Pentacon super
35mm MF film SLR camera • Discontinued • Collectible
- Announced:
- · September 1968
- Production type:
- · Small-batch production: 4579 (four thousand five hundred seventy-nine) units
- Availability:
- ● Sold out
- Country of design:
- · GDR (German Democratic Republic)
- System:
- · Pentacon super (1968)
Specification
| Format: | |
| 35mm full frame | |
Film type: | 135 cartridge-loaded film |
| M42 [45.5mm] | |
| Shutter: | |
Type: | Focal-plane |
Model: | Mechanical |
Speeds: | 10 - 1/2000 + B |
| Exposure: | |
Exposure metering: | Through-the-lens (TTL), open-aperture |
Exposure modes: | Manual |
| Physical characteristics: | |
Weight: | 1100g |
Dimensions: | 161x113x93mm |
From the SLR Yearbook (1971)
When VEB Pentacon decided to produce a camera with a truly advanced specification for serious professional use, they proved beyond doubt that the East German concern has as advanced a technology as any other. A completely new focal plane shutter of cloth and metal, travelling vertically, gives a top speed of 1/2,000 sec. and slow speeds down to 10 sec. TTL metering is carried out at full aperture, with a double pin mechanism to provide both auto iris operation and an adjustment to the resistance of the meter according to the aperture selected. Praktica/Pentax thread lenses not having this feature can be used in the stopped-down mode. Viewfinder screens are interchangeable and the finder shows the exposure meter match needle, the shutter speed and aperture in use, the depth of field scale and the focus selected - in fact, all the information needed when operating the camera is visible without taking it away from the eye, which is a tremendous advantage. The film back can be removed and an accessory bulk film magazine attached, with or without a motor drive unit. The coupling mechanism for the motor drive is located on the camera baseplate. As well as accessories made specifically for the Pentacon Super, the camera will also accept attachments available for earlier Praktica models. Performance matches up to specification. The lens fitted as standard is the f/1.8 or f/1.4 Pancolar - a classical wide aperture design which exhibits excellent sharpness in the range f/4-f/11, with only marginal fall-off at other settings. The viewfinder is superb: the image is bright and clear and the provision for interchangeable screens is useful to anyone who prefers an alternative to the split-image rangefinder normally supplied, while having all the control settings visible is a great boon. The position of the CdS cell in the interchangeable viewfinder does not mean that, with the finder removed, the meter goes too, but in operational convenience and sensitivity it compares well to other systems. Film speeds from ASA 6-1600 are usable. The shutter tested out accurately at all speeds and has the advantage that it gives electronic flash sync at 1/125 sec. Noise level is slightly above average but free from vibration. In construction and finish the Super is of a very good standard and stands up ruggedly to hard professional work.
Lens: f/1.4 55mm Pancolar. Minimum focus: 20 in. Minimum aperture: f/22.
FAD: Wide range of other lenses available.
Lens mount: Interchangeable Pentax/Praktica screw. Internal diaphragm and meter coupling.
Shutter: Cloth and metal vertical focal plane, 10-1/2,000 sec and B. Variable self timer. Slow speeds, from 2-10 sec, set on separate dial.
Viewfinder: Interchangeable eye-level reflex pentaprism with interchangeable screens. Focusing by split-image rangefinder and ground glass. Other finders and screens available.
Meter: TTL, reading full screen area, situated in prism, housing ASA range: 6-1,600. Powered by mercury cell.
Meter operation: Semi-automatic, by matching needles, reading at full aperture. Cross-coupled to shutter and aperture, both of which are visible in the viewfinder.
Mirror: Instant return.
Loading: Standard 35mm casette. Simplified take-up.
Film wind: Right handed lever.
Flash sync: X, M and FP Electronic sync up to 1/125 sec. Single terminal.
Other features: Back interchangeable with bulk magazine and/or motor drive; focus setting and depth of field scale visible in viewfinder; depth of field preview; battery tester.
Weight: 2 lb.
Size: 6 in long, 3 3/4 in deep, 4 in high.
Made by: VEB Pentacon, Kombinat, East Germany.
From the editor
The prototype was shown at the Leipzig Autumn Fair 1966.
Only 4,579 units were produced from October 1968 to January 1972.
