Project Praktica

Back at the beginning of the year I was feeling a bit low in my photography, gave up on the photographic club of which I was attending and generally felt in a photo-slump.

I needed something to pull myself out of the rutt I was falling into, the weather was awful, the nights were dark by 4 pm – I was miserable.

Right – slap myself in the face Adey boy .. get a grip !!!

I had my trusty Fuji X-H1 at  the time and some old Praktica lenses I’d picked up here and there .. hmmm I wonder.

What would it be like to use really old glass to take photos as a project, I’d already taken a few using old Canon FD lenses.

At the time I was considering a new camera, and as a gift to myself I bought the Fuji X-T5 – 40 mp on an APS-C sensor. Now that would be a challenge….really new technology stripped of all its goodness and features – by using old manual glass!

Decided – month of April 2024 was going to be a month of just using Praktica lenses and so it was done.

I have 4 lenses, 28mm, 50mm, 135mm and a 70-210mm all manual focus and around 30-40 years old.

Below are a mix of photos taken using the various lenses, I can’t say for definite which lens was used for which photo as the EXIF data won’t show as no electronic contacts to read data from using old manual lenses.

Photos are from Porthcawl during storm Kathleen, Aberglasney Gardens Llandeilo, Mumbles in Swansea, Ten Acre Woods Margam and Melin Court Waterfalls

Are the photos perfect – of course not!

But, I am quite surprised at some of the images, considering every photo was manually focused and the lenses were not in new condition – really happy with some of the images, some not so happy but that’s photography for you..

I may add more to these as I go along, when I’m feeling the urge to side line the Fuji XF lenses and go rogue – again !!