The Praktica Super TL is a SLR camera. It was built by Pentacon from 1968 to 1976. Production took place at VEB Pentacon. The 35mm camera was sold under the names “Hanimex Praktica Super TL“, “Hanimex Praktica TL”, “Hanimex Pro TL” and “Cavalier STL-I” in the USA. For the Dutch market it was offered as “Pentor super TL”.
Pentor was a name formed by the names “Pentacon” and “ORWO”.
In West Germany the SLR was marketed by Photo Porst as “Porst Reflex FX 6“. At Foto Quelle there was the popular camera as under the Revue brand, “Revueflex SL“.
The Praktica Super TL offers the possibility of interchangeable lenses. A M42-Gewinde was installed for this purpose. The T 1:2.8 f=50 aus Jena is usually found on the 35mm camera.
M42 lenses are attached to the camera by means of a screw thread. The lens mount is very common. The M42 thread was developed by Carl Zeiss in Jena, Germany. Zeiss, KMZ, Voigtländer, Pentacon and Pentax were among others manufacturers of M42 interchangeable lenses. There is no autofocus with the 35mm camera. You have to focus manually on the subject.
The Praktica Super TL has a built-in light meter. The correct exposure is measured through the lens. The desired exposure time as well as the number of f-stops can be set by the user. The photo camera comes with a bulb mode. An external flash can be used via the PC flash socket.
Films for the Praktica Super TL
The Praktica Super TL exposes 35mm films. This type of film is still being produced and can be processed by most photo laboratories without any problems. Beautiful 35mm films for color or black-and-white shots are the Agfaphoto Vista 200* and the Ilford HP5*.
The color film is processed in the C-41 process. This is offered by almost every photo lab.
The exposure area of the Praktica Super TL has a size of 24 mm x 36 mm. A 135-36 film can hold at least 36 shots. The film is winded manually in the camera.
The 35mm camera comes with a thread for a tripod. It is also possible to use a cable release. The power source of the Praktica Super TL is one Varta V 625 (eBay / Amazon*).
Today you can buy the Praktica Super TL only in used condition. The prices for the camera vary depending on the condition.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Single lens reflex camera |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Picture format | 24 mm x 36 mm |
| Lens mount | M42 lens mount |
| Focus | Manual |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism finder |
| Exposure times | 1/500 second to 30 seconds, Bulb |
| Bulb mode | Yes |
| Light meter | Yes |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Flash Connection | PC-Flash |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | 1x Varta 625 battery |
| Manufacturer | Pentacon |
| Country of production | GDR (German Democratic Republic) |
| End of production | 1976 |
| Production duration | 8 years |
| Estimated value / Used price | 59,45 Euro 98,4987,1357,73458,0650,899784,56694,3063,29 Estimate based on used prices of 98 offers (possibly with different scope of delivery and/or condition). As of 15.4.2024 |
| Average used price in the year 2023 | 64,39 Euro (69.27 US-Dollar) |