The Unexpected Oreston

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>About six months ago I acquired a rather nice old Praktica MTL-5. Instead of the Pentacon lens I'd expected it sported an Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Oreston 50mm F1.8, an older lens and not one I was very familiar with. Some rather frustrating experiences with a Domiplan had rather soured my opinion of Meyer lenses, though I was vaguely aware that the Oreston had morphed into the Pentacon 50mm F1.8, the prime lens for the Praktica line right through to it's demise with the "B" series. And that's a lens I have several of, being a Practica enthusiast, and one which I have a great respect and liking for.<br /> <br /> Anyway, I loaded a Fuji Superia 200 and shot off about half the roll, discovering that the lens was smooth where it should be and clicky where it should be, and that it focused down to a really handy 12 inches. Then I put the camera aside, became involved in other thing including shifting house, and re-discovered the Praktica only about a fortnight ago whilst unpacking. I took it up in a spare moment and finished the film, and the results arrived back a day or so ago. And I have to say that I'm very impressed; while being very sharp, the Oreston also has that rare ability to add real "dimension" to a photograph, a life-like rendition of the subject matter which many lenses seem unable to achieve. Perhaps I was lucky and got a good example, but I'd be interested to hear your opinions of and experiences with this lens. I attach a few pics, all from the same film, a sort of "film for all seasons."</p><div></div>

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>No.2</p><div></div>

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>No.3</p><div></div>

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>No.4</p><div></div>

[starvy]

<p>i like the pictures of your house very much. very sharp lens indeed. the colour rendition in the later pictures also makes it a fine performer. would this be part of your regular setup from now on?</p>

[subbarayan_prasanna]

<p>Rick, those are excellent renderings. The Oreston is an ace renderer as you mentioned. I have one in Exakta and one in Praktica mount. Also have several Pentacons, its multicoated successors. I cherish all of them. They are of the same class as the CZJ Pancolar and the Helios M44. In fact the structure of the Oreston closely resembles the formula of the Pancolar. The Oreston excels in tonal rendering. To me that is very special, more important than the sharpness. Post some more. Thank you, sp</p>

[subbarayan_prasanna]

Shall try post a sample from my Oreston on Praktica. sp

[subbarayan_prasanna]

<p>Here it is!</p><div></div>

[JDMvW]

<p>Great.</p>

<p>My MTL 5 looks great but has a jammed film advance. One of these days,..... It has a Meyer Domiplan on it that actually works! Great rarity, as they say on eBay. ;)</p>

<p> </p>

[User_502260]

<p>I used my brother-in-law's 50/1.8 Oreston. It seemed pretty good. The Praktica was in interesting camera. It wasn't built as well as a Nikkormat FTN but if you were hentle with it you could get good results. I think my only Meyer lens is a a 30/3.5 in M42 mount. It's very sharp. Years ago I bought an Exakta VX500 which came with the 50/2.8 Domiplan. I immediately traded it for a 50/2 Pancolar. </p>

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>Thanks, <strong>Subbarayan</strong> , that Oreston of yours looks similarly crisp and the tones are nice. As you and I both know, the Practica/Pentacon products have suffered bad press over the years, and the lenses go practically unmentioned. I don't have a Pancolor, since their legendary status usually takes the prices beyond my pocket, and I recall you have a Lydith, another iconic piece of glass. I'm lucky enough to own a Pentacon 135mm F2.8, which I would rate as the finest 135mm lens I own, with an exquisite creamy bokeh. Anyway, I have a very nice Praktica "B" kit tucked away, surely one of the most maligned cameras of all time, and I'll try to do a post on it next year. I attach a pic from the 135. And <strong>JDM</strong> , I'd certainly get the MTL-5 sorted, but I don't think I'd spend too much time with the Domiplan...</p><div></div>

[ralf_j.]

<p>Beautiful Rick, the nice tones and beautiful color are very like Oreston. A fine lens indeed.</p>

[a._t._burke]

<p>Mr. Drawbridige...</p>

<p>Pancolor expensive? Pacific Rim Camera has a "buy-it-now" price of $45 for a 50MM 50/2 ZEISS PANCOLOR FOR EXAKTA/120781 on Sleezebay right now. Perhaps the lenses have come down some? </p>

<p>Tom Burke</p>

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>Thanks <strong>Tom</strong> , that does seem pretty reasonable for a Pancolar...unfortunately I'd like the F1.8 M42 screw mount, which may be a little more sought after...</p>

[Mike Gammill]

<p>Nice work and great photos. I'm not that familiar with the Oreston so it's great to see some shots made with one. Thanks for posting.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>My efforts to actually deal with the Domiplan aperture mechanism are illustrated at (<a href="00U1qb">link</a> , scroll down a bit).</p>

