General Information

Serial #

189263

Part Number

1

Total Parts

7

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal body; glass viewfinder; synthetic covering, button

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

15.7 cm

Width

10.7 cm

Height

10.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Photography

Category

Still cameras

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Pentacon

Country

Germany

State/Province

Unknown

City

Dresden

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

Early 1970s until at least 1980

Canada

This camera was bought by John Corby, former curator of Industrial Technology at NMST. It was purchased circa 1969 to be used at Mr. Corby's job as curator and was used to photograph most of the images in CSTM's John Corby photographic collection (e.g. Angus Shops, Chesterville Station).

Function

Capture still images.

Technical

This is a 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Oreston Lens. The camera has a rubber focal-plane shutter with speeds from 1s to 1/500s and B-setting. When focusing, the user adjusts the distance setting ring until the image is clear in the micro-prism area at the centre of the viewfinder. The ground glass ring, also in the centre of the viewfinder, should be used when focusing at a small aperture. The internal measuring system for automatic exposure works as follows. When triggered at a user-selected aperture or shutter speed, a beam splitter deflects some light through a CdS photoresistor. The reading is registered by a small ammeter whose needle is shown in the viewfinder. The user then adjusts the shutter speed or aperture until the needle lines up with a small ring in the viewfinder. The power source for this mechanism is a mercury oxide battery (life of approx. 2 years).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

On the front: "PRAKTICA/ super TL"/ On the pentaprism housing, above the model name, is engraved: C6565-/ 65852-20416"/ To the proper left of the lens: "F X"/ At the top, on the proper left: film rewind knob shows three numbers around it: "12/ 20/ 36"/ On the proper right: a dial with two rows of numbers/ An arm with symbols on the top and the word "color" in the middle/ Inside the back, on the proper right is the serial number: "189263"/ On the inside of the back piece is a silver-coloured sticker: "[LOGO] A QUALITY/ CARSEN/ PRODUCT/ 31 SCARSDALE ROAD, DON MILLS, ONTARIO"

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Black with silver-coloured accents

Decoration

N/A