Süleyman (Deceased 04.2012)
Pentacon six TL
Manufactured by Kombinat VEB Pentacon, Dresden, former East Germany
Model: c. 1980, (late version of TL range)
TL range produced between 1968-90
All Praktisix / Pentacon Six TL series of cameras produced between 1957-90
Medium format SLR system film camera, film: 120/220 roll, picture size: 6x6cm
Logo on the front: Pentacon tower logo
Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Biometar 80mm f/2.8 MC, automatic diaphragm, w/ DOF preview lever, 5 elements in 4 groups, filter thread 58mm, serial no.10075268
Mount: Praktisix/Pentacon six bayonet Breach lock
Standard lens of the system and all models
In here, the total black finish MC lens produced between 1978-90
Aperture: f/2.8-f/22setting: ring and scale on the lens
Focus range: 1-30m +inf
Lens release: by black milled ring behind the lens on the lens flange, turn counter clockwise and remove the lens
Focusing: via simple matte glass screen (standard screen of the system), interchangeable, ring and scale on the lens, w/DOF scale
Shutter: focal plane rubberized cloth shutter, horizontally travelling, speeds: 1-1/1000 +B
setting : dial on the left of the top plate
Shutter release: on the front side of the camera, w/ cable release socket and safety locking milled ring
Cocking lever: also winds the film, long stroke, on the right of the top plate
Frame counter: on the cocking lever, additive type, auto-reset
Disconnecting lever: for unlocking the locked cocking lever after 12/24 frames, thus the film can be rolled to the end by short rocking movements, beneath right side of the cocking lever
Mirror: not instant return
Viewfinder: waist level finder, w/ magnifying glass and two framed sports finder, interchangeable, opens by a knob on the back side of the finder
Finder release: by a small silver knob on the left of the top-plate
Flash PC socket: on the lower right of the lens flange, X synch 1/15, w/ safety locking ring for flash plug
Memory dials : for ASA on the cocking lever, for film type on the speeds dial
Self-timer
Back cover: hinged, opens by a latch on the left side of the camera
Film loading: knobs on the bottom plate for fitting the spools
Plate on the bottom plate: Made in G.D.R
Tripod socket: 1/4'', at the bottom of the lens flange
Strap knobs
Body: metal, Weight: 1366g
serial no. 115171 (beneath the back cover opening latch)
There are large variety of Carl Zeiss Jena and Schneider lenses for the Pentacon six. Also, a large variety of viewing screens, from simple matte to grids or fresnel lens microprism screens, are available. The waist-level finder can be replaced by non-metered or metered prism finders. The metered prisms were introduced in 1968; from this point onwards, the camera was called Pentacon six TL. Nothing had changed in the camera itself; the only thing new was the availability of a metered prism allowing TTL metering.
Praktisix is the predecessor of the Pentacon Six of the same bayonet mount. Arsenal Kiev 60 is also with Pentacon six mount.
But there is no relationship between the Praktisix/Pentacon Six and the Kiev6C/60. They share a common lens mount and film size but they are in no way the same and the Kiev is not the same mechanically.
Six major models were produced. The Praktisix 1957, Praktisix II 1964, Praktisix IIA 1966 Pentacon six 1966, Pentacon Six TL (early version) 1968, and Pentacon Six TL (late version).
These cameras are a series of improvements from the first Praktisix. But, other than the name changes there are minor changes from model to model, and the bodies are the same in general appearance.
The most common problems with all of these cameras:
1. Never allow the film advance lever to snap back after winding the film. This has been the cause of breaking more of these cameras than every other problem combined.
2. Never release the self-timer when the camera is not cocked, again a common way to break the camera.
The original manufacturer of these cameras was Kamera Werkstätten in 1959 they became V E B Kamera and KinoWerke Dresden,in 1964 they became VEB Pentacon and finally in 1970 Kombinat VEB Pentacon.
VEB (Volkseigner Betrieb) roughly translates as "People owned Industry". Initially the cameras and accessories had a stylized "KW in a diamond" logo and later the "Pentacon tower" logo.
