PRACTIKA SUPER TL2 GERMANY Manual Focus 35mm Film SLR Camera Body with Leather Case

The production of Praktica cameras took off before World War II in Dresden by the American-owned KW company. A Praktica was a simple and cheap camera, originally using a unique 40mm screw-mount for its interchangeable lenses. Corporate restructuring was the reason for the Zeiss Ikon company to be integrated into KW. As of that moment Praktica cameras were fitted with the slightly larger 42mm screw lens mount of the Zeiss-made Contax cameras, becoming an international standard. The screw mount lenses for contemporary Pentax cameras were called ‘Takumar’. The name was changed to ‘Pentax’ when it introduced its own bayonet mount. The super TL2 was introduced in 1975. During its three years of production, 15.000 bodies were manufactured. Its name suggests it to be the successor of the very successful super TL. While put in a newly designed body with a steel-bladed shutter, it in fact mirrors the super TL’s specifications. Most likely the model was produced to use up existing stocks of older parts. In order to warrant a low sticker price, specifications were basic. The camera lacked a 1/1000 sec shutter speed and self-timer. TTL-metering was triggered by a key located near the shutter release, using the stopped down aperture method.