Tools – the Praktica

I have just completed, with the arrival of a package in the mail, my revolutionary camera.

Maybe this needs some explanation. The camera is nothing revolutionary, it is not an example of the newest and most advanced technology.

I chose to call it revolutionary because I intend it to be the tool I will use to photograph demonstrations, strikes or other movements of social protest.

Perhaps with some associated prejudice, the set is made up of elements from countries with very little (or not at all) democratic regimes, under communist rule, the body being a Praktica MTL 5 B, manufactured in the German Democratic Republic and the 58 mm lens, a Helios 44M-4, Zenit, from the Soviet Union. Two elements just stand out: a UV filter from Hama (from Germany, made in the Philippines) and a strap from Canon (from Japan).

I chose this camera for several reasons. The first is the fact that it appeared in front of me (at a very low price) and in good condition in a Cash Converters store (yes, it's true that I am somewhat fascinated by these stores; it's just unlike the store specialized in photography where the seller wants to receive the money corresponding to the photographic object, at Cash Converters what the seller wants is to earn some money for an object he no longer uses or has probably never used). Prices are therefore low and objects can be in very good or very bad condition. It is up to the buyer to evaluate.

Returning to the issue of the camera, what was for sale was the camera and its user manual, with a Pentacon 50 mm f/1.8 lens (with protective filter and cover) and a “leather” case. As the camera allows for fully manual operation, I tried it even without the battery (it only serves to activate the photometer and I have a handheld photometer from Sekonic) and the test detected only one problem: the lens aperture ring was not work. By the way, the ring rotated, the diaphragm at f/1.8 didn't close. But as, fortunately, the lenses of the M42 system are relatively abundant and at very affordable prices, I decided to buy the camera. I opted for a Helios 44M-4 to replace the Pentacon, which I bought on eBay for €16, a choice influenced by a successful experience ten years ago with a Zenit with the same lens. Good construction, solid, and with an excellent optical quality. The maximum aperture is quite good – f/2.0 – although the minimum could be a diaphragm beyond the f/16 it offers.

With a Chinese battery for the photometer, I hope this robust set will live up to the photographic excursions I intend to take it on. And I hope, by the way, that the photographer is also up to the equipment.