SLR

The FX-3 was a very popular, manually-operated, 35mm single lens reflex camera, released by Yashica in 1979, and built by Cosina. It has a vertical metal-bladed mechanical focal plane shutter with speeds up to 1/1000, an exposure meter with a simple 3-LED reading in the viewfinder, and no automatic metering or focusing modes. The camera is very compact and lightweight for an SLR design, and weighs about 1 pound (450 grams). One of the camera's greatest attributes is that it will accept all manual-focus Yashica / Contax lenses, including the superb Carl Zeiss T* lenses intended for the Contax line. The FX-3 was available only in black, although there was also an otherwise identical FX-7 model that came in a chrome finish.

In 1984 the FX-3 was replaced by the FX-3 Super, that added a vestigial grip to the body, a flash-ready indicator in the finder, and moved the meter switch to the shutter release button. It too was only sold in black finish. Kyocera (which had acquired Yashica in 1983) released the FX-7 Super in 1985, exactly the same camera finished in chrome.

In 1986 the FX-3 Super was in turn succeeded by the FX-3 Super 2000, available in black and chrome finishes, with a shutter speed range extended to 1/2000, and a wider ISO range from 25 - 3200 ISO instead of 12 - 1600.

These inexpensive cameras have developed a reputation for reliability, mostly due to their extremely simple construction and durable metal chassis with plastic outer shell. The leatherette exterior covers of the FX-3 are a well-known weak point, and tend to disintegrate after a few years, but are easily replaced. Later Super 2000 models were sourced from China, and some components were changed to lower costs.

The Pentax MZ-5N (ZX-5N in US) from 1997, is autofocus 35mm film SLR. It uses K_AF2-mount autofocus or earlier K-mount manual lenses. It is a update to the previous Pentax MZ-5/ZX-5 from the year prior. Additional features included auto-bracketing, exposure lock and depth of field preview.

• Year of launch: 1997
• Manufacturer: Pentax
• Type: single lens reflex camera
• Lens mount: Pentax K_AF2
• Film type: 35mm film with speeds of 25 to 5000 ISO, with auto DX, 6 to 6400 ISO manual
• Metering element: silicon photo cell.
• Focusing: autofocus.
• Programs: Av, M, P and TV modes
• Flash: Built-in, Guide number 11
• Shutter: Focal plane shutter with speeds from 30 to 1/2000 sec. B, 2 to 1/2000 sec manual
• Viewfinder: 0.8 magnification x 92% coverage, shutter and aperture LED display.
• Power: 2x 3v CR2 battery lithium battery
• Dimensions: approx 135 × 90 × 61mm
• Weight: 410g

The F50 (or N50 as it is known in North America) is a 35mm film SLR camera which was introduced by Nikon in 1994. It was aimed at the lower end of the amateur autofocus SLR market.

The F50 features autofocus, TTL light metering and various "programs" (ranging from manual operation to a highly automated point and shoot mode). It could not however meter with non-CPU lenses.

It was replaced by the similarly-priced F60 (also known as the N60) in 1998.

The F50 body was made from polycarbonate and metal, and available in both "champagne silver" and black. Notable omissions include depth-of-field preview and any form of remote shutter release.

The Prakticas were Pentacon's SLR flagship cameras. This GDR state-owned manufacturer was created after the merge of Zeiss Ikon, KW and other Dresden-based manufacturers.

Praktica cameras are a very large and long-lived family. Some Prakticas have many things in common, while some others have many differences. They were originally made by KW until it merged into Pentacon, which continued them until the year 2001. Praktica cameras were made in millions and exported everywhere, sometimes rebadged as Revue, Porst or Hanimex. They were a cheaper alternative to other SLRs and they proved to be quite reliable and sturdy enough for amateur photographers. According to Ivor Matanle, “During the sixties, as the dominance of the Japanese manufacturers really made itself felt, the ever-changing series of Praktica cameras mantained volume sales throughout the decade” (p.65).

Praktica cameras can be classified in different series or generations. The Praktica super TL 1000 belongs to the fourth and last L series generation. The first L series generation appeared in 1969 with the Praktica L. Apart from a more modern design quite different from the previous PL nova series, the main novelty was the shutter. Instead of the classical horizontal cloth shutter used in the previous Prakticas, the L series featured a metallic vertical focal plane shutter. According to expert repairman Thomas Tomosy, this shutter “is very reliable and does not normally require attention” (p.95).

Being a state-owned manufacturer, sometimes Pentacon cameras were quite old fashioned compared to the contemporary Japanese SLRs. But with this metallic shutter Pentacon made an excellent choice and proved to be ahead of its time: during the seventies and eighties, almost all the Japanese SLR manufacturers would use this kind of metallic vertical shutters as they proved to be faster and more reliable. Of course, Praktica's shutter wasn't the first metallic shutter ever used, but at least proved that Pentacon was trying to offer a competitive range of cameras in a market overwhelmingly dominated by Japan. On the contrary, Russian cameras were just copies without any innovation effort.

All the L series cameras are quite similar between each other. They were all designed by Rolf Noack. According to Michael Sorms, all the L series' top cover is made out of plastic with copper and chrome coatings. Therefore, in spite of its metallic appearance, the top cover is not as sturdy as it looks. Built until the late eighties, the L series remained as one of the last fully mechanical SLR cameras before the Praktica B series.

The Praktica super TL 1000 was introduced in February 1980. It's half way between the third generation Praktica MTL 3 and the fourth generation Praktica MTL 5. They are, after all, very similar cameras, so most of the super TL 1000 specifications also apply for the MTL 3 and MTL 5. It featured a CdS exposure meter, TTL stop-down metering with needle readout, a hot shoe and the everlasting M42 mount, but no self-timer nor PC flash contact, unlike MTL 3 and MTL 5.