The camera body was accompanied by the CZJ DDR Pancolar 55/1.4 or CZJ DDR Pancolar 50/1.8 standard lenses. In addition to these two lenses, a short telephoto lens - CZJ DDR Pancolar 75/1.4 - was also released.
The weight and dimensions are indicated for the camera body with standard lens.
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| Chinon CS-4 akaRevueflex SD1 |
M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | ● |
| Chinon CX akaRevueflex 2000 CL akaRevueflex 3000 SL |
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M, 1/1000 | -- | M | 1956 ● |
| Contax FB akaPentacon FB |
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| Cosina 4000S akaRevueflex SL 301 akaRevueflex TL 300 akaVivitar 400/SL |
M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1976 ● |
| Cosina CSL / CSM akaPetri MF-2 akaPorst compact reflex S akaPorst compact-reflex akaVivitar XC-3 akaVivitar XC-4 |
E, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1977 ● |
| Cosina CSR akaPorst compact reflex SP akaVivitar XC-2 |
E, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1976 ● |
| Cosina Hi-Lite | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1968 ● |
| Cosina Hi-Lite 202 akaVivitar 220/SL |
M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1975 ● |
| Cosina Hi-Lite 205 akaVivitar 250/SL |
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| Cosina Hi-Lite 402 akaVivitar 420/SL |
M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1975 ● |
| Cosina Hi-Lite 405 akaPorst reflex C-TL super akaRevueflex SM 302 akaVivitar 450/SLD |
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| Cosina Hi-Lite DL / DLR akaEdixa 2MTL |
M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1970 ● |
| Cosina Hi-Lite EC akaArgus/Cosina EC 2000 |
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| Exa 1b akaExa 1c |
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| Exakta TL 1000 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1976 ● |
| Exakta TL 500 | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1975 ● |
| Exakta Twin TL 42 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | ● |
| Fujica AZ-1 | E, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | AM | 1977 ● |
| Fujica ST601 | M, 1/700 | TTL · WA | M | 1975 ● |
| Fujica ST605 | M, 1/700 | TTL · WA | M | 1976 ● |
| Fujica ST605 II | M, 1/700 | TTL · OA | M | 1978 ● |
| Fujica ST605N | M, 1/700 | TTL · WA | M | 1978 ● |
| Fujica ST701 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1970 ● |
| Fujica ST705 | M, 1/1500 | TTL · OA | M | 1976 ● |
| Fujica ST705W | M, 1/1500 | TTL · OA | M | 1978 ● |
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| Mamiya DSX 1000B | M, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | M | 1975 ● |
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| Mamiya MSX 1000 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | M | 1974 ● |
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| Mamiya/Sekor 2000 DTL | M, 1/2000 | TTL · WA | M | 1969 ● |
| Mamiya/Sekor 500 DTL | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1968 ● |
| Mamiya/Sekor 500 TL | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1966 ● |
| Mamiya/Sekor CP akaMamiya/Sekor CWP |
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| Miranda TM akaPallas TM akaSoligor TM |
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| Pentaflex SL akaPorst Reflex FX3 |
M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1967 ● |
| Petri FT 1000 akaPromatic SLF/1.7 |
M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1976 ● |
| Petri FT 500 | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1976 ● |
| Petri FTX akaArgus STL 1000 akaArgus TTL akaPetri TTL |
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| Petri MF-1 [Micro] akaPetri SLR35 [Compact] |
M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1976 ● |
| Petri Penta | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1959 ● |
| Praktica | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1949 ● |
| Praktica DTL 2 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1978 ● |
| Praktica DTL 3 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1979 ● |
| Praktica EE 2 | E, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | AM | 1977 ● |
| Praktica EE 3 | E, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | AM | 1979 ● |
| Praktica FX akaPraktiflex FX |
M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1952 ● |
| Praktica FX 2 akaPorst reflex FX2 akaPraktica FX 3 |
M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1956 ● |
| Praktica III | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1955 ● |
| Praktica IV (early) | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1959 ● |
| Praktica IV (late) | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1960 ● |
| Praktica IV B | M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1961 ● |
| Praktica IV BM | M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1961 ● |
| Praktica IV F | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1963 ● |
| Praktica IV FB | M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1963 ● |
| Praktica IV M | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1961 ● |
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M, 1/1000 | -- | M | 1969 ● |
