Praktica MTL-3 camera teardown (35mm East German SLR)
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- I bought an old Praktica MTL-3 and I'm gonna see what's inside/how it works. It's a 40 years old 35mm film camera manufactured in Germany and it came with "Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm F2.8 Tessar" lens.
Wiki link to camera: camera-wiki.org/wiki/Praktica_...
🟥 Subscribe here: czcams.com/users/Gamenomaly?s...
⌚TimeStamps⌚
0:00 Praktica MTL-3 camera teardown (35mm SLR)
1:01 Removing Shutter Dial
3:20 Removing Film Rewinder
4:19 Removing Winding lever
6:55 Trying to remove the Top cover
8:41 Removing the Bottom cover
9:36 Being surprised by the Battery and electronics
10:10 Door mechanism
10:37 Observing parts at the bottom
12:24 Trying to remove the Top cover
13:59 Removing flash connector
17:07 Loosening left side of the top cover
20:55 Removing the top cover
22:50 Observing parts at the top
24:06 Trying to remove top parts
25:19 Removing the Viewfinder
27:25 Removing electronics next to the viewfinder
29:33 Removing triangle mirror block
32:03 Striping parts from the mirror block
35:01 Removing the leather cover
35:31 Loosening the lens holding part
37:52 Removing parts connected to wires
39:27 Encountering Photoresistor
40:34 Removing the PCB
44:35 Molding over the front aluminium cover
47:51 Removing the rubber circle + the mounting system
50:25 Understanding the mirror mechanism
52:22 Understanding the shutter mechanism
58:07 Removing the shutter dial mechanism
1:02:01 Understanding the loading mechanism
1:06:16 Trying to remove the loading mechanism
1:18:36 Trying to remove shutter mechanism
1:22:18 Removing more gears
1:23:32 Removing the film roller
1:25:22 Removing the loading mechanism
1:27:34 Removing shutter parts
1:27:45 Understanding shutter parts
1:29:55 Striping down the shutter mechanism
1:40:13 Removing the mirror mechanism
1:45:50 Striping down the mirror mechanism
1:49:22 Removing mirror bumper
1:52:08 Overview of big parts
1:53:02 Overview of some of the medium parts
Concept of this video was inspired by channel JerryRigEverything, but instead of opening new phones I disassembled an old camera. Second person who motivated me to do this video, was also Lew Later from Unbox Therapy as his excitement for technology brings happiness to the world. - Věda a technologie
The camera is indeed a mechanical camera, the batterry is for the light meter. awesome video congrats!!!
Thx for the comment and am glad you enjoyed the video :)
I already took apart dozens and dozens of cameras !!! (and at least one the this model). Special "spanner" tools mey be required to void damaging parts, and some screws are left threated, keep that in mind if the screw doesn't move.
Most helpful Praktica repair video in the net. Thank you.
Means a lot! Thank you for the comment! :)
Thank you for this! It's a really clear guide and super useful!
I just got one of these and three lenses from a friend's dad. They're all a little grubby and have a little fungus but physically in great condition. I was able to open and clean the insides because of this video.
Great and interesting Video !
I use several MTL and LTL Prakticas since long years. They are very reliable and sturdy cameras. The light meter on the Prakticas is very exact and reliable too. I can highly recommend these cameras !
For beginners with film shooting i recommend MTL3 or MTL 5 /MTL 5b/ MTL 50 cameras. The older LTL or LLC cameras are technically the same, but the viewfinder was a bit darker and a bit narrower.
42:54
They used the same corpus for many models. In Praktica LLC there is battery. In MTL they used this space to store PCB board.
Thank goodness for your video. I just fixed my MTL3! Thanks again!
Super interesting to see this camera interior and disassembled apart. I'm so surprised how complex and so many little parts springs and gears. They all seem made out of brass and other metals, not cheap plastic.
The camera is definitely heavier than I would expect from just looking at it. Also, all the parts felt really sturdy and well made. I am glad that I was able to take it apart. Thanks for the comment. :)
Thank you for this video! I was able to repair the lightmeter in my LTL3 thanks to your detailed guide. I really admire your persistence in disassembling such complex object, I would give up after like 10 mins :)
I am baffled that me filming myself disassembling an old camera as a complete amateur, could help someone repair his! I am so glad to hear that! 😊 (Thank you for the nice comment!)
I got the same problem on my mtl 3, how exacty did you manage to repare the lightmeter ?
At around 9mins when you accidentally close the back door. Just to say if this ever happens to anyone, to use a paperclip like a hook to lift the mechanism for the door through the hole at the top. Just something i picked up years ago.
Nice visuals by the way. Found myself here after forgetting something. Great reference for people.
Thank you George. You helped me to work out how to get the top cover off and work out what was wrong with the exposure counter on my MTL5B :) :) :)
You are welcome! I am glad when people repair their own stuff. :)
@@Gamenomaly The camera is 35 years old and everything works now. Watching you strip yours down gave me a lot of useful info without risking any damage! 😃
Thank you, I have a similar model and my problem was shutter that stuck when you chose a shutter speed lower than 1/8 second.
I disassemble the camera and drip several micodrips of machine oil to this gear mechanism and now everything works well)
Naphtha is the preferred lubricant, for Camera Shutters...
Thanks for the video! It was very helpful as a reference for taking apart an LTL-3, which is almost identical. Unfortunately my camera has a lot of moisture damage, with different colors of rust everywhere! Mechanically it is sort of working, but it will need a lot of cleaning to be reliable. The hole under the shutter button is for a self-timer, which is present on the LTL-3 but apparently not the MTL-3.
