KW Praktica MTL 501985

History

The Praktica MTL lineage began in the early 1970s when VEB Pentacon introduced TTL through-the-lens metering across the mid-range of the Praktica L-series cameras. The MTL 3 (1978) established the mature form of the series, followed by the MTL 5 and MTL 5B. By the mid-1980s, however, VEB Pentacon's development focus had shifted to the newer Praktica B-mount system, which supported electronic aperture coupling and aperture-priority automation.

The MTL 50 was produced during this transitional period: the B-series bodies (B100, BC1, BCS, B200, BX10, BX20) were the commercial priority, but Pentacon continued to sell M42-mount bodies to customers who had existing M42 glass or who preferred the simplicity of a fully manual system.

The designation "50" rather than the sequential numbering of earlier models may reflect a product rationalisation at Pentacon rather than a technical upgrade over the MTL 5B. The camera shares the same basic shutter unit and body architecture with its MTL predecessors. Production ended with the GDR's dissolution in 1989-1990.

Why It Matters

The MTL 50 is of interest primarily as the final expression of the long-running all-manual Praktica MTL line. It offers little over the MTL 5B or even the MTL 3 in practical terms, but for collectors documenting the full span of Praktica production it represents the last chapter of an M42-mount series that ran for over a decade.

For working photographers, the mechanical-fallback shutter is the critical advantage over the B-series bodies: the MTL 50 functions fully even with a dead battery, aside from metering. This makes it a more resilient tool for extended use than the electronically dependent BCS or BC-series cameras. The M42 mount continues to attract users seeking access to Carl Zeiss Jena and Meyer-Optik glass.

Lenses & Accessories

The M42 mount gives the MTL 50 access to one of the broadest legacy lens ecosystems in film photography:

• Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50/1.8 MC - the standard kit; multicoated late production is optically excellent
• Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35/2.4 MC - wide-angle standard, highly regarded
• Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135/3.5 MC - moderate telephoto
• Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Oreston 50/1.8 - competent standard, warm rendering
• Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100/2.8 - sought today for its soap-bubble bokeh
• Pentax Super-Takumar and SMC Takumar lenses - directly compatible

M42 lenses from Fujinon, Vivitar, Tokina, Cosina, and many other manufacturers fit without adapters. Accessories include standard M42 extension tubes, bellows for macro work, and cable releases. The MTL 50 takes a standard hot shoe for flash; PC socket also present.

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Used by hobbyist photographers in East Germany and Warsaw Pact countries in the mid-to-late 1980s as a domestically produced all-manual SLR.
• Exported to Western Europe; encountered most often in German-speaking countries and the UK as a budget M42-mount body.
• Collected today primarily by photographers documenting the full MTL series or seeking a mechanical-fallback body for Zeiss Jena and Meyer-Optik lenses.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Praktica MTL series - covers the full M42 MTL lineage including body variants, production history, and lens ecosystem through the GDR period