Praktica LTL 3 viewfinder is frosted over

[aaron_gilmore]

<p>Hi there, <br>

I purchased a Praktika LTL 3 to get into manual photography.<br>

When I look through the viewfinder it seems frosted over (image: http://imgur.com/nhMhUgZ). This issue happens with the lens off, too. Light metering is working fine (I replaced the battery). <br>

Any ideas? Thanks.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[john_shriver]

<p>That's the normal appearance of the ground glass on a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. The image is projected by the lens onto it, and you focus it as it resolves on that ground glass surface. <br>

Now, it's probably a lot coarser and dimmer than the ground glass on a West German or Japanese SLR. </p>

[Rob_the_waste]

<p>How does it look with a lens on? Maybe a pic of that might help. Maybe the mirror is improperly positioned. Is the mirror all the way down? </p>

[Rob_the_waste]

<p>Yeah, what John said.</p>

[aaron_gilmore]

<p>Hi John, Rob. So this is normal then, good to hear. I still can't focus though, possibly the lens? —A</p>

[james_elwing]

<p>Does the mirror descend and lock? It won't focus if there is no light.<br>

Check if the shutter works, if the speeds look OK by rough check of slow speeds, check lens to see if it opens up or closes down when you press pin on back of lens. Looks like you need to sit down with an actual person who has used one of these kind of things before to clarify.</p>

[aaron_gilmore]

<p>The mirror descends and locks, the shutter is working on all speeds.<br />I've just discovered when I press the pin on the lens there is only slight movement, not full opening / closing.<br /><strong>Edit: Actually, this seems fine, sorry.</strong></p>

[subbarayan_prasanna]

<p>Hi <strong>Aaron</strong>! I am puzzled because, even if the Fresnel screen is frosted you will get some image if the lens focuses. Please check if your lens is okay by trying to focus any image with the lens held about 3 or 4 Cms from a white wall. From the picture you have posted, the Fresnel screen seems okay to me. That is how all screens look when the lens is not mounted and focused.<br>

Kindly explain the problem in some more detail. That could make us understand the problem better. Best, sp.</p>

[subbarayan_prasanna]

<p><strong>Aaron</strong>! Can you set the lens aperture on Manual mode and try changing the aperture. Say, what kind of lens is the one you have? Do you have any other M42 lens that you may try? Even with full opening of the aperture the lens should focus on the wall, as I suggested. If it odes not then someone has meddled with the lens elements and fitted them the wrong way. sp.</p>

[aaron_gilmore]

<p>The lens is a W<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=weltblick+35mm+f2.8&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">eltblick 35mm f2.8</a>, I believe it is auto only.</p>

[James G. Dainis]

The "Auto" on the lens means that it is auto diaphragm. The diaphragm will be wide open when framing a shot but will automatically close down to the set aperture setting when you press the shutter button.

[JDMvW]

<p>Not to insult any one, but, just in case, you ARE manually turning the focus ring on the lens to focus it??</p>

<p>As said, "automatic" in the context of older lenses does not mean autofocus.<br>

for the older terminology that can be confusing to persons coming from the autofocus, etc. world see: http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00RTpg</p>

[aaron_gilmore]

<p>Yep, manually turning the ring and it isn't focusing. I'm thinking it's something to do with the focus ring on the lens. It moves as expected, but I guess there's something wrong with it.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>That's a good guess -<br>

do you have another M42 mount lens to try on the camera? That would settle the question of body or lens being OOS.</p>

[aaron_gilmore]

<p>No other lens, unfortunately. I might order one on eBay as their relatively cheap, or go to the market at the weekend and see if I can find one to try out. Thanks for the help folks. </p>

[Julio Fernandez]

<p>Aaron, try Subbarayan suggestion. Does your lens make an image when set next to a wall or a white paper sheet, about 3 to 4 cm distance? You should see a sharp little inverted image if the lens is working.</p>