Praktica L
The Praktica L is one of the SLR camera models from the Praktica series from the manufacturer Pentacon from Dresden .
The L in the name indicates the steel lamella closure, which replaced the rubber cloth closure of the predecessor. This new vertical steel lamella slot shutter was finally almost wear-free and temperature-independent. The main features of this new line of cameras, introduced in 1969 with the L, LLC and LTL models, were:
- Exposure times of 1–1 / 1000 s and B
- M42 screw thread connection
- Return mirror with almost uninterrupted image observation
- Depending on the design, outside or inside light measurement, or no light measurement at all (e.g. model L)
- Depending on the design, exposure measurement with open aperture (LLC) or with working aperture (LTL)
- Depending on the design, manual handling (L), semi-automatic or automatic (EE2, EE3)
- Pentacon Loading Fast loading system for film loading
- angular construction, camera body matt chrome-plated or (less often) black
The construction system within the basic design allowed an efficient production of various types of construction with a high degree of standardization. Despite the variety in the range of cameras in the model series, the camera type with TTL internal exposure metering with a working aperture developed into the most successful type of all generations (e.g. models MTL 5, LTL, Super TL1000).
Overall, the L series, which was built in four generations from 1969 to 1989, sold over 4.8 million units, approx. 3 million of them with TTL exposure metering with the working aperture.
A small overview of the production range of the L series in twenty years
| 1969 | LLC | first single-lens SLR in the world with TTL exposure metering with open aperture and electr. Aperture value transfer | |||
| L. | like LLC, but without exposure metering | ||||
| 1970 | LTL | like L, but with TTL exposure metering with working aperture | |||
| 1972 | LB | like L, but with external exposure metering | |||
| 1974 | VLC | like LLC, additionally with exchangeable viewfinder inserts and field lenses, hot shoe can only be connected via socket as an accessory | |||
| 1975 | LTL 2 | like LTL, but exposure display now with 2 light fields instead of a pointer | |||
| 1976 | Super TL 2 | like LTL, but only up to 1/500 s | |||
| L 2 | like L | ||||
| LB 2 | like LB | ||||
| LTL 3 | like LTL 2, but again with pointer | ||||
| PLC 2 | like LLC, but with a different appearance (clamping lever, trigger ...) | ||||
| VLC 2 | like VLC, but improved / brighter viewfinder | ||||
| 1977 | EE 2 | first single-lens SLR in the world with fully automatic exposure, in which the times between 1 and 1/1000 s are formed electronically, in professional circles at that time "camera computer". | |||
| 1978 | Super TL 3 | like Super TL 2 | |||
| MTL 3 | like LTL 3 | ||||
| PLC 3 | like PLC 2 | ||||
| VLC 3 | like VLC 2 | ||||
| 1979 | DTL 3 | like LTL 2, but with display of the exposure metering via 4 LEDs in the viewfinder | |||
| EE 3 | like EE 2, but with a pair of measuring wedges and a micro grid ring | ||||
| Super TL 1000 | like MTL 3, but without self-timer | ||||
| 1981 | Super TL 500 | like Super TL 2 | |||
| 1983 | MTL 5 | like MTL 3, but with a smooth camera cover and other external cosmetics | |||
| 1985 | MTL 5 B | like MTL 5, but omission of the additional flash socket, but now with triple measuring wedge, battery compartment adapted to standard button cells LR44 / SR44 | |||
| MTL 50 | like MTL 5B, but display of the exposure metering compensation via two LEDs in the viewfinder |
The production of Praktica is divided into generations:
- Generation of the L-series (12/1969 to 10/1978)
- Generation (11/1975 to 01/1980)
- Generation (03/1978 to 02/1984)
- Generation (02/1980 to 12/1989)
List of model names
| L. | Steel lamella slot shutter | |
| TTL | Indoor exposure measurement ("Through the Lens") | |
| B. | Built-in light meter | |
| LC | Light concentrator | |
| P | prism | |
| V | Variable (viewfinder system, field lenses) | |
| D. | Diodes for exposure display in the viewfinder | |
| M. | Measuring mechanism adjustment | |
| EE | 2 electronics (automatic exposure and shutter speed control) |
