|
|
Post by Kath on Jan 5, 2023 16:35:38 GMT
The Praktica Nova arrived in December 1964, and was in production until 1969. This was an eye level SLR with an instant return mirror, top mounted wind lever, and inclined release button. The camera still had the dual, rotating, shutter speed setting knobs. There were a number of models, some with light meters. View AttachmentThe Nova range was replaced by the PL Nova, which was produced from April 1967, and into the 1970s. This has Praktica's quick load (PL) system, and a non rotating shutter speed dial, with all speeds in one range. I have none of these in my collection... This is the model I have. |
|
|
|
Post by gray1720 on Jan 8, 2023 18:20:08 GMT
Looks like a bit of oil migration on my lens. Having opened it, poked it and reassembled it, it works for now, though probably needs the iris and helicoid cleaning properly at some point.
In my ignorance I had missed the little slider on the lens that allows you to set the aperture to a fixed value. I assume this let's you use aperture priority, just a little surprised to find out on the lens rather than the body.
Right what to unbugger next? Do I attempt to sort my scabrous Retinette or make a handle for my Duo620? Oh, hang on, that needs a Kodak thread!
|
|
|
|
Post by John Farrell on Jan 28, 2023 3:54:08 GMT
The slider turns the lens into a preset diaphragm (sets to manual). A primitive form of aperture priority is just setting the diaphragm, turning on the meter, and adjusting the shutter speed until the correct exposure is indicated. Totally mandraulic...
|
|
|
|
Post by nickr on Jan 28, 2023 6:54:19 GMT
The auto/manual switch controls aperture actuation - in auto, the lens remains at full aperture regardless of the set aperture until the actuating pin on thr rear of the lens is pressed, at which point the lens stops down to the set value. In manual, the aperture is always at the selected value. This switch is handy for several reasons:
To allow the lens to be used on cameras without the pusher plate to operate the pin. My first SLR, the Zenit E, being such a camera, but handy for adapters to other mounts, although some adapters have a little plate that pushes the pin in when the lens is mounted on it.
To act as a depth-of-field preview.
In the case of Praktica's full aperture metering models with electric contacts (LLC/PLC, VLC and EE models), to allow non-electric lenses to be used in stop-down metering mode - these models normally meter with a half press of the shutter button, which doesn't stop the lens down, and lack the metering lever of the LTL/MTL et al models which does stop the lens down.
A lens with preset diaphragm has two aperture rings, one that sets the desired aperture, the other that at one end of travel allows viewing and focusing at maximum aperture, and at the other extreme of travel stops down to the set aperture. The auto/manual switch can be used in this way.
It's not really anything to donwith aperture priority per se, but just full aperture viewing and stop-down.
There are of course a fee aperture priority M42 cameras, the best known being the Pentax ES and ES II, the various Chinon Memotron models, and of direct relevance to this lens, the Praktica EE2 and EE3.
|
|
|
|
Post by gray1720 on Jan 28, 2023 16:06:19 GMT
Thanks, both, very interesting (walks off, muttering to self "must remember "mandraulic"")
|
|
|
|
Post by nimbus on Jan 28, 2023 18:14:11 GMT
The Nova range was replaced by the PL Nova, which was produced from April 1967, and into the 1970s. This has Praktica's quick load (PL) system, and a non rotating shutter speed dial, with all speeds in one range. I have none of these in my collection... I had a Nova 1, my first SLR. The initial sample delivered suffered severe transit damage including the mirror being smashed to pieces. When the replacement eventually arrived it worked for just over a year-till the guarantee had expired and the shutter failed completely. Luckily at that point I had a small amount of money available and traded the Praktica for a Pentax S1a, a far better camera in every way. |
|
|
|
Post by Chester PB on Jan 29, 2023 17:26:04 GMT
Pentacon released the most successful Praktica models - the L series, in December 1969, and more than 4,800,000 were made in the following 20 years. The most unusual L series camera was not a Praktica, but an Exakta - the RTL1000. This had the L series shutter, and a modified L body. View AttachmentThe first Praktica models were the L (no meter) and the LLC (the first camera using electric transmission of diaphragm information to allow full open TTL metering). These were followed by the LB (selenium meter) and LTL (stopped down TTL metering). View AttachmentView AttachmentView AttachmentMy first SLR camera was a RTL1000, purchased in early late 1973 or early 1974 for £50. It had the metering head and the Zeiss Pancolor 50 mm lens, and was being sold off as a discontinued model. I had saved up £30 from work in school holidays, and planned to buy a Zenit E with the Helios 55 mm, which then sold for £30. My father had given me a lift to the shop, and insisted in coming inside with me. When the salesman offered me the Exakta, by father announced that any German camera must be better than a Russian one, and loaned me the extra £20. I used it until 1980 when I had a chance to get a Pentax MX with a 50 mm lens for £100, because a friend of my father's was going on a business trip to Hong Kong where he could get one for about half the UK price (at that time they were imported into the UK by Rank, who must have had big markup). Good as the Exakta was, moving to the MX was like replacing a massive old Rover with an E-Type jaguar. |
|
|
|
Post by Chester PB on Jan 29, 2023 17:30:15 GMT
The slider turns the lens into a preset diaphragm (sets to manual). A primitive form of aperture priority is just setting the diaphragm, turning on the meter, and adjusting the shutter speed until the correct exposure is indicated. Totally mandraulic... I once had a Soligor 200mm lens with a pre-set aperture, and used it on my Exalta RTL1000. I even got some correctly exposed and in focus shots using Kodachrone 64 at one of the Biggin Hill air displays in the mid-1970s. |
|
