Trouble with Praktica VLC2

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Mikael S - 20 May 2008 15:15 GMT

Found this camera on eBay. It was equipped with waist lever finder -
the one I always wanted to have. Lens is Pentacon Electric 1,8 / 50 mm
and MC. I also have Users Manual. The problem: by shooting (without
film) - using all those settings for A or M or any of the combination
possibles according to users manual - I cant see any movement of the
aperture mechanism. Have tried it with back door open, closed, looking
through lens .. and so on. And yes - I have the correct 4,5 V battery
in compartment properly mounted, and I can see that the light meeter
works. Also the shutter mechanisms sounds very appropriate on
different settings.

But I cant see any movement of the aperture in the lens. It is always
wide open.

Before I take the camera with me to the camera repair expert - I would
be extreamly delighted if someone of you Praktica Experts could give
me even an enlighted guess concerning the cause of this malfunction.
If there is something I havent understood - pls inform me - cause I
wouldnt like to be ridiculed by any camera repair expert.

I have several cameras ranging from 72 year old Leica llla to Canon
Powershot 95 - and everything in between - so I know cameras and their
functioning. I like this Praktica. I like the potentials it has and
the possibilities it could give me with its waist-lever-finder and the
large quantity of classy lenses - but I would like to know why the
aperture doesnt move at all.

And - yes - the 72 year old Leica functions perfectly even to-day!

Thanking for your help in advance - I remain your

Mikael S

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Bob Kirkpatrick - 20 May 2008 18:14 GMT

Lens is Pentacon Electric 1,8 / 50 mm

> and MC. I also have Users Manual. The problem: by shooting (without
> film) - using all those settings for A or M or any of the combination
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> works. Also the shutter mechanisms sounds very appropriate on
> different settings.

Here's a Praktica site that may help:
http://www.praktica-users.com/cams/l/vlc2brochure.html
Supposedly the VLC 2 has a "Switch for changing from open to taking
aperture metering". You might see if that makes a difference. It is
possible that the camera needs to have film in place and advanced to
frame 1 before the electronics start working. That's certainly true
for my Nikons. Otherwise it sounds like it's time for a professional
evaluation. I like http://essexcamera.com/ if you don't have someone
local.

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Chuck - 31 May 2008 04:30 GMT

>Found this camera on eBay. It was equipped with waist lever finder -
>the one I always wanted to have. Lens is Pentacon Electric 1,8 / 50 mm
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
>Mikael S

Since the VLC2 isn't known for problems in the mechanism that pushes
the bar against lens aperture pin, but your lens is known for
lubrication ending up on the aperture blades which keeps them from
closing, I would guess the lens is the problem. Take the lens off of
the camera, set the aperture to f16 and then push the pin on the rear
of the lens. If the iris blades don't move, then the lens is the
problem. Pentacon and Zeiss Jena electric lens are fairly cheap so
I'd just buy another one since cleaning the blades isn't a fun
project. I repair Praktika "L" series cameras and I can't remember
ever seeing a problem with the push bar. Chuck

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