The definitive equipment listing for Prakticas on the internet
	Main  |  Camera Bodies  |  Lenses  |  Accessories  |  Photo index  |  Contact  Cameras -> Praktica L -> Praktica DTL 3 -> Manual Note: If the 2nd half of the pictures won't load for you the first time, please hit "refresh" and they'll continue downloading. Camera parts - Opening the camera back - Film loading - Closing the back - Cocking and winding - Film speed setting - Shutter speed setting - Diaphragm setting - Automatic exposure control system - Range of the automatic exposure control system - Focusing - Depth-of-field scale - Releasing and cocking - Self-timer - Film changing - Lens changing - Flash photography - Checking the battery - Battery replacement - Care of the camera We wish you all success with this modern reflex camera. You own a camera with the novel metal-blade focal-plane shutter for maximum shutter speed constancy and minimum synchronization for electronic flash photography. The camera is fitted with a through-the-lens light metering system in which balanced metering is indicated by light-emitting diodes. Metering is in the center-weighted manner and true to the object. Before you start snapping away happily will you please read these Instructions for Use carefully. You will avoid trouble with the camera and disappointments with the pictures. 1. Shutter speed dial 2. Metering key 3. Shutter release with wire-release connexion 4. Self-timer lever 5. Self-timer release 6. Rewind button 7. Folding rewind crank 8. Battery checking key 9. Battery warning lamp 10. Accessory shoe with centre contact 11. Shutter speed mark 12. Rapid wind lever 13. Exposure counter 14. Film speed mark 15. Film speed dials 16. Diaphragm operation selection switch 17. Depth-of-field scale 18. Focusing ring 19. Diaphragm setting ring 20. Rewind catch 21. Cartridge chamber 22. Metal-blade focal-plane shutter 23. Film sprocket 24. Support 25. Take-up spool 26. Film loading mark 27. Wire brackets 28. Eyepiece mount with accessory adapter 29. Rewind release 30. Battery compartment with battery inserted 31. Tripod thread 32. Flash socket Opening the camera back Pull the rewind button (6) upwards to the hard stop to unlock the camera back and hinge it open. Simultaneously, exposure counter (13) automatically returns into its initial position. Film loading Insert the cartridge and observe that wire-brackets (27) do not stand upwards. Turn at the knurled spool disk, if required. Pull the film leader to the green mark (26) and pass it under support (24) so that the teeth of film sprocket (23) engage in the film perforation. Should the film be heavily warped, put a wire bracket on it by turning the spool disk. Push rewind button (6) in again by turning it a little. Closing the back The back locks automatically when you press it to the camera body at the latch side. Cocking and winding The rapid wind lever (12) has a dead stroke of about 15 deg. till the mechanism engages. This makes for safety at series exposures. Swivel lever (12) to the stop, move it back and depress shutter release (3). Repeat the process and finish up by cocking the camera again. The automatic exposure counter (13) will now read exposure 1. Film speed setting 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 dial (15) meets the white mark (14). The ring locks at the desired value when released. Shutter speed setting Symbol : for electronic flash photography (about 1/125 sec) Setting B: for time exposures; the shutter remains open as long as the shutter release is pressed 1 sec. to 1/15 sec.: (orange) for low light photography; a tripod is needed 1/30 to 1/1000: (white) for satisfactory light photography Turn shutter speed dial (1) till the desired speed matches the orange triangle. Diaphragm setting Set the desired diaphragm number on the diaphragm ring (19) of the lens opposite to the mark on the lens mount. When lenses with automatic pressure diaphragm (ADB) are used, the diaphragm remains fully open and closes to the set value only when the shutter release is pressed. The diaphragm opens in the same instant the shutter has run down. By changing the diaphragm operation selection switch (16) from A (automatic operation) to M (manual operation) or by actuating the metering key (2) it becomes possible to check the depth-of-field already on the viewfinder image. Automatic exposure control There are two modes of light metering: 1. Metering by altering the diaphragm number at the lens at pre-selected shutter speed (being the preferred method for general objects in satisfactory light). 2. Metering by altering the shutter speed at pre-selected diaphragm number (being recommended for low-light photography with a certain depth-of-field required). For light-metering purposes on the right side of the viewfinder image you will find 4 light-emitting diodes which will light up in dependence on how the exposure metering device is balanced. 1: overexposure 2: correct exposure 3: underexposure Metering at pre-selected shutter speed Set the shutter speed, press metering key (2) to the stop, turn diaphragm setting ring (19) till only both the centre diodes will light up in the viewfinder images. Turning the depth-of-field scale opens or closes the diaphragm accordingly for balancing object brightness with the combination of shutter speed, diaphragm opening, and ASA/DIN film speed. Metering at pre-selected diaphragm number Set the diaphragm number, press metering key (2) to the stop, turn shutter speed dial (1) till only both the centre diodes will light up. Don't set any intermediate shutter speeds between the indexed positions. Should you not succeed in attaining a perfect balance, you can make a precise correction by turning the diaphragm setting ring which may, of course, be set to intermediate values. Metering with lenses without automatic diaphragm system How to control: Set the diaphragm to its smallest diaphragm number, focus the lens, balance the system by stopping down. Range of the automatic exposure control system Outside of the range of the Table below the metering system is ineffective, and only both the lowermost diodes will light up. Metering cannot be made with the shutter set to "B" or on symbol . For technical reason, the brightness of the light-emitting diodes is switched over when certain shutter speed/film speed combinations are available. DIN ASA Time (sec) 12 ... 