To see the latest additions and improvements to this website, click on the links below.  The list starts with the most recent additions and changes (i.e., it is in reverse chronological order).
 

Item	Detail	Date uploaded
Russian & Ukrainian Lens Data	Broken link repaired	10th April 2024
600mm mirror lens	Clarification received from visitor in Moscow on the correct name for this lens	1st March 2024
Digital or analogue?	Updated comment on digital cameras vs. the Pentacon Six and Carl Zeiss Jena lenses	29th February 2024
Kiev 88 viewfinders	Clarifications that  No Kiev 88 prism or other viewfinder can be mounted on a Pentacon Six and I do not believe that any adapter exists to make this possible.  See also here, here, here and here.	17th February 2024
Pentacon Six TLs	Minor clarification added to the explanation of the printing mask for negatives produced with the Pentacon Six TLs.	30th August 2023
Lens rear caps and body caps for the Pentacon Six	Report on the new, improved version of the lens rear caps and Pentacon Six / Kiev 60 body caps from Simon Forster Photographic	12th August 2023
P6 & M42 lens tests on GFX cameras	Minor typing error corrected plus a few additional comments	14th July 2023
A Kiev 88 – Pentacon Six lens adapter?	Is it possible to use lenses with the Salyut S / Zenith 80 / Kiev 80 / Kiev 88 mount on a camera body with a Pentacon Six mount?  Report of personal experience with an adapter.	13th July 2023
Pentacon tripod	Additional link added from the Pentacon tripod page, to the page on low-down photography	27th June 2023
Pentacon Tripod Minimum height	Addition of the minimum height of the Pentacon tripod, with photo of the tripod	27th June 2023
Pentacon Six Service & Repair	New website address for Foto-Service Olbrich	20th June 2023
Pentacon 29mm lens bounced reply	Another bounced reply.  I don't know why this is not getting through.	8th June 2023
Another bounced reply!	Novoflex 500mm I begin to ask if it is my server – but other replies get through with no problem!	5th June 2023
Another bounced reply!	Pentacon: The Final Chapter.  Another reply rejected by the recipient’s server!	1st June 2023
Closure of the Pentacon company	We today learnt the sad news that the Pentacon company in Dresden no longer exists.  For details, see the link on the left here.	1st June 2023
French-language publicity	Addition of image and information on French publicity and the “man with a bowler hat” photograph.	5th May 2023
Hanimex Praktica 66 Serial Numbers	The lowest serial number previously reported to me was 20454, but in May 2023 I have received a photograph of the serial number of one of these cameras with the number 20433.  My thanks to the owner in the USA.	4th May 2023
Arnz filters	More information on Arnz filters for Pentacon Six lenses, plus a new picture of one.	28th April 2023
Filters	Addition of a link to a German web page on filters, especially filters from East and West Germany	28th April 2023
Bounced e-mails	I always reply to all non-spam e-mails but occasionally my reply is rejected by the enquirer’s server.  These bounced replies will now be copied here.  I hope that they will be found by the enquirer.	12th April 2023
Novoflex SIXBIG bellows, version I	Addition of pictures of the first version of the SIXBIG bellows, which had solid rods	31st March 2023
Novoflex bellows	Addition of link to information on rare Novoflex bellows for the Exakta 66 vertical camera of 1953/54 (see entry below this line).	23rd March 2023
Novoflex bellows for Exakta 66 Vertical	Addition of new information and pictures of Novoflex bellows made for the Exakta 66 vertical camera of 1953/54	23rd March 2023
Improved links to description of Schneider-Kreuznach 2× converter	For details of the Schneider-Kreuznach converter, see here and here.	14th October 2022
Problem with e-mails from France	My e-mails from this website to correspondents in France are rejected.  I suggest providing alternative means of contact, for instance, WhatsApp.	11th October 2022
Focussing with the Imagon	Clarification of the difficulties encountered when focussing with Imagon lenses	15th May 2022
