C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The KW Praktica TL5 (1977) is a 35mm single-lens reflex camera produced by VEB Pentacon in Dresden, East Germany, representing the penultimate development in the Praktica T-series of M42 stopped-down TTL metered SLRs. Introduced in 1977 and produced through the early 1980s, the TL5 sat between the more basic TL3 and the top-specification Super TL in the Praktica product range.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
A refined mid-range Praktica — the TL5 consolidated the T-series TTL metering formula into a more ergonomic package, delivering reliable stopped-down CdS TTL metering with the dependable M42 vertical metal shutter in an accessible East German body.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm (24×36 mm) |
| Mount | M42 screw (42×1mm) |
| Years | 1977–1983 |
| Shutter | Vertical metal focal-plane: 1s – 1/1000s + B |
| Flash sync | 1/125s (X-sync) |
| Meter | CdS TTL stopped-down |
| Exposure | Manual (meter-guided) |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~92% coverage, 0.88× |
| Focus | Manual, split-prism + microprism |
| Battery | PX625 / SR44 |
VEB Pentacon developed the T-series alongside the L-series from the early 1970s, with the TL1, TL2, and TL3 preceding the TL5. The T-designation indicated a body with the TTL stopped-down metering system considered the standard in the East German export market; the TL5 was the most polished iteration before Pentacon introduced the Super TL with additional features.
The late 1970s were a competitive period for M42 SLRs: Japanese manufacturers had largely moved on to bayonet mounts (Pentax K, Canon FD, Nikon F), but the used and budget market for M42 lenses remained substantial. Pentacon positioned the TL5 and the MTL3 as affordable, functional alternatives that could leverage the enormous installed base of M42 glass in Europe and the export markets where East German cameras were sold through state trading companies.
The TL5 was exported to Western Europe, the UK, Australia, and other markets under the Praktica brand name, typically sold through photographic retailers and mail-order catalogues at prices below equivalent Japanese cameras.
The Praktica TL5 exemplifies the affordable, reliable school of East German SLR manufacturing — simple, well-built, and functional without electronic complexity. Its stopped-down metering is more deliberate than modern open-aperture systems but entirely usable, and its M42 compatibility opens access to excellent and affordable Carl Zeiss Jena and Meyer-Optik optics. For beginners learning manual exposure, the metering workflow enforces a mindful approach to each shot.
Accepts all M42 screw-mount lenses. Recommended: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/2.8, Pancolar 50/1.8, Flektogon 35/2.4; Meyer-Optik Oreston 50/1.8, Trioplan 50/2.9, Lydith 30/3.5; Helios 44-2 58/2; Pentax Super-Takumar 50/1.4. Accessories: M42-to-modern-bayonet adaptors, cable release, PC flash sync socket.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →KW Praktica TL5
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