DIY: genuine leather for your old Praktica!

Last friday I felled with my Stihl 051 AVEQ some trees in my garden. After the work I recognized that the soles of my Viposa safety boots were broken. Okay they're old and I've got the same boots twice. I considered what I can do now with the boots, because the leather is still good and has got a wonderful patina. So I cut the leather from the sole and made today a new "leather bra" for my Porst FX 4 aka Praktica Nova 1B, because the Porst/Praktica doesn't have a real leather, just this faux leather or whatever.
The "new" leather is thick but very smooth, it's a dream! But I've made some little mistakes at the processing. It was my first time to work with genuine leather.

5 OF 20

4 OF 20

135mm - My favorite lens!

Many photographers have got favorite lenses. Some of them prefer prime lenses like a 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 135mm, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm or other ones; other photographers prefer zoom-lenses.
I love prime lenses and the 135mm is my darling. I have got 5 of them for M42/screw mount:
_ Revuenon Special 2.8/135mm (made in Japan)
_ Revuenon MC alias Enna München Tele-Ennalyt MC 2.8/135mm (made in W. Germany)
_ Porst Tele 3.5/135mm (made in Japan)
_ Porst Tele alias Enna München Tele-Ennalyt 3.5/135mm (made in W. Germany)
_ Exaktar SFX 2.8/135mm







The 135mm is perfect for portrait photography, but also for snapshots on the street and detail pictures of plants and other attractive things. You can photograph with the 135mm from near and far, which makes the lens very versatile.
Many of my favorite pictures I made with the 135mm-lenses. I'm using often the 135mm-lenses for street and sometimes for details. And of course in combination with a flash at events or in dark woods.
Here are some camera-135mm-lens-combinations and the photos:

1. Porst FX4 (Praktica Nova 1B) + Revuenon Special 2.8/135mm


"einsame zweisamkeit", germany, 2005

"a santa", brasil, 2010

2. Praktica LTL 3 + Porst Tele 3.5/135mm


"emancipate yourself from mental slavery", brasil, 2010

3. Zenit 12 PRO + Porst Tele 3.5/135mm


"my view 2010 #2", brasil, 2010

4. Praktica LTL 3 + Exaktar SFX 2.8/135mm


"eat my shorts", brasil, 2010

5. Zenit ET + Revuenon MC alias Enna München Tele-Ennalyt MC 2.8/135mm


"study #2", germany, 2006

6. Praktica LTL 3 + Porst Tele alias Enna München Tele-Ennalyt 3.5/135mm


"ich will mein leben zurück", brasil, 2010

7. Porst Compact Reflex S + Revuenon Special 2.8/135mm + Tron S400TCZ


"momentos de transição 2", brasil, 2011

8. Praktica LTL 3 + Revuenon MC alias Enna München Tele-Ennalyt MC 2.8/135mm + Metz mecablitz 20BC6


"fern", brasil, 2010

3 OF 20

"When I photograph,...

...I try to use my instincts as much as possible. It is when pictures are unconsidered and irrational that they come to life; that they evolve from showing to being."

Jacob Aue Sobol



"sitting bird", brasil, 2011

The field test - part 3

1.
lens: Schneider Kreuznach Componon 5.6/80mm
camera: Praktica LTL 3
film: Fuji Superia XTRA 400
exposure time: 1/1000
aperture: 11




2.
lens: ICA Macro 6.8/135mm
camera: Praktica LTL 3
film: Fuji Superia XTRA 400
exposure time: 1/250
aperture: 6.8