Pentina

Pentina fm with standard lens

Pentina fm, back

Pentina fm, controls, from below

The Pentina is a single-lens reflex camera for 35mm format . The Pentina was built by VEB Pentacon Dresden . The camera was manufactured from 1960 in a number of approx. 45,000 copies and was the first camera from Pentacon with a central shutter . The Pentina was designed by Jürgen Peters (1931–2009) and constructed by Hans Daeche .

shape

The Pentina stands out due to its unusual shape, which at first glance does not suggest a single-lens reflex camera. It was advertised as the "first single-lens reflex camera in a new guise". The control elements are mostly inconspicuously integrated into the housing, the interchangeable lenses were connected via a plug-in bayonet. The camera had a built-in selenium exposure meter with a tracking pointer coupled with an aperture and shutter .

The standard lens of the Pentina was a Carl Zeiss (Jena) Tessar 50 mm f / 2.8. The possible exposure times from 1 s to 1/500 s could be synchronized with flash units.

Models

The Pentina was produced in four model variants: as Pentina E (without light meter), Pentina (with light meter), Pentina M (with light meter, measuring magnifier) and Pentina fm (with light meter and Fresnel lens with measuring wedge). There were also versions with a gold anodized housing and brown cover and, as standard, with a silver anodized housing and black cover.

Lenses

Pentina fm and available lenses, from the left 30 mm, standard, 85 mm, 135 mm

Other lenses built for the Pentina are

Meyer-Optik Lydith 1: 3.5 / 30 mm,
Carl Zeiss Jena Cardinar 1: 2.8 / 85 mm,
Meyer-Optik Domigor 1: 4/135 mm

Focal lengths longer than 135 mm were technically impossible (rear lens shutter).

Further equipment

Shutter Priority
Fast elevator
Picture counter
Forward drive
Rewind crank
Accessory shoe
Film marker
Eyelets
1/4 inch tripod connection
Film speed adjustable from 6-1600 ASA

Varia

The Pentina was only sold with a signed lapel , at least at times , so that it could not be taken abroad.

Web links

Pentina. Dresdner-Kameras.de
Pentina fm. Helmuts-Fotokiste.de

Individual evidence

↑ Günter Höhne: Look, but don't copy. How Braun products cast their shadows on design in the GDR . In: Günther Höhne (ed.): The divided form. German-German design affairs 1949-1989 . Torch bearer, Cologne 2009, p. 36–53, here p. 43 .
↑ Pentina. Retrieved December 5, 2019 .
↑ Quoted from: Pentina. Dresdner-Kameras.de.
↑ cf. Pentina. Statement on the back of an invoice. Frank Petermann's private website ( memento of April 8, 2008 in the Internet Archive ).

[1] Günter Höhne: Look, but don't copy. How Braun products cast their shadows on design in the GDR . In: Günther Höhne (ed.): The divided form. German-German design affairs 1949-1989 . Torch bearer, Cologne 2009, p. 36–53, here p. 43 .

[2] Pentina. Retrieved December 5, 2019 .

[3] Quoted from: Pentina. Dresdner-Kameras.de.

[4] . Pentina. Statement on the back of an invoice. Frank Petermann's private website ( memento of April 8, 2008 in the Internet Archive ).