<p>I suspect the reason this particular Domplan (on my MTL5) is still working is that the shutter jammed up early in its history.</p>

<p>Perhaps on a snowy winter night this year, I'll open up the MTL (<a href="http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/prakticanotes.html">link</a> ) and see if I can unjam it.</p>

[leicaglow]

<p>Great shots, but you're forgetting the camera porn that should accompany them.</p>

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>Thanks for your comments. <strong>JDM</strong> , those links are fascinating, even if you and Subbarayan make my head spin with your innovation and attention to detail. I'm just an 'umble photographer...Yes, <strong>Starvy, </strong> I'll certainly consider this lens a keeper. And <strong>Michael, </strong> I'm afraid the Oreston just doesn't do it for me, as a visual object; it's just a rather dull-looking little 60-year-old. And <strong>Jeff,</strong> I think you might be lucky enough to own the Meyer-Optik 30mm F3.5 Lydith, a truly desirable little lens.</p>

 

<h3 ><a onmousedown="return clk(this.href,'','','res','1','','0CAcQFjAA')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/victormk1/3141491228/" ><em></em> <em></em> <em></em> </a></h3>

[Rob_the_waste]

<p>Rick, as Subbarayan has noted in a number of past posts, and I've echoed my sentiments, the Oreston (in my case it was an Oreston rebadged as a Pentacon Electric 1.8/50) is one of my favourite lenses. The only problem I've had with mine has been the diaphragm blades getting a touch sticky at times. I've cleaned the mechanism and had it come back to being snappy, but once in a while... Otherwise the glass is great.</p>

[john_scott15]

<p>Hi Guys I am new to this site and was looking for some info on my old Practica B100 Electronica camera? Do the Practicar lenses fit any of the modern SLR camera's? I have a wide angle lens, a 135mm lens and a 200mm zoom lens.<br />This is the equipment I had stored away in the loft:- (Hopefully the photo will open up)<br /><img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/scotty59/Camera2001.jpg" alt="" /><br />Scotty</p>

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>Nice collection, <strong>John</strong> . The Praktica bayonet is unique and can't be fitted to anything else, so far as I know, and there are no adapters around to allow the lenses to be fitted to modern DSLR's. While this is a shame in some ways, given the quality of the glass, it has kept "B" series Prakticas at price levels which suit me and other collectors rather well. As mentioned above, I'll do a post on these cameras in the New Year; in the meantime, use and enjoy, it's a very nice system. A good source of information is <strong>http://www.praktica-collector.de/</strong> and the links.</p>

 

[john_scott15]

<p>Thanks Rick you have inspired me a bit as I have just bought another lens from ebay UK and am bidding on an MTL 5B outfit which is sitting at £22 at the moment<br>

<img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/scotty59/PracticaMTL.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Wish me luck but I'm not too bothered as I was only taken with the fact there was a 500mm lens in there LOL<br>

John</p>

[subbarayan_prasanna]

<p>I have seen Praktica B body to M42 lens adapters advertised on ebay. I have not seen any the other way around. sp</p>

[martin_baumgarten]

<p>Hi, yes, that Oreston lens is a long time favorite of many former eastern block countries as well as Practica fans. The cheaply made Dimoplan lens always gets a bad rap. The optics are pretty good, if you're willing to baby a working version or repair one that's fallen apart. Anyhow, back to the Oreston, I fully agree...it has this dynamic ability to render a dimension to photography that is often lacking in the biting sharpness of competitor made lenses. It really does a terrific job in portraiture also, as it just seems to render that skin texture so nicely. My first SLR was a Praktica Super TL which came with this lens, and while professionally I've used most everything out there....I still love using a Praktica from time to time, and am always pleased with the Oreston lens results. Ha...imagine someone stating something like that some years from now about how much they loved the results from their 2-10 Megapixel camera such and such; let alone having their image files survive. But that's another topic. Sadly VEB Praktica has gone the way of many other camera companies, but like all old cameras, we can keep them running and cranking out fine images for years. And along the way, new generations of photographers will continue to enjoy the benefits of film. Long life wet process photography!<br>

Best regards, Martin W. Baumgarten - P.P.S.</p>

[don_mckeith2]

<p>JDM---</p>

<p>If you remove the lense and look in the front of the camera -on the upper left side,near the back,there is a square metal tab---this tab is hung up--not sure,but I think it's probably has to do with the double exposure prevention lock up----take a small screwdriver or pen and push the tab towards the rear of the camera,while trying to wind on/press the shutter release. </p>

<p>http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/messages/15681/12266.html?1219279854</p>

<p>-Don</p>

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