International Camera Museum : Blue Moon Camera and Machine

Shop
Equipment
Film and Supplies
Sale Items
Typewriters
- Portable
- Desktop
- Other
Sundries
eBay
- eBay Outlet
Photo Lab
Culture
Sell Your Gear

- Log In / Sign Up

Shop

Back

Equipment

Back 35mm Cameras Point & Shoot 35mm Cameras Medium Format Cameras Large Format Cameras Lenses Lens Filters Tripods Light Meters Bags & Cases Darkroom Enlargers All Darkroom Equipment

Film & Supplies

Back Film Paper Chemistry Batteries Storage & Archiving Cleaning Accessories

Typewriters

Back Portable Desktop Other

Sundries

Back Apparel & Swag Books & Magazines Gift Certificates

Sale Items eBay Store

Photo Lab

Back Send Us Your Film Photo Lab Services Pricing Services FAQ Mailing Your Film FAQ Printable Order Form Printable Services Pricelist Digital Printing Image Analyzer

Sell Your Gear

Back Sell Your Gear Consignments: How it Works Consignment FAQ

Culture

Back Museum Codex Meet the Staff Customer Shows Social Landing Page Press Links Manifesto E-Mail Newsletter Signup

Support

Back Consignment FAQ Shipping FAQ Privacy Policy Return Policy

Account

Back Log In/Register

Get Social

Back Instagram Facebook X / Twitter Discord

Return to Museum Home

Pentacon Six / Six TL

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!

za/sd

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?'

za/sd

Spring Blossoms with the Pentacon Six TL

Yet another annual trip down to the cherry blossoms in Portland's Waterfront Park, this year we brought along the Pentacon Six TL. With the dreamy bokeh of its Carl Zeiss Jena lenses, we figured it was a great destination to bring this camera.

Film recommendations for the blossoms? If you like your colors bombastic, go with Kodak Ektar 100 or Fuji Velvia 50. If you like your colors to be a soft melody, stick with Kodak Portra. If you are of the alternative/experimental mindset, pick up a roll of Lomochrome Purple.

za/sd

Pentacon Six TL Recording the Last Day of Summer

Oh, the dreaded last day of summer vacation! This particular almost-third grader celebrated theirs with ice cream and, of course, cameras were present. In this case, a Pentacon Six TL loaded with Kodak Portra 160 color film.

za/sd

Pentacon Six TL

For many of us, photography is a diary, a journal, a chronicling of our lives. This relationship can bring up many questions. Do we photograph because we are afraid to forget, because we are afraid to be forgotten? Are our photos a form of immortality, or at least extended longevity, bits and pieces of us that can live for decades or centuries longer than ourselves? And what about the effects of outsourcing our memory to our cameras? Does it make us better at remembering or worse? Is it a case of I photograph, therefore I am? Does photography bring me more into the moment, or become an obstacle between me and the moment?

These questions have no definitive answers. Each of us finds our own response and, like our photographs, those responses will differ from photographer to photographer. Perhaps the value isn't even in the answers but in the consideration of the questions.

za/sd

Pentacon Six TL

The Pentacon Six was some East German's wild idea to crossbreed a Pentax 6x7 with a Hasselblad 500C. It holds and operates like the former, but uses Zeiss lenses to make 6x6 images like the latter. The bodies should always be approached with extreme skepticism but the characteristics of the lenses are awesome.

za/sd

Pentacon Six TL

Before you ask, sorry; this particular Pentacon Six TL is not for sale. It is the beloved property of one of our staff, who had it out this weekend, finishing up a roll of film before sending the camera off for servicing. If you can find one of these guys, definitely think about getting it. These cameras have a lovely aesthetic to them and the Carl Zeiss Jena lenses have wonderful character. Just be forewarned, the cameras can be mechanically finicky and buying one, sight unseen, is a risky proposition. Our advice is to figure in the cost of the inevitable repair bill and pay accordingly.

za/sd