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in: German 35mm SLR, 42mm screw mount, East Germany,
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Changes: Praktica MTL 3

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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/269996277/ http://static.flickr.com/86/269996275_6fd76c433a_m.jpg]
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| image_text=MTL 3 with Meyer-Orestegon 29mm f/2.8.
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}}The '''Praktica MTL 3''' is an East German [[SLR]] made by [[Pentacon]], using the [[42mm screw mount]]. It was produced in high numbers between 1978 and 1984. It is said to be based on the LTL 3. It's a solidly made camera with some rather crude and advanced features. The camera's successor is the [[Praktica MTL 5]] .
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/269996277/ http://static.flickr.com/88/269996277_87df932e31_m.jpg]<br>
  
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Bottom plate: ''Ernemann tower and Q1 symbol''.
  
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The '''Praktica MTL 3''' is an East German [[SLR]] made by [[Pentacon]]. It was produced in high numbers between 1978 and 1984. It is said to be based on the LTL 3. It's a solidly made camera with some rather crude and some advanced features.
  
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== The shutter ==
  
== The shutter ==
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This is the best part about this camera. The MTL 3 has a metal curtain shutter. It moves vertically and is likely to work some 25 years after its production. Speeds are B, 1 to 1/1000s with a flash sync at 1/30s. Metal curtains are not known to get punctured easily as do cloth shutters.
 +
This is the best part about this camera. The MTL 3 has a very robust metal curtain shutter. It moves vertically and is likely to work some 35 years after its production. (I have one that appears to be in full working order today in 2018) Speeds are B, then from 1 to 1/1000 sec. It has a separate position for use with electronic flash units; this is "about" 1/125 sec according to the camera's manual. It's metal curtains are not known to get punctured easily as cloth shutters often do.
   
 
== Metering and Viewfinder ==
  
== Metering and Viewfinder ==
−
The MTL 3 has a metering system that is integrated in the mirror. This makes it important to handle the mirror with care, or rather, never to touch it at all. A needle on the right side of the viewfinder indicates the correct exposure; o is correct, + means overexposed, - underexposed. This metering system is the only battery-dependant system in the MTL 3. It takes PX 625 cells and without it, everything but the meter will continue to function. A switch next to the shutter release button stops down the lens and switches on the meter. This way, no battery power is wasted when the camera is not in use.
+
The MTL 3 has a metering system that is integrated in the mirror. This makes it important to handle the mirror with care, or rather, never to touch it at all. A needle on the right side of the viewfinder indicates the correct exposure; "o" is correct, "+" means overexposed, "-" underexposed.
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A black wedge on the left indicates the film has not yet been transported.
  
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{{Flickr image
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| image_source=https://www.flickr.com/photos/167107707@N06/43095385210/in/album-72157700147351731/
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| image=https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1941/43095385210_3d31bbee42_m.jpg
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| image_align=right
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| image_text=Backside of the MTL 3.
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}}
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This metering system is the only battery-dependent system in the MTL 3. It takes a single 1.35v PX 625 mercury cell; without it, everything but the meter will continue to function. (The modern day replacement for the obsolete mercury battery is the MRB 625, available from WeinCell and other manufacturers.)
  +
A switch next to the shutter release button stops down the lens and switches on the meter. This way, no battery power is wasted when the camera is not in use.
  ⚫
A black wedge on the left of the viewfinder indicates that the film has not yet been transported.
   
 
== Lenses ==
  
== Lenses ==
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{{Flickr image
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The standard lens supplied with the camera was a Pentacon 50mm f/1.8 lens. It has a m42 or Pentax thread. There's a switch on the lens to use it on ''auto'' or ''manual''. The ''auto'' option allows full aperture composition even when the aperture ring is set to, say f/8. The lens is multicoated and has a 49mm filter thread.
  
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/269996277/in/pool-camerapedia/
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| image=http://static.flickr.com/88/269996277_87df932e31_m.jpg
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| image_align=right
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| image_text=Bottom plate: ''Ernemann tower and Q1 symbol''.
  ⚫
}}The standard lens supplied with the camera was a Pentacon 50mm f/1.8 lens. It has a m42 or Pentax thread. There's a switch on the lens to use it on ''auto'' or ''manual''. The ''auto'' option allows full aperture composition even when the aperture ring is set to, say f/8. The lens is multicoated and has a 49mm filter thread.
   
