Praktica VLC Series

In a previous post (A Tale of Two Cameras), I said that I’d still like to find a working Praktica VLC series camera. A few months back, one was offered on the Facebook Praktica DDR cameras and lenses group. After the first interested party backed out, I went ahead and purchased the camera from Máté Salga.

I’d like to describe the differences between the various generations of the VLC, because I hadn’t seen anyone else do that.

Exacta RTL 1000

The VLC story begins in 1969, when a Pentacon designer named Herbert Scholtze was in charge of  developing a new dual Praktica/Exakta camera with an all new body, and several modern upgrades.  This new camera would eventually become the Praktica L-series and the Exakta RTL 1000. The RTL 1000 used the Exacta bayonet lens mount, but was otherwise all new from previous Exacta cameras. It’s a relatively modern camera for it’s time, with TTL metering with a special finder (similar to the Photomic prism finders of the Nikon F and F2) and a metal vertical traveling shutter with 1/125th second flash synchronization. The camera was built (by Pentacon) until 1973. Note that Exacta had shut down in 1970, and de-registered it’s trademark in early 1971.

Praktica VLC

In 1974, Praktica (Ralph Noack) rebuilt the RTL 1000 concept more closely around it’s L-series body. Gone was the Exacta bayonet lens mount in favor of the more standard M42 screw mount Praktica introduced (1949, Zeiss Contax S), popularized in the US by Pentax. The M42 screw mount was about as close to a standard lens mount as 35mm cameras have ever come. The VLC took the interchangeable viewfinders from the RTL 1000, with the possible exception of the TTL finder. The TTL finder was not needed with the VLC, as the VLC incorporated TTL metering in the body, thus allowing the meter be used with the other three available finders (Pentaprism, Waist Level, and Loupe). I’ve not heard of anyone trying to use the TTL finder from the RTL 1000 on a VLC series camera. I’m interested if anyone reading this knows.

The VLC is distinguished from later models by not having a plastic-tipped rewind lever. Cosmetically, the name Praktica is in a lighter weight font, and the VLC name is located on the mirror box below the make. The focus screens are interchangeable, with the standard screen having a microprism focusing aid. Unlike most (all?) other cameras with interchangeable viewfinders, the VLC’s screen stays with the viewfinder, and not the camera body.

Praktica introduced electrical contacts to transmit the lens aperture setting, which allowed light metering with the aperture remaining wide open. The  electrical connection transmits a variable resistance value to the camera’s metering circuit.

The camera is fully mechanical with the exception of the light metering circuit. Power was from a 4.5V PX21 battery inserted into the baseplate of the camera. These were mercury cells that have been long discontinued. Exell makes a PX21A alkaline battery, which is a direct replacement. My camera came with a standard 1.5V AA battery, which not only fit, but worked just fine! The circuit is a Wheatstone Bridge type, and is thus independent of the voltage applied.

Praktica VLC 2

In June, 1976, the VLC2 was introduced, replacing the VLC. The VLC2 introduced the plastic tip to the rewind crank, making it a bit more comfortable to use. Cosmetically, Praktica was now in a bolder font, and the model in bigger letters over the shutter button. The shutter speed dial changed from black to chrome plated. This model was discontinued in 1978.

Praktica VLC 3

The VLC3 was introduced in 1978. The covering was changed to a non-slip texture design, but the big news was a new focusing screen with a combination of a microprism and split image range-finder was now standard on the focus screens supplied with the VLC3. The shutter was supposed to be quieter, and + and – symbols added to the light meter indication in the viewfinder. Production ended in January 1981.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Máté Salga, not only for selling me my Praktica VLC, but for his help in determining the spotting features between the generations or “phases” of VLC construction. Thanks also go to the members of the Praktica DDR cameras and lenses Facebook group for continuing to be an inspiration to get and use Praktica cameras. The following web sites also proved helpful in my research for this article:

• Mike’s Praktica Collection by Dr. Mike Otto
• Collection Appareils by Sylvain Halgand
• MIKE ECKMAN DOT COM by Mike Eckman (great Exacta RTL 1000 history and information
• Camera Manual Library by Michael Butkus, Jr.
• Wikipeda Praktica entry
• Above photos by John Kratz, Máté Salga, Ian Mackechnie, and Máquinas de Outros Tempos. Copyright of photos remains with the photographers.