Praktica Super TL 500 and Super TL 1000
The Praktica super TL 500 and Praktica super TL 1000 models belong to the third generation of the Praktica brand SLR cameras manufactured by Pentacon and appeared around the same time as the models in the MTL series. Due to the large number of model variants launched on the market, a specification for the TL and MTL series is too space-consuming. The production period for the Praktica super TL 1000 model variants is from February 1980 to December 1984; the Praktica super TL 500 series was essentially only produced in 1981. The Praktica MTL 3 model series was produced from March 1978 to February 1984, for the MTL 5 model variants the period from 1983 to 1985 applies. Almost 1.8 million cameras of the "super TL" and "MTL" series were launched on the market brought.
The number in the product name indicates the shortest possible shutter speed, which is 1/500 or 1/1000 of a second. These two models were very similar to the MTL variants, but lacked the self-timer and the connection socket for the external flash.
Like all other Prakticas before the introduction of the Prakticar bayonet, the Super TL 500/1000 models also had an M42 thread for the lens connection. The bayonatt variants from 1980 onwards were initially limited to the Praktica B models. There was no open aperture measurement, instead indoor exposure measurement with the aperture button, which could also be used to assess the depth of field if necessary , which is made more difficult by the dark ground glass with its distinctive Fresnel rings.
The exposure meter is powered by a button cell that is switched on via the dimming button. The rest of the control of the camera is, as was common back then, independent of the battery.