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Post by John Farrell on Nov 6, 2023 22:38:41 GMT
 This LTL arrived today, completing my collection of 1st series Praktica L cameras. The light meter works, but the lens has a stiff helicoid. I had to unstick the cap on the battery case, and clean off a little corrosion.  |
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Post by geoffr on Nov 7, 2023 8:00:42 GMT
View AttachmentThis LTL arrived today, completing my collection of 1st series Praktica L cameras. The light meter works, but the lens has a stiff helicoid. I had to unstick the cap on the battery case, and clean off a little corrosion. View Attachment The LTL was my first SLR in 1973, bought new with the same 2.8 Tessar lens. It was the front mounted shutter release that means I can’t get on with a the traditional top mounted release. I used it for six years before buying an OM1. |
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Post by nickr on Nov 7, 2023 9:56:46 GMT
View AttachmentThis LTL arrived today, completing my collection of 1st series Praktica L cameras. The light meter works, but the lens has a stiff helicoid. I had to unstick the cap on the battery case, and clean off a little corrosion. View Attachment Completing? Where's the VLC?  |
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Post by davem399 on Nov 7, 2023 12:26:41 GMT
My first SLR was a Praktica LTL3, bought in around 1976. I passed it onto my dad when I got a Canon AE1 a few years later. When dad passed away we had a sort out of his things, and I have got it back again.
I bought an adapter a few years ago to use the M42 lenses on my first mirrorless camera, a Nikon 1 V1. I must get that old kit out again (including the AE1 and A1) for a trip down memory lane.
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Post by gray1720 on Nov 7, 2023 12:56:28 GMT
I have to say that those are very good looking, in a minimalist way.
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Post by John Farrell on Nov 7, 2023 18:02:10 GMT
View AttachmentThis LTL arrived today, completing my collection of 1st series Praktica L cameras. The light meter works, but the lens has a stiff helicoid. I had to unstick the cap on the battery case, and clean off a little corrosion. View Attachment Completing? Where's the VLC? The VLC is from a few years after these, and it has the newer large release button. These have the small lockable button. I do have an Exakta RTL1000... |
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Post by John Farrell on Nov 8, 2023 5:49:51 GMT
I have to say that those are very good looking, in a minimalist way. The LLC was the functional equivalent of the Spotmatic F, and the LTL of the Spotmatic II - so up to date for early 1970s cameras. |
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Post by nickr on Nov 9, 2023 11:42:49 GMT
Completing? Where's the VLC? The VLC is from a few years after these, and it has the newer large release button. These have the small lockable button. I do have an Exakta RTL1000... It also has the non-plastic tipped wind-on lever, unlike the 2 or 3, which came out with the second and third L series cameras. So I reckon it's certainly first generation. |
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Post by nickr on Nov 10, 2023 9:51:09 GMT
The VLC is from a few years after these, and it has the newer large release button. These have the small lockable button. I do have an Exakta RTL1000... It also has the non-plastic tipped wind-on lever, unlike the 2 or 3, which came out with the second and third L series cameras. So I reckon it's certainly first generation. P.S. The only reason I'm bothered (well,I'm not, really...) is that I think anyone with any interest in L series Prakticas really should have one of the VLC models, even if they have an RTL 1000, from both an academic and user point of view (the detail differences fascinate me). I really enjoy these cameras, with oddly the LB/LB2 being probably my next favourite, but I do like the fact that you can get a complete series for very little money, and particularly one that displays clear market segmentation within a consistent overall approach. |
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Post by John Farrell on Nov 10, 2023 19:01:22 GMT
It also has the non-plastic tipped wind-on lever, unlike the 2 or 3, which came out with the second and third L series cameras. So I reckon it's certainly first generation. P.S. The only reason I'm bothered (well,I'm not, really...) is that I think anyone with any interest in L series Prakticas really should have one of the VLC models, even if they have an RTL 1000, from both an academic and user point of view (the detail differences fascinate me). I really enjoy these cameras, with oddly the LB/LB2 being probably my next favourite, but I do like the fact that you can get a complete series for very little money, and particularly one that displays clear market segmentation within a consistent overall approach. I've not seen a VLC for sale, here. I have a VLC2...the usual Praktica L series seen here are the stop down metering versions. There are few LLC or PLCs about. |
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Post by gray1720 on Nov 11, 2023 14:10:14 GMT
While we are in Praktica corner, the frame counter on my MTL3 appears to have stopped working at 26 frames. Is it likely to be a simple fix? It's an inconvenience rather than a disaster so I can probably survive if it's more trouble than it's worth.
No, I've not reached the end of the film, it is still winding on and these days I wind the slack up so I can see the rewind crank turn.
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Post by John Farrell on Nov 11, 2023 19:34:31 GMT
I've not had to do anything to a Praktica frame counter, apart from removing the pointer and disk when taking out the timing escapement. If you decide to dive in to look at it, loosen the metal covers on the shutter speed dial and the wind lever, by putting a drop of acetone on them and letting it soak round the edge. This will release the glue.
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Post by gray1720 on Nov 11, 2023 20:06:06 GMT
Thanks, John, much appreciated!
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Post by John Farrell on Nov 11, 2023 21:45:05 GMT
This is a look inside (Praktica L, but they are all the same). The counter disk and pointer. The disk has a spring on its underside.  The disk and pointer removed - the arrowed levers work the counter.  |
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Post by gray1720 on Nov 12, 2023 8:25:47 GMT
Thanks, John. I'll have a look when I've finished the film. I think I've still got some acetone somewhere (amazing what falls off the back of labs over the years).
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