك واحدة مثلها وهي مخبأة منذ عام 1987

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, not a clue what this is, anyone out there able to translate please ?

[@thatdopedude7217]

@@thephotographersbag he said "I'm from south Algeria, I own one of these, it's been stored since 1987.

[@achimboers]

I just got one ...

[@thephotographersbag]

Good choice...

[@achimboers]

The Photographer's Bag , I was just going through the list of cámaras you have reviewed so far. (Maybe it’s time to have a kind of playlist per brand of sorts?). Anyway, looking for a Canon AE-1 review. I just gave my daughter one of these to shoot with and a couple of lenses with it. She’s the artist in the family, so I’m hopeful to be able to print some of her work soon. If you have one, could I kindly put in a request for the AE-1 to be reviewed? It’s always cooler that a KZbinr explains how these work, than if dad does that....

[@thephotographersbag]

@@achimboers sorry, I don't have any Canon A series cameras but they are on my shopping list, do you mean the original or the later program model?

[@thephotographersbag]

@@achimboers I have started trying to create maker specific playlists, is that what you were thinking of?

[@achimboers]

The Photographer's Bag , yes !! Perfect