The Pentacon Six TL is a special camera that requires a certain type of photographer. In the wrong hands, it will be hated and reviled for its lack of dependability and consistency. In the correct hands, however, one will learn to appreciate the qualities this camera has to offer.
Introduced as the Praktisix in 1957, that model would be succeeded in 1966 by the Pentacon Six and then in 1969 by the Pentacon Six TL, which had a production run lasting until 1990. While the Pentacon Six offered significant improvements over the earlier Praktisix, the update from the Pentacon Six to the Pentacon Six TL was significantly lesser. The name change was effected mostly to reflect the addition of a TTL metering prism for the system.
The Pentacon Six is similar in appearance to the Pentax 6x7 medium format SLR camera, with the big exception that it produces 6x6cm square negatives instead of 6x7cm images. The Pentacon system uses interchangeable lenses working with a breechlock-style mount, specific to these cameras. The camera also features interchangeable prisms.
A large variety of lenses were produced for the Pentacon cameras and they can offer a lovely variety, especially some of the East German Carl Zeiss Jena optics, which provide a wholly unique and intriguing quality all their own. Pentacon lenses can also be easily adapted to other camera systems and given life beyond their Pentacon origin. However, these cameras are notorious for being mechanically unreliable and are generally found in non-working or barely working order. One must approach them with extreme caution and also be very gentle with them. It also pays to do extensive research on how to properly use the camera prior to loading it. Good luck!
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Pentacon Six TL
This Pentacon Six TL belongs to one of our staff members. He salvaged it out of a box of camera rejects. It has a peeling leatherette, the frame counter doesn't work, the shutter jams up in cold weather, and the frame spacing is waaaay off (averaging about 8 exposures per roll). It has been with him for several years now. There is certainly beauty in the relationship between a busted camera and a committed photographer. Getting to know a camera, learning all its strengths and quirks, carrying it for years, making countless photos together - that is one of the biggest factors informing the answer to the question, 'why film?'