13 12 ... 16 1 ... 1/125 14 ... 16 20 ... 32 1 ... 1/250 17 ... 19 40 ... 65 1 ... 1/500 20 80 1 ... 1/1000 21 ... 23 100 ... 165 1/2 ... 1/1000 24 ... 26 200 ... 330 1/4 ... 1/1000 27 ... 29 400 ... 660 1/8 ... 1/1000 30 ... 32 800 ... 1300 1/15 ... 1/1000 33 1600 1/30 ... 1/1000 Focusing Focusing is possible as to metering wedges or a microprism screen. Focusing on the measuring wedges Turn the focusing ring until defined outlines of the picture parts will stand opposite one another. Focusing on the microprism screen Maximum sharpness is attained when the image in the microprism screen is clear and does not flicker. The frosted Fresnel area is not intended for focusing. Depth-of-field scale The depth-of-field attained with a certain diaphragm setting can be read on scale (17). Example: Distance 3 metres, diaphragm number 8, depth-of-field extends from 2 metres to 5 metres. For checking the depth-of-field on the viewfinder image, too, depress metering key (2), set change-over switch (16) to M and the switching lever (of PANCOLAR 50 mm f/1.8) to its lower position, resp. Infrared photos require a slight correction of the focus; let the determined distance meet the infrared mark on the lens. Releasing and cocking Please note before pressing the shutter release: 1. The signal is visible in the viewfinder on the left: camera not ready for snapping - swivel the rapid rewind lever (12) to the stop. 2. For shutter speeds of 1/15 seconds and slower use a tripod and a cable release. Press shutter release (3) smoothly right across the easy going section. (Don't depress suddenly!) Prepare for another snapping by cocking again. Self-timer Cock the shutter and turn lever (4) upwards to the stop. Press the release (5) - the self-timer will now run for about 8 seconds till the shutter operates. Do not try to cock the shutter while the self-timer runs. Film changing Observe the exposure counter for the number of pictures you can take with the film in your camera (12, 20 or 36 exposures). After the last exposure, press rewind release (29) (it locks), tilt the folding rewind crank (7) out of rewind button (6) and turn it not too fast in the direction of the arrow (indicated on crank (7)). You will feel the end of rewinding by a somewhat increased resistance with subsequent easy running. Pull the rewind button up to the stop, the camera back being thus released, and take the cartridge out. Note: should you have exposed a few more frames than specified on your film packing it might be possible that the rapid wind lever can only be turned partially. Do not use force in this case but rewind the film. Lens changing Any lenses having the international M42x1 PRAKTICA thread can be applied. Grip the lens body and unscrew it in counterclockwise direction; screw in the other lens in clockwise direction to the stop. Flash photography This camera has been designed for synchronization of flashbulbs and electronic flash units. Flash units provided with a centre contact are pushed into the accessory shoe (10). Connect flash units fitted with synchro cable and flash plug with flash socket (32). Set the symbol ( or ) of the relevant type of flash unit on the shutter speed dial. The firing circuit is only closed as long as the shutter is running down. Note the guide number of your flash unit and make the aperture or distance calculation (use the calculating disk on the flash unit). Flashbulbs For fast burning flashbulbs the speed dial is set to the symbol or to a shutter speed longer than 1/30 sec. Electronic flash units These will be synchronized at the symbol which corresponds to a shutter speed of about 1/125 sec. Longer shutter speeds can be set, too. Checking the battery Turn the battery checking key (8) in direction of battery warning lamp (9). As long as this warning lamp lights up, battery voltage will suffice while the battery is to be exchanged when the lamp lights up no more. Battery replacement The automatic exposure control system is powered by a camera-type battery of a rated voltage of 4.5 Volt (e.g. Mallory battery PX 21, UCAR type No. 523, EVEREADY type No. 523, VARTA V 21 PX order No. 7251, DAIMON PX 21, article No. 051). Open the battery compartment (30) by lifting the plastics lid at its grip. Observe the correct polarity when loading a new battery; bear it with its plus pole against the springy contact (also designated by +) by simultaneously tilting it into the battery compartment. Attach the compartment lid with the edge opposite its grip to the battery compartment and depress the grip side till it locks. Life of power source is about 2 years. Don't recharge old batteries, don't put it into the fire! There is danger of explosion! Care of the camera Operation according to instructions and proper care are essential preconditions for troublefree function of this precision instrument. Protect it from shocks, blows, dust and moisture; clean cartridge and spool compartments, film track and camera back with a soft brush in suitable intervals. Do not exert any pressure onto the shutter blades and do not touch it with your fingers. Dust the mirror with a soft brush only if absolutely necessary. When not used shut the eyepiece by means of the delivered protection cap. Don't clean the camera with organic solvents, such as spirit, varnish thinner or the like. Clean from time to time the battery and camera contact ends and remove the battery from the camera when not required for a longer time. We recommend to protect the camera in cold weather. The PRAKTICA DTL 3 is selectively delivered with or without self timer. Please observe the recommendations contained in these Instructions for Use. Handling the camera carelessly may lead to damages which, we regret to say, are not covered by our guarantee. Our consistent efforts to improve our products may lead to some slight deviations of the PRAKTICA DTL 3 from the present details. Back | Index | Top