Stitching images taken with non-shift lenses	New page with information and results of stitching images from non-shift Pentacon Six lenses via the Hartblei shift adapter	9th May 2022
More shift images for stitching	I have now added results from using a non-shift Mamiya 67 lens on the Hartblei shift and focussing adapter.  I also consider other options.	1st May 2022
Imagon soft-focus lenses	Addition of information on an article on Imagon lenses in the magazine PhotoDeal (at bottom of page)	20th April 2022
40-50mm wideangle lenses	Correction of apparent production years for Mir 69 lens.  Increase in text size and size of some images	16th April 2022
Imagon soft-focus lenses	Addition of information on and pictures of the Fujinon 4/85mm SF lens, plus a link to information on the Mamiya RZ67 180mm SOFT lens	13th April 2022
Introduction to the Hartblei RZ67-GFX system	A detailed introduction to the Hartblei options for using Pentacon Six and Mamiya RZ67 lenses on Fujifilm GFX medium format digital cameras via tubes and the shift adapter	12th April 2022
58mm Helios lens on the Fujifilm GFX camera	Addition of the results of tests of the 58mm Helios lens in the Zenit M42 mount, used on the larger format of the Fujifilm GFX camera	8th April 2022
Shift and tilt lens data	Clarification that the Hartblei 65mm Shift/Tilt lens was probably never offered in the Pentacon Six mount	6th April 2022
Pentacon Recruiting leaflet	This recruiting leaflet from 1976 gives interesting insights into the Pentacon company and life in East Germany.  Scroll down to 1976 to find it.	3rd April 2022
Stitching for a wider view	Equivalent focal lengths when stitching images together, compared with 6×6/6×7, 35mm “full frame” & GFX formats: addition of informative table	1st April 2022
Further results of lenses on the Fujifilm GFX	For comparison purposes, the results of tests with the Laowa 17mm lens and the Fujifilm 23mm lens have been added.	31st March 2022
Shooting images for stitching	Improved instructions received from an experienced user	30th March 2022
Using 35mm lenses on the Fujifilm GFX	A recommendation for a further lens, the Helios 44, and an explanation of the reduction in brightness at the corners images shot with the Arax 35mm shift lens	30th March 2022
Stitching images for panoramas and a wider view	New page on stitching images shot on the Pentacon Six and on the Fujifilm GFX digital camera	29th March 2022
Tests of Pentacon Six & M42 lenses on Hartblei adapters	New page giving the results of tests of using Pentacon Six and M42 lenses on Fujifilm GFX cameras, via Hartblei adapters, including to obtain shift operation	29th March 2022
Using Pentacon Six lenses on GFX cameras	Improved links and minor changes	29th March 2022
Digital 2022 update	Using Pentacon Six and M42 lenses on digital cameras and Hartblei adapters to enable use of Mamiya RB/RZ67 lenses on medium format digital cameras	17th March 2022
West German price list from May 1965	Addition of a West German Price List from May 1965, with full details of Praktisix lenses and accessories available at that time	4th March 2022
Tele-Noflexar being tested on a Hasselblad	Addition of a photograph of the Tele-Noflexar 50 cm lens being tested on a Hasselblad camera	18th February 2022
Novoflex factory	Addition of a photograph of Novoflex’s current factory (at bottom of page)	18th February 2022
Novoflex final assembly	Addition of a photograph of Novoflex final assembly and the factory in the 1960s	15th February 2022
Novoflex for Hasselblad?	Novoflex lenses and grips for Hasselblad and other Medium Format cameras without a focal plane shutter: a leaf shutter prototype, and mounts for other brands of Medium Format cameras	13th February 2022
TISPIGRIFF-U, the close-up grip for the Pentacon Six	Should the bellows rails for this grip run along the top of the grip or on one side?  A reconstruction of what almost certainly happened, with many new pictures.	12th February 2022
Novoflex 500mm Tele-Noflexar	More information on the 500mm Tele-Noflexar, and new photographs of it.	11th February 2022
Kilfitt Pan-Tele-Kilar	Addition of data sheet and price list from October 1961	2nd February 2022