I think MTL-3 had three different versions and some of them had it. (found some old magazinse photos) Good luck with the cleaning tho :) (and thx for the comment)
Hi Mikael, I myself am disassembling an LTL-3 to clean out fungus from the prism. Unlike the MTL-3, it's got a metal obstruction above the prism, how'd you manage to take yours apart?
You have ruined the camera, but for good, learning purpose. We all are learning by watching this, so thank you ;) P.S. electronic parts and the battery are only for lightmeter device and the flash sink.
Thanks for the video, you helped me fix my MTL3! Mine had a stuck trigger that released part of the shutter mechanism every time you pulled the lever, putting it in a state where you can't pull the lever anymore and you can't take a picture. A drop of sewing machine oil fixed that for me
Its a good feeling hearing from someone, that my video helped them reapir their camera. Thx for the comment :)
Bonjour,
J'adore regarder cette video. C'est comme une séance de yoga, calme, patient, méticuleux.
Et surtout grace à vous j'ai réussi à resserrer le bloc du flash et aussi celui du bloc objectif !!!
Merci énormément mon MTL5 est définitivement prêt à l'action !
Bonne journée à vous
1:30:28 the shutter of the MTL3 is not plastic, the praktica mtl3 had a full metal shutter
I believe the round electronic part is the needle for the lightmeter you see in the viewfinder. Thanks for this vid by the way, I was looking for this!
Thank you for the insight. :) And you are welcome.
The MTL 3 is an all-manual SLR, but it has TTL metering. The heavy piece is the Pentaprism - solid glass - and the object next to it is the cell for the meter (actually a resistor, but that's another story).
The hole in the front, below the shutter release, was for a self-timer.
I have same camera. It's new never used, i keep your video for future help! Ciao
Thanks bro, it helped me with my PLC 2 repair a lot.
Glad to hear that! :)
Hey, I have a Praktica DTL3 and it has the same blueish smear in the prism as yours, do you have any idea what that is?
Did you find where the piece at 1:00:58 came from? I've disassembled my MTL-3 but I'm having a trouble with this single piece unknowing where it's from
If I knew I would gladly tell you but... its been 2 years and I barely remember what I had for lunch 5 days ago. (wish you all the luck for the disassembly)
my camera seems to be working fine, but it's just that piece of plastic or glass which has dirt in the viewfinder which is bothering me! Otherwise, I can still compose images just fine... Do you think it'd be worth the effort to clean it out?
Speaking as a guy who doesn't know much about cameras and did this video just for the curiosity of it -> If it's just the glass of the view finder that is dirty I'd say it's doable. But if it's the whole glass triangle shaped block... I would prolly avoid it. (If you start taking it apart. I would highly recommend keeping track of all the pieces)
@@Gamenomaly I looked in from the lens side and it very much doesn’t look like it’s on the prism, just on the inside of the viewfinder side - I may try cleaning it - just because it’s a bit annoying to deal with.
@@AeromaticXD Good luck! Let me know how it went. :)
Great video! You showed everything and it was very helpful when I was stuck and forgot what order the washers on the winder went on
Edit: just changed a word or two, not sure why
Thanks a lot for the nice comment :) That is exactly why I made this video so the tinkery people who would like to disassemble their cameras have at least some idea what is inside. (even though my knowledge of cameras is abysmal) :)
@@Gamenomaly Thank you for making the video :) I couldn't find anything on disassembling this camera or any others like it and when I did they didn't show anything helpful but you showed absolutely everything and you've been a huge help. Keep making great videos like this one!
Hey there I enjoyed your video and I was wondering for the wind lever there is a black circle on it over where youd use the tweasers. Would you know how to remove it? Thanks
I am glad you enjoyed the video :) Could you point me to the part where i was removing it? Hopefully I remember how I did it cause it has been some time since I had my hands on it... :)
@@Gamenomaly hi again, you were removing the lever at around 4:19 i think the black disk was over the little ring inside it, but I'm not sure if it was on your camera...
@I have no idea what to call this Oh, I see! Sadly I bought the camera used, and it did not have the cover for the lever. (That's why it wasn't shown on the camera, cause it was never there to begine with... :D) So I am afraid that I won't be able to help you with that... (To be hones I didn't even know that there was suppose to be a cover)
Please i need to know what kund of battery it was cause a cant find it anywhere
How did you remove the black piece on the wrench? The one on the far right
Can you tell me please,, are the bottom and top plates made of metal or chromed plastic?
It feels like aluminum to me.
edit: "Well i Gues i am just dumb" :D
They are made from chromed plastic
I need the bottom plate micro screws. Can you pls tell me what measure screws they are? Thank you.
I dont know how to measure screws but here you go: czcams.com/video/jrBxYLHIeCg/video.html
@@Gamenomaly thank you so much for your help, now I know exactly what to look for.
@@BluesBrethrenofPolishPeoplesR You are welcome! :)
29:03 this is VU meter, pointer in view window
The lightmeter in mine always shows that the image is completely underexposed unless i shine a very bright light into it. What could be the problem? And is it easy to fix?
As I mentioned at the beginning of the video, I don’t understand the camera good enough to answer your question. Maybe if some from the comment section knows.
Replace the battery to a new one! When the battery is too low the lightmeter has not enough power to measure correctly. Quick, easy and cheap fix for that. ;) The type number of the battery should be printed on it, but in case you don't have the battery anymore: It's a LR44 that is also often used in all kinds of small electronics. You can find it on amazon or WalMart (I guess, I'm not from the US or Canada). But this battery should be easy to find.
@@andreasklindt7144 The Battery i have is actually new. I believe that the lightmeter and the wheel for setting the exposure are disconnected
At the button, there is a variable potentiometer, you can adjust it. Yellow, green and blue cable. Min 37:55, Will be hard and film waste.