Most reliable TTL Pentacon Praktica

[Pancolart]

I wonder which model that would be? Praktica MTL 5B? Were there higher quality standards implied on some model?

[iangreenhalgh1]

I don't think any Prakticas were very reliable, seen so many broken ones. MTL was very common, it has a metal shutter but I don't think it's any more robust than the older cloth ones.

[Minolfan]

The metal shutter is a good one IMO.
Quality control in DDR had not a great reputation but the construction is OK.
So the ones that survived till now didn't have troubles caused by lack of quality control and will probably go on working for years. But ofcourse, they were not built for heavy professional purposes (except Pentacon Super). And they are old now, so don't expect more then what is reasonable.
I have some and they work OK. I have one with stuck battery connection, shutter OK, and one bought stuck, that I didn't get into life again. So buy a working one.
For a really sturdy M42 body you might prefer to look for Pentax, Fujica or Ricoh(!).

[Pancolart]

In Slovenia you had to smuggle anything else then Prakticas and Zenit in Yugoslavian era. So there are plenty still available. I was interested if any special model exist that excels. Besides Pentacon Super (which has super price also).
BR,
Jure

[Excalibur]

My MTL3 and BC1 have a "cough" now and again, but I know the cure......The MTL3 gets confused between wind on and mirror up, and the BC1 gets a wind on jam when using the lever, but it has a winder attached and that's the cure....so more weight to carry around for back up in case the mechanical side jams (i.e. lever)
So can't recommend either for 100% reliability.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Many options for a better M42 SLR than a Praktica, I have a Carenar SRH760 that looks a lot like an MTL but works perfectly (meter is a bit sluggish it seems) and I paid 6ukp inc shipping for it with a Pentacon 1.8/50 and a Ensinor 2.8/28 with it.

If you have difficulty finding M42 SLRs in your country, I can send you one from the UK, so many here and so cheap.

Another option is to get a Pentax K-mount body and a K to M42 adapter. I have a Pentax MG I love, so small and light, the ME Super is great too.

[Attila]

Praktica VLC, PLC almost any copies did work to me well, battery can be a problem you need to make one by your self. MTL5B is a good choice it's take normal alkaline battery if I know well.

As Ian recommend it there is many better M42 cameras or cameras + an M42 adapter.

My favourites are:

Fuji S801 (M42 camera)
Konica FC-1 + M42 adapter

[Pancolart]

@Ian: i was talking about Yugoslavian era that ended 20 years ago but was soft regarding borders even before that. Thank you for your offer anyway.

@Attila: I guess in Hungary you also had your share of Prakticas . Thanks for suggestions. I tend to like late Japanese M42 models, so this was more a question out of curiosity.

I think this would be right question for camera repairman in Warsaw Pact area. A possible answer i'd like to get: try to buy Praktica xyz model made from 1980-1983 and serial number lower then...

[Attila]

Yes we are also Praktica country

[Minolfan]

Netherlands was not in the east group, but nevertheless large numbers of Prakticas were sold here.
For Praktica VLC you can still get an adapter from Praktica (I had sent an email, but it is a model (like PLC I think) with bridge of Wheatstone and is not sensitive for voltage diffencies. However I have the adapter and fitting allkaline battery (4.5V) I use my VLC2 with a reloadable AA NiMh (only 1,2V) battery. Fresh loaded when I take the camera with me and it works correctly! Was a working suggestion of a French member of this or another forum.
MTL5 officially needs PX625 according to the manual, so a hearing aid battery will do. May be an alkaline is OK too, did not try that.

[martinsmith99]

As the Spotmatic prices are quite low at the moment, I would opt for one of these instead (or 3 like I did).