| Praktica L 2 | M, 1/1000 | -- | M | 1975 ● |
| Praktica LB akaPraktica autoreflex SL akaRevueflex reflex BL |
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| Praktica LB 2 akaPorst reflex CX4 |
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| Praktica LTL akaPorst reflex CX6 akaPraktica autoreflex S-TL akaRevueflex reflex TL |
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| Praktica LTL 2 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1975 ● |
| Praktica LTL 3 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1975 ● |
| Praktica mat | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1965 ● |
| Praktica MTL 3 akaRevueflex TL 25 akaRevueflex TL I |
M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1978 ● |
| Praktica MTL 5 akaRevue ML akaRevueflex TL 25 |
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| Praktica MTL 50 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1985 ● |
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| Praktica nova | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1964 ● |
| Praktica nova B | M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1965 ● |
| Praktica PL electronic | E, 1/500 | -- | M | 1967 ● |
| Praktica PL nova I | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1967 ● |
| Praktica PL nova IB akaPorst FX4 |
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| Praktica PLC 2 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | M | 1975 ● |
| Praktica PLC 3 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | M | 1978 ● |
| Praktica super TL akaPorst Reflex FX6 akaRevueflex SL |
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| Praktica super TL 2 akaPraktica 1000 |
M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1975 ● |
| Praktica super TL 3 | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1978 ● |
| Praktica super TL1000 akaPraktica MTL 3 akaPraktica MTL 5 akaPraktica Nova II akaPraktica PM 3 akaPraktica TL 3 |
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| Praktica super TL500 | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1981 ● |
| Praktica V F | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1964 ● |
| Praktica V FB | M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1965 ● |
| Praktica VLC | M, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | M | 1974 ● |
| Praktica VLC 2 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | M | 1976 ● |
| Praktica VLC 3 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | M | 1976 ● |
| Ricoh Auto TLS EE | M, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | SM | 1976 ● |
| Ricoh Singlex II | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1976 ● |
| Ricoh Singlex TLS | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1967 ● |
| Ricoh SLX 500 | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1975 ● |
| Ricoh TLS 401 | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1970 ● |
| Sigma Mark-I | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1975 ● |
| Voigtlander VSL1 (TM) akaIfbaflex M 102 |
M, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | M | 1974 ● |
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| Yashica FFT | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1973 ● |
| Yashica J-3 | M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1962 ● |
| Yashica J-4 | M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1965 ● |
| Yashica J-5 | M, 1/1000 | Window | M | 1964 ● |
| Yashica J-7 | M, 1/1000 | Window | M | 1966 ● |
| Yashica J-P | M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1964 ● |
| Yashica Penta J akaYashica Reflex 35 |
M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1961 ● |
| Yashica TL | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1968 ● |
| Yashica TL Electro X | E, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1968 ● |
| Yashica TL Electro X ITS | E, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1970 ● |
| Yashica TL-E | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1969 ● |
| Yashica TL-Electro | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1972 ● |
| Yashica TL-Super | M, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1966 ● |
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| Zenit-122[V] akaЗенит-122[В] |
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| Zenit-15M | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | ● |
| Zenit-16 akaЗенит-16 |
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| Zenit-18 akaЗенит-18 |
E, 1/1000 | TTL · OA | AM | 1980 ● |
| Zenit-19 akaЗенит-19 |
E, 1/1000 | TTL · WA | M | 1979 ● |
| Zenit-312m | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1999 ● |
| Zenit-412DX | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 2000 ● |
| Zenit-412LS | M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 2002 ● |
| Zenit-E akaRevueflex E akaЗенит-Е |
M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1965 ● |
| Zenit-EM akaRevueflex EM akaЗенит-ЕМ |
M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1972 ● |
| Zenit-ET akaЗенит-ЕТ |
M, 1/500 | Window | M | 1981 ● |
| Zenit-TTL akaZenit-12 akaЗенит-12 akaЗенит-TTL |
M, 1/500 | TTL · WA | M | 1978 ● |
| Zenit-V akaRevueflex-B akaЗенит-В |
M, 1/500 | -- | M | 1968 ● |