Manual in Orpahan Cameras byMikeButkus
Communist Cameras by Nathan Dayton
Pentacon six TL
Manufactured by Kombinat VEB Pentacon, Dresden, former East Germany
Model: c. 1980, (late version of TL range)
TL range produced between 1968-90
All Praktisix / Pentacon Six TL series of cameras produced between 1957-90
Medium format SLR system film camera, film: 120/220 roll, picture size: 6x6cm
Logo on the front: Pentacon tower logo
Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Biometar 80mm f/2.8 MC, automatic diaphragm, w/ DOF preview lever, 5 elements in 4 groups, filter thread 58mm, serial no.10075268
Mount: Praktisix/Pentacon six bayonet Breach lock
Standard lens of the system and all models
In here, the total black finish MC lens produced between 1978-90
Aperture: f/2.8-f/22setting: ring and scale on the lens
Focus range: 1-30m +inf
Lens release: by black milled ring behind the lens on the lens flange, turn counter clockwise and remove the lens
Focusing: via simple matte glass screen (standard screen of the system), interchangeable, ring and scale on the lens, w/DOF scale
Shutter: focal plane rubberized cloth shutter, horizontally travelling, speeds: 1-1/1000 +B
setting : dial on the left of the top plate
Shutter release: on the front side of the camera, w/ cable release socket and safety locking milled ring
Cocking lever: also winds the film, long stroke, on the right of the top plate
Frame counter: on the cocking lever, additive type, auto-reset
Disconnecting lever: for unlocking the locked cocking lever after 12/24 frames, thus the film can be rolled to the end by short rocking movements, beneath right side of the cocking lever
Mirror: not instant return
Viewfinder: waist level finder, w/ magnifying glass and two framed sports finder, interchangeable, opens by a knob on the back side of the finder
Finder release: by a small silver knob on the left of the top-plate
Flash PC socket: on the lower right of the lens flange, X synch 1/15, w/ safety locking ring for flash plug
Memory dials : for ASA on the cocking lever, for film type on the speeds dial
Self-timer
Back cover: hinged, opens by a latch on the left side of the camera
Film loading: knobs on the bottom plate for fitting the spools
Plate on the bottom plate: Made in G.D.R
Tripod socket: 1/4'', at the bottom of the lens flange
Strap knobs
Body: metal, Weight: 1366g
serial no. 115171 (beneath the back cover opening latch)
There are large variety of Carl Zeiss Jena and Schneider lenses for the Pentacon six. Also, a large variety of viewing screens, from simple matte to grids or fresnel lens microprism screens, are available. The waist-level finder can be replaced by non-metered or metered prism finders. The metered prisms were introduced in 1968; from this point onwards, the camera was called Pentacon six TL. Nothing had changed in the camera itself; the only thing new was the availability of a metered prism allowing TTL metering.
Praktisix is the predecessor of the Pentacon Six of the same bayonet mount. Arsenal Kiev 60 is also with Pentacon six mount.
But there is no relationship between the Praktisix/Pentacon Six and the Kiev6C/60. They share a common lens mount and film size but they are in no way the same and the Kiev is not the same mechanically.
Six major models were produced. The Praktisix 1957, Praktisix II 1964, Praktisix IIA 1966 Pentacon six 1966, Pentacon Six TL (early version) 1968, and Pentacon Six TL (late version).
These cameras are a series of improvements from the first Praktisix. But, other than the name changes there are minor changes from model to model, and the bodies are the same in general appearance.
The most common problems with all of these cameras:
1. Never allow the film advance lever to snap back after winding the film. This has been the cause of breaking more of these cameras than every other problem combined.
2. Never release the self-timer when the camera is not cocked, again a common way to break the camera.
The original manufacturer of these cameras was Kamera Werkstätten in 1959 they became V E B Kamera and KinoWerke Dresden,in 1964 they became VEB Pentacon and finally in 1970 Kombinat VEB Pentacon.
VEB (Volkseigner Betrieb) roughly translates as "People owned Industry". Initially the cameras and accessories had a stylized "KW in a diamond" logo and later the "Pentacon tower" logo.
Manual in Orpahan Cameras byMikeButkus
Communist Cameras by Nathan Dayton