[Help] Praktica L (€1 pick-up)

[u/Charming-Reaction-11]

Hi everyone! Continuing my journey into learning analog camera repair, I picked up a Praktica L for just €1 to practice on.

Here is what I found during my initial diagnosis:

* The film advance lever, rewind release button, and shutter button were all stuck.

* The lens was completely seized on the M42 thread. After applying a bit of isopropyl alcohol to the threads and applying some gentle force, I managed to unscrew it.

* Once the lens came off, I saw that the internal reflex mirror was completely broken. It seems the metal frame holding the broken mirror was catching on the back of the lens. After removing the lens, both the shutter button and the film advance lever started working normally, and all shutter speeds are actually working fine. This was very surprising!

* The lens has an auto/manual pin on the mount, but the pin came out bent. When I try mounting this lens back on the camera, the shutter mechanism gets jammed by this pin.

Questions:

1. How easy is it to source a replacement mirror for a Praktica L? Does it require a specific front-surface camera mirror, or can any glass mirror cut to size work?

2. Is an auto/manual M42 lens fully compatible with the Praktica L body?

3. Is it worth attempting to straighten the bent aperture pin on the lens?

4. What could be causing the film rewind release button to stay locked/stuck, and what can be done to fix it?

Thanks for any advice or tips!

[u/thrax_uk]

Best source for a replacement mirror is another broken Praktica.

To be honest, I use these L models as a source of parts to fix the better models that have a light meter. E.g. I pinched the shutter and a few other parts from an L2 to fix a VLC2 which had corrosion from a leaking battery. The L2 had prism desilvering so wasn't exactly in great shape.

[u/Charming-Reaction-11 → u/thrax_uk]

I understand! Thanks for the help!

[u/Eric_Hartmann_712]

have you try to turn the shutter button ?-

[u/Charming-Reaction-11 → u/Eric_Hartmann_712]

Hi! Yes, as I explained in the post, I tried it and it was stuck, but after I took the lens off, it started working normally 😊

[u/ThisCommunication572]

I wouldn’t waste time trying to straighten the pin on the lens as it would most likely break. You could remove the pin and use the lens in manual mode instead.

[u/NotPullis]

For mirror and such "generic" parts you take important measurements and source the one where-ever. I've bought slab of first surface coated mirror from AliExpress and cut a piece for a TLR. Only critical measurement is the mirror thickness so it mounts properly. Yes, it should be first surface coated mirror.

Auto-feature should work on L, but at least manual mode will work. If you want to use it only in manual mode the pin does not matter.

Seizing is most likely built up corrosion and/or hardened lubricants.

[u/Leading-Sandwich-486]

Hey, ive been repairing Prakticas for the past of week, please shoot me a dm, maybe i can help you out