Category: DDR

Pentacon / KW Praktica LLC Yet another Praktica from the late 1960s. It seems that the Pencaon comrade CEO  gathered the secretariat for a naming meeting and pulled letters from a hat, this time LLC. I am sure that the Praktica naming convention was a conspiracy to confuse the West. Looking at a list of Prakticas, I find this quote:...

Pentacon Praktica LB 2 Together with the TTL SLR models, Pentacon kept selling a cheaper model in the Praktica lineup. The LB and the LB 2 that are almost identical. Here are dead simple cameras, typical Praktica build and looks, but with an external Selenium meter. First set the film speed – a ring around the rewind key turned by...

KW / Pentacon Praktica Super TL Some camera models keep me puzzled, whereas there are few information sources to chew upon, printed or online. The Praktica Super TL is a sterling example. Made by Pentacon in 1968, it has a tiny Pentacon symbol at the bottom; perhaps they knew there was nothing here to brag about. The camera seems to...

KW / Pentacon Praktica MTL 3, MTL 5 Another two models in the hardly different models list. The MTL 3 was introduced in 1978, with no preceding MTL 1 or 2. The model outsold all Praktica models, with about 865,000 made under Praktica MTL 3 and several other rebrands; see below. After that came the MTL 5, an identical camera...

KW Praktica LTL 3 A  late 1970 model of the ever-popular Praktica cameras, now by Pentacon.  Here is a well-built, solid metal camera with a fast vertical metal shutter that gave the Japanese a run for their money. The unit I have buzzes and hums as it should, although being 48 years old. Considering that East German’s quality control followed...