We give our gratitude to Wilfried Pietsch (Moelln), Peter Beck (Dusseldorf) for their commitment in writing this article and to Mary Erler (Fraureuth) for the translation of this text into the English language.

1. Adaptation of Praktica serial cameras

A single lens reflex camera is very well suited for taking extreme close-ups and photomicrographs because of its special principle of function. It is possible to connect the Praktica to a particular microscope using standard microscope-attachments. There are many options because of the prevalence of the Praktica M42 lens mount. The models of the B series are possible to adapt for photomicrography. Right from the start, some models of this B series were constructed as microscope camera for scientific and medical purposes (see article 2).

2. Special Praktica photomicrographs
(photomicrograpic attachment cameras 24x36 mm)

These following cameras are so called photomicrograpic attachment cameras. They are not conventional cameras, but only a “film cassette, impermeable to light”. Carl Zeiss Jena offered these special Prakticas for special microscopes and for photomicrograpic equipment mf-AKS. The mf-AKS is a photomicrographic-attachment-camera-system. All of these cameras share the following modifications:

• No exposure metering inside the camera body
• Discontinuation of the focal-place shutter inside the camera body
• Discontinuation of the single lens reflex finder and reflex mirror
• Discontinuation of flash connectors and mechanism for low shutter speeds
• No exposure times are adjustable on the camera

The photomicrograpic equipment mf-AKS took over the lacking camera functions. These facilities contained an electronically controlled diaphragm shutter, an exposure meter and partlially a motor film transport, which was connected to the existing winder mounts of the camera.

Praktica B 100 M with photomicrograpic equipment mf-AKS matic-mot

Praktica BCA M with photomicrograpic equipment mf-AKS

Praktica BCA M with Prontor-Press-diaphragm-shutter from West-Germany in the micro-attachment

Praktica BCA M with Copal-Press-diaphragm-shutter from Japan in the micro-attachment

Photomicrograpic attachment cameras for many different microscopes are not only from the Praktica B series. The Praktica IV pictured below, contains a fully functional focal-place shutter, but no reflex mirror and no viewfinder. This special photomicrograph primarily puts itself forward for using the photomicrographic equipments (mf or mf-matic) produced by Carl Zeiss Jena.

The photomicrographic equipment (mf) of Carl Zeiss Jena

mf (photomicrographic equipment)

• adaption of different camera attachments
• no integrated shutter
• no exposure time determination
• no control of exposure time

mf-matic (photomicrographic equipment with automatic control of exposure time)

• adaption of different camera attachments
• integrated eletromagnetic shutter drive
• automatic control of exposure time
• exposure times from 1/100s up to many hours

The photomicrographic-attachment-camera-system (mf-AKS) of Carl Zeiss Jena

mf-AKS 24x36 expomet (photomicrographic-attachment-camera-system expomet)

• mechanical shutter for exposure times between 1/125s and 1 s as well as B and T
• manual timing and shutter release by wire release
• exposure time determination during integral measurement
• input of film speed in DIN and ASA
• automatic input of camera factors when changing camera attachments
• indication of measured exposure time, if deflecting element is within measuring path of rays
• failure indication

mf-AKS 24x36 automatic (photomicrographic-attachment-camera-system automatic)

• eletromagnetic shutter drive
• automatic control of exposure time during integral measurement
• T-function by manual shutter release
• input of film speed in DIN and ASA
• automatic input of camera factors when changing camera attachments
• indication of exposure process
• failure indication
• control of motor-operated film transport
• motor-operated film advance applicable

mf-AKS 24x36 matic mot (photomicrographic-attachment-camera-system matic mot)

• automatic control of exposure time based on either integral or spotlight intensity measurements
• automatic release of motor-operated film transport
• input of film speed in DIN and ASA
• automatic input of camera factors when changing camera attachments
• input of correction factors
• digital display of actual exposure time from the moment of exposure start to exposure stop
• memory for either starting the automatically determined and/or externally entered exposure times for series of photographs to be taken under identical photomicrographic conditions
• automatic blocking of shutter when the optimum operating range of the automatic device is exceeded
• integrated pulse generator for program-controlled series of photographs (time lapse facility)
• digital data display for all data keyed in digitally
• electronically controlled exposure of data on 35mm photographs

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