According to Mike Otto, until 1984 it was made with a reticulated synthetic leatherette and a chromed shutter speed dial. Starting from 1984 it was made with a smooth leatherette and a black shutter speed dial. It was discontinued in December 1986 with 400,000 units produced. According to Michael Sorms, the Praktica super TL 1000 was sold in UK with lots of different names: Praktica TL 3, Nova II, PM 3, MTL 3 o MTL 5, but it must not be confused with real MTL 3 or MTL 5. These rebadged cameras can be identified because the name was usually placed on a sticker. I didn't buy this Praktica super TL 1000 as a collectable, but mainly to use it. I used it several times between Summer 2010 and Summer 2011 and I had no complaints: reliable, sturdy, easy to use and fully mechanical. By that time, I started to develop my black and white negatives at home. But then I replaced it with the outstanding Nikon F2. Having used the Nikon for a long time, now I can say that I wouldn't recommend a Praktica unless for beginners. After my pleasant experience with the Nikon, I realised that the Praktica was not as sturdy as I thought, the lens mount is in fact quite unstable, the Pentacon lenses are not bad but not excellent and the stop-down metering can be sometimes slow and annoying. On the other hand, the shutter release button is really confortable and the shutter speed dial is very easy to turn even with one single finger. But probably, the thing I like the most of this camera is the idea that it was built in a country that no longer exists during the urban trendy, colourful and dark, pinky clothed, poppy, hair sprayed and unbounded eighties. It's like having in your hands a remain of that fascinating Cold War times.

Exposure meter
The CdS TTL meter is powered by a 1.5V 625A or V625 battery. It's activated by pressing the black button near the shutter release. This button also stops down the diaphragm, so the metering is always made in stop-down mode. Therefore, the meter button works also as a depth of field preview. A full aperture metering would have required a different mount from the M42 screw, as eventually Pentacon did with the B series. The viewfinder shows a match needle meter readout with the “+”, “o” and “-” symbols, being “o” the correct exposure. Film speed can be set between 12 and 1600 ASA. If I am right the meter has a sensitivity range of 2 to 18 EV at ASA 100.

Shutter
As explained earlier, this camera is fitted with a fully mechanical metallic vertical focal plane shutter. Shutter speeds are 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, B and a flash synchro speed (about 1/125). The shutter release button is placed on the camera body in an oblique angle, very comfortable to use. This front-placed button is found also in other Prakticas and primitive SLR Contax. According to Roger Hicks, this frontal position “is supposed to reduce camera shake” (p.45). The sound it makes is quite remarkable, probably due to the noisy mirror. In Matt Denton's words: “In my opinion, this camera's best feature is the super-strong shutter. [...] It's a vertical focal plane metal blade shutter that sounds as strong as if the camera were new instead of over 20 years old. [...] It's hard to describe without doing it for yourself but let's say it feels like a mechanism that knows exactly what it's supposed to do and does it. With feeling”.

Viewfinder
The focusing screen provides a split image rangefinder surrounded by microprisms and a circular ground glass area. The meter needle is at the right, while at the left side there is an indicator to show whether the shutter has been set or not. No more information is provided through the finder.

Lens
This M42 mount camera was usually sold with the common multi coated Pentacon auto 1.8/50. This 6 elements in 4 groups (double Gauss) lens was a multi coated version of the Meyer Orestor 1.8/50. One thing I like a lot about this lens is that its closest focusing distance is only 1.1 feet (33 cm). Not many 50mm lenses have such a close focusing distance. It takes almost a complete 180° turn to focus between 1.1 ft to infinite. The diaphragm is made up by six blades and stops from f/1.8 to f/16 in half stops with clicks. An A/M switch provides auto or manual stop down.

The production of Praktica cameras took off before World War II in Dresden by the American-owned KW company. A Praktica was a simple and cheap camera, originally using a unique 40mm screw-mount for its interchangeable lenses. Corporate restructuring was the reason for the Zeiss Ikon company to be integrated into KW. As of that moment Praktica cameras were fitted with the slightly larger 42mm screw lens mount of the Zeiss-made Contax cameras, becoming an international standard. The screw mount lenses for contemporary Pentax cameras were called ‘Takumar’. The name was changed to ‘Pentax’ when it introduced its own bayonet mount.

The super TL2 was introduced in 1975. During its three years of production, 15.000 bodies were manufactured. Its name suggests it to be the successor of the very successful super TL. While put in a newly designed body with a steel-bladed shutter, it in fact mirrors the super TL’s specifications. Most likely the model was produced to use up existing stocks of older parts. In order to warrant a low sticker price, specifications were basic. The camera lacked a 1/1000 sec shutter speed and self-timer. TTL-metering was triggered by a key located near the shutter release, using the stopped down aperture method.

Asahi Pentax SP1000 ( Honeywell SP1000 in the USA) is a small-format single - lens reflex camera , manufactured from Japan in 1973 to 1976 in black and silver. This model replaces the Pentax SP500 and completely repeats the Pentax Spotmatic , with the exception of the self-timer. The production of this camera was aimed at the low-budget segment of the market. Asahi Optical's policy did not allow a decline in product quality. To reduce the cost of cameras, their functionality was cut.

The PENTAX SP1000 replaced the SP500 as the budget model. It was basically the original Spotmatic (which had been introduced 9 years earlier) but without a self timer. It thus didn't have recent advances such as the open aperture metering found in the Spotmatic F and ES series.

This model was not sold in Japan