 
== Images ==
  
== Images ==
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{|class=plainlinks
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/269996272/ http://static.flickr.com/93/269996272_03b752ac7c_t.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/269996277/ http://static.flickr.com/86/269996275_6fd76c433a_t.jpg]<br>
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/269996272/ http://static.flickr.com/93/269996272_03b752ac7c_m.jpg]
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/bottledog/4160638656/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/4160638656_825144f367_m.jpg]<br />with Flektogon 1:2.8/35mm
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''Top view''.
  
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|-
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</div>
  
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|top view by Dries van den Elzen
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|image by bottledog
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|-
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|
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[[File:Praktica_MTL3_249943_1.jpg|left|thumb|Praktica MTL3. Version with smooth leather-like lining and without self-timer.]]
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|[[File:Praktica_3xMTL3_1.jpg|thumb|Praktica MTL3 was manufactured in several versions. ]]
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|}
   
 
== Links ==
  
== Links ==
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* [http://blog.bkspicture.com/review_Pentacon_Praktica_MTL_3.html Pentacon Praktica MTL 3 Review by BKSPicture]
 
* [http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/prakticanotes.html Notes about Praktica MTL-3]
  
* [http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/prakticanotes.html Notes about Praktica MTL-3]
 
* [http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/praktica_mtl3.html Matt Denton's MTL-3]
  
* [http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/praktica_mtl3.html Matt Denton's MTL-3]
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/pentacon/html/pentacon_praktica_mtl3.php MTL-3] on [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand
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* on [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=11096 Pentacon Praktica MTL3 ]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=12684 Pentacon Praktica MTL5 ]
   
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* [[https://r-kobus.eu/en/node/143 MTL3 on r-kobus.eu]] by Ryszard Kobus
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* [http://www.praktica-collector.de/211_Praktica_MTL3.htm Praktica MTL3 by Mike Otto]
 
[[Category: German 35mm SLR]]
  
[[Category: German 35mm SLR]]
 
[[Category: 42mm screw mount]]
  
[[Category: 42mm screw mount]]

Revision as of 11:36, 13 January 2021

269996275_f10fa8f626_m.jpg
MTL 3 with Meyer-Orestegon 29mm f/2.8.

The Praktica MTL 3 is an East German SLR made by Pentacon, using the 42mm screw mount. It was produced in high numbers between 1978 and 1984. It is said to be based on the LTL 3. It's a solidly made camera with some rather crude and advanced features. The camera's successor is the Praktica MTL 5 .

The shutter

This is the best part about this camera. The MTL 3 has a very robust metal curtain shutter. It moves vertically and is likely to work some 35 years after its production. (I have one that appears to be in full working order today in 2018) Speeds are B, then from 1 to 1/1000 sec. It has a separate position for use with electronic flash units; this is "about" 1/125 sec according to the camera's manual. It's metal curtains are not known to get punctured easily as cloth shutters often do.

Metering and Viewfinder

The MTL 3 has a metering system that is integrated in the mirror. This makes it important to handle the mirror with care, or rather, never to touch it at all. A needle on the right side of the viewfinder indicates the correct exposure; "o" is correct, "+" means overexposed, "-" underexposed.

43095385210_3d31bbee42_m.jpg
Backside of the MTL 3.

This metering system is the only battery-dependent system in the MTL 3. It takes a single 1.35v PX 625 mercury cell; without it, everything but the meter will continue to function. (The modern day replacement for the obsolete mercury battery is the MRB 625, available from WeinCell and other manufacturers.) A switch next to the shutter release button stops down the lens and switches on the meter. This way, no battery power is wasted when the camera is not in use. A black wedge on the left of the viewfinder indicates that the film has not yet been transported.

Lenses

269996277_87df932e31_m.jpg
Bottom plate: Ernemann tower and Q1 symbol.

The standard lens supplied with the camera was a Pentacon 50mm f/1.8 lens. It has a m42 or Pentax thread. There's a switch on the lens to use it on auto or manual. The auto option allows full aperture composition even when the aperture ring is set to, say f/8. The lens is multicoated and has a 49mm filter thread.

Images

269996272_03b752ac7c_m.jpg 4160638656_825144f367_m.jpg
with Flektogon 1:2.8/35mm
top view by Dries van den Elzen image by bottledog
Praktica MTL3 249943 1

Praktica MTL3. Version with smooth leather-like lining and without self-timer.
Praktica 3xMTL3 1

Praktica MTL3 was manufactured in several versions.

Links

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