Parts of the PRAKTICA
Opening the camery back
Loading the film
Closing the camera back
Cocking and winding
Setting the film speed
Setting the shutter speed
Setting the aperture
Automatic exposure control system
Metering lenses without automatic diaphragm system
Operating range of the automatic exposure control system
Focusing
Focusing with the double wedge
Focusing with the microprism ring
Focusing with the ground glass ring
Depth-of-field indication
Releasing and cocking
Selt-timer
Changing the film
Changing the lens
Flash photography
Using flash bulbs
Using electronic flash units
Changing the battery
Care of the camera

1. Shutter speed dial
2. Metering key
3.Shutter release with cable release connection
4. Cocking lever with self-timer
5. Self-timer release
6. Rewind knob

Pull the rewind button (6) all the way up. This unlocks the camera back, which can then be opened. At the same time the frame counter (10) is automatically returned to zero.

Insert the cartidge, ensuring that the wire brackets (25) are not standing upwards. Correct using the knurled disc if necessary. Pull the start of the film to the green mark (24) and pass it under the support so that the teeth of the film sprocket (21) engage in the perforations. Should the film be heavily warped, put a wire bracket on it by rotating the knurled disc. Push the rewind button (6) back in, turning it a little if necessary.

The back door locks automatically when you press it against the camera body on the latch side.

The cocking lever (10) can be moved 15° before the mechanism engages and can thus be brought into the ready position. This means safe handling during seires exposures. Swivel the cocking lever as far as it will go, bring it back and drepress the shutter release (3). Repeat the process and finish by cocking the camera again. The automatic frame counter (11) will now show frame 1.
The proper film advance can be checked by making sure the rewind knob (6) rotates as the cocking lever (10) is moved.

Automatic exposure control demands setting of the film speed. Pull the knurled ring of the shutter speed dial (1) up and turn it till the DIN or ASA film index on scale (13) meets the white mark (12). The ring locks when released.

1/30 to 1/1000 s (white) for photography in satisfactory light

1 to 1/15 s (orange) for low-light photography; a tripod is needed.

Symbol FLASH for electronic flash photography (about 1/125s)

Symbol B for long-time exposures; the shutter reminas open as log as the shutter release is depressed.

Rotate the shutter speed dial (1) till the desired speed matches the orange triangle; let the dial engage.Iintermediate positions are not permissible.

Set the desired aperture on the aperture setting ring (17) of the lens opposite the mark on the lens mount.When lenses with automatic pressure diaphragm (ADB) are used, the aperture remains fully open and closes to the set value only when the shutter release is pressed. It opens immediately after the shutter has operated. By changing the diaphragm operator selector (14) from A (automatic operation) to M (manual operation) or by actuating the metering key (2) it becomes possible to check the depth of field on the viewfinder image.

There are two modes of light metering:

1. Shutter speed is preselected.

Set the shutter speed. Depress the metering key (2). Turn the aperture setting ring (17) until the needle in the eyepiece is in the middle of the circle. In the + sector you have overexposure, in the - sector you have underexposure. The aperture opens or closes accordingly.

2. Aperture is preselected.

Set the aperture. Depress the metering key (2) . Turn the shutter speed dial (1) until the needle in the eyepiece is in the middle of the circle. In the + sector you have overexposure, in the - sector you have underexposure. Do not set a shutter speed that is between the click-in positions. If a precise matching is not possible in this way, make a fine correction by varying the aperture.

Proceed in the following way: Set the smallest aperture - focus - preselect the shutter speed - depress the metering key and balance the system by varying the aperture.

Outside the range of the table the metering system is switched off. At the range limits, switching off may happen one step earlier. Metering may not be carried out with the shutter speed dial set to B or the FLASH symbol.

Focusing is possible using the double wedge system, the microprism ring or the ground glass ring.

Turn the focusing ring, until the contours and lines flow naturally (facing each other). Incorrectly aligned edges indicate that the image is out of focus.

Maximum sharpness is attained when the image inside the grid is clear and does not flicker.The ground glass ring is not intended for focusing.

Especially useful in macro and micro photography and when using lenses with a small relative aperture (greater than 4). The image imust appear clear and sharp int he ground glass ring.

The depth of field attained with a certain aperture can be read on the depth-of-field scale (15).
Example:
3 m at aperture 8
depth of field extends from 2 m to 8 m
To check the depth of field on the viewfinder image, depress the metering key (2) and set the selector (14) to M (or set the switching lever to the PANCOLAR auto 1,8/50 lens to its lower position.
Infrared photos require a slight correction in focusing: the determined distance should meet the infrared mark (right of the index) on the lens.

Before pressing the shutter release: If the signal iis visible on the left side of the viewfinder, the camera is not ready for use. Swivel the cocking lever as far as it will go (10).

For the shutter speed of 1/15 s and slower use a tripod and cable release. Press the shutter release (3) in smoothly until resistance is felt - do not press suddenly. Prepare to take another picture by cocking again.

Cock the shutter. Swing lever (5) all way up. Press release (4) to set the self-timer in motion. It will run for about 8 s. Do not cock the shutter while the self-timer runs.

When the frame counter shows that you have reached the end of the film in your camera (12, 20 or 36 exposures), press the rewind release (26), with the locks. Unfold the rewind crank (7) from the rewind knob (6) and turn it not too quickly in the direction of the arrow (on crank). When you feel increased resistance followed by easy movement of the crank, the film has been fully rewound. Pull the rewind knob all the way up. This releases the camera back, and the film cartridge can be removed.
Note: If you have exposed more frames than indicated on the film pack, it may not be possible to move the cocking lever fully. If this occurs, do not use force but rewind the film as described.

Any lens with the international M42 X 1 PRAKTICA thread can be used. Grasp the lens body and unscrew it by turning it anticlockwise. The replacement lens is screwed in analogously.

The camera has been designed for synchronisation of flash bulbs and electronic flash units. Flash units provided with a centre contact are pushed onto the hot shoe (8). Set the required flash symbal (bulb or flash) on the shutter speed dial. The firing circuit is only closed as long as the shutter is operationg. If no computerised unit is used, refer to the guide number of your flash unit to calculate the aperture or distance (calculating disc on the flash).

For fast burning flash bulbs set the shutter speed dial to the BULB symbol or a speed slower than 1/30 s.

These are synchronisedby setting to the FLASH symbol which corresponds to a shutter speed of about 1/125 s.

Use a battery type VARTA V625PX or a similar type with 1,35 V (the 625 PX is important!!). Unscrew the battery compartment lid (28) with a coin. Insert the battery according the plus and minus polarities and close the lid. A battery works about 2 years.
Do not short circuit, incinerate, multilate, recharge or throw into fire!

• Protect the camera from shocks, blows, dust and moisture.
• Clean the cartridge and spool compartments, film track and camera back with a soft brush at suitable intervals.
• Do not clean the camera with organic solvents such as spirit or varnish thinner.
• See that the camera and lens does not come in contact with aggressive vapours. If you have touched the glass surfaces of lens or eyepiece, clean them with lens cleaning paper.
• Do not touch the mirror, image field lens and shutter blades with your fingers. The resultant contamination can only be removed in a service workshop.
• Dust is recommended to be removed by means of an optician's brush or blown off by means of a rubber ball.
• Do not subject the camera to excessively high or low temperatures for extended periods. Protect the camera against direct solar radiation (e. g. in a car) or extreme cold.
• When using the camera at the sea, protect it against salt water, mist spray and sand.
• Avoid sudden changes intemperature. The condensate that might form will cause damage by corrosion.