C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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slr-35mm
The KW Praktica MTL 3 Black is a 35mm single-lens reflex camera produced by VEB Pentacon in Dresden, East Germany, introduced approximately 1980 as an alternative finish option to the standard chrome version of the MTL 3. Apart from the black body finish -- applied to both the die-cast aluminium top plate and the leatherette-covered main body panels -- the camera is mechanically identical to the standard MTL 3.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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About this camera
The black-body variant of the standard Praktica MTL 3, released around 1980 and mechanically identical to the chrome version.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm (24x36mm) |
| Mount | M42 screw (42x1mm) |
| Years | ~1980-~1985 |
| Shutter | Vertical metal focal-plane: 1s - 1/1000s + B |
| Flash sync | 1/125s (X-sync); FP sync on PC socket |
| Meter | CdS TTL, stopped-down / open-aperture |
| Exposure | Manual (meter-guided) |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~92% coverage, ~0.9x |
| Focus | Manual, split-prism + microprism ring |
| Battery | PX625 / SR44 (1.35-1.55V) |
VEB Pentacon introduced the Praktica MTL 3 in 1978 as the third generation of the MTL metering line. The black-body variant followed approximately two years later, around 1980, in line with the broader industry trend of offering black-finish options on popular camera models. Through the late 1970s and into the 1980s, black bodies were fashionable across manufacturers -- from Nikon and Olympus to the East German range -- and Pentacon added the finish to several Praktica models including the MTL 3, the MTL 3 Quartz, and later the MTL 50.
The black MTL 3 was sold in the same export markets as the chrome version -- the UK, West Germany, Australia, and parts of Scandinavia -- but in lower volumes. It commanded a slight price premium over the chrome body at the time of sale.
Production continued until approximately 1985, when the MTL 5 series superseded the MTL 3 line. The Praktica B-mount series, with its dedicated automatic-aperture system, ran alongside M42 production during this period but represented a separate product line.
The Praktica MTL 3 Black holds the same functional position as the chrome MTL 3 -- an affordable, fully mechanical, M42-compatible TTL SLR with a reliable metal shutter -- but carries an additional collector premium due to its relative scarcity. Its lower production numbers make it somewhat sought after by Praktica enthusiasts and collectors assembling complete variant sets of the MTL line.
Functionally, the black finish offers minor practical benefits: it is less reflective under bright conditions and matches the black barrel of many M42 lenses aesthetically. For everyday shooting there is no performance difference from the chrome version.
The camera's value today, as with all MTL 3 variants, lies primarily in its M42 compatibility. Zeiss Jena Pancolar, Flektogon, and Sonnar lenses, as well as Meyer-Optik designs such as the Trioplan, mount directly without adapters.
All M42 screw-mount lenses fit directly. Recommended pairings for this body: Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f/1.8 (compact, sharp from f/4), Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 (wide-angle with strong character), Meyer-Optik Oreston 50mm f/1.8 (smooth bokeh), and the Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 (distinctive bubble-bokeh rendering). Any M42 lens from Pentax Super-Takumar, Fujinon, Tokina, or Vivitar series also fits.
Accessories: M42-compatible extension tubes and bellows for close-up work; cable release via standard threaded socket; PC-sync cable for off-camera flash.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
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