Imagon History, Characteristics and Use	A new page with detailed information from Rodenstock on the history, characteristics and use of Imagon lenses	31st January 2022
Rodenstock Imagon	Addition of many images from Rodenstock, showing some of the possibilities of these lenses and why they were so loved by some photographers	30th January 2022
East German lens literature	Addition of information on a Meyer brochure from 1962	28th January 2022
Novoflex literature	This information is now expanded and gets its own page.	23rd January 2022
Novoflex TISPIGRIFF-U	Addition of a more detailed report on this grip that enables the Novoflex lenses for the Praktisix and Pentacon Six to focus much closer	23rd January 2022
Novoflex PISTAR	Further information on and pictures of the Novoflex PISTAR lens collar (Some information that was originally on this page has now been moved to other pages.  See next two lines above.)	23rd January 2022
Using the NiSi filter system on Pentax 67 lenses	The special rings made for me by SRB for use with the NiSi square filter system also fit various Pentax 67 lenses that now fit one of my Pentacon Sixes	20th January 2022
Arsat 30mm MC lens	Addition of photographs taken with this lens	10th January 2022
Kiev-6C	Addition of further information on the Kiev 6C camera	9th January 2022
Pan-Tele Kilar Versions I – III	To mark the beginning of the 20th year of this website, I am uploading a new page on the three versions of the Pan-Tele Kilar lens	1st January 2022
Kiev 60 or Pentacon Six?	A signifcant upgrade to this page	1st November 2021
Metering Pentaprism exploded diagram	Addition of new, high-resolution images of the Pentacon Six TTL metering pentaprism exploded diagram	24th October 2021
Mounting Pentax 67 lenses on a Pentacon Six camera	Further helpful tips on now to make one of these adapter rings	21st October 2021
Digital versus analogue	Updated thoughts on this subject	18th October 2021
Exploded diagrams of the Pentacon Six	After days (!) of work on the phtographs of the camera diagram, I am able to upload a higher-contrast, higher-resolution copy, in two sizes.	10th September 2021
Camera Formats	New page with a brief introduction to different camera format sizes	6th September 2021
Exploded diagrams of the Pentacon Six	Improved images of the exploded diagram for the body uploaded	24th August 2021
A leaflet on the Praktisix II	Addition of a 1964 leaflet on the Praktisix II, reproduced here in full	18th August 2021
Various, especially cases	Improvements to layouts and links	3rd August 2021
Exploded diagrams of the Pentacon Six	Addition of exploded diagrams of the Pentacon Six and of its metering pentaprism	1st July 2021
More tests of Pentax 67 lenses on the Pentacon Six	Tests of the two Pentax 67 zoom lenses, the 300mm lens and also the 45mm, 100mm Macro and 105mm lenses and one of the 2× converters	17th June 2021
Tests of Pentax 67 lenses on the Pentacon Six	Tests of two wide-angle Pentax 67 lenses on the Pentacon Six, and on a Pentax 67II	14th June 2021
“aus Jena” export rings (see links to right)	Addition of further information on the use of the “aus Jena” designation on some Carl Zeiss lenses (here and here) and additional links to a picture that is to be found here.	8th March 2021
A Pentacon Six repairer in the UK	Addition of a repairer in Scotland, Cameratiks of Edinburgh, recommended in February 2021 by a visitor to this website who lives in Edinburgh	12th February 2021
Pentax 67	Major upgrade to this page, with addition of multiple images comparing this Pentax medium format camera with the Pentacon Six and the Exakta 66	4th February 2021
Benro tripod head spacer	Addition of an illustrated report on the Benro tripod spacer, which enables the Benro GD3WH geared drive tripod head to be mounted on a wider range of tripods.	19th January 2021
A hand grip for the Pentacon Six	A useful accessory for the Pentacon Six: a grip that improves the handling of the camera	6th January 2021
Ad for the Pentacon Six with TTL prism	Addition of a full-page advertisement from a USA photography magazine published in 1971.	5th January 2021
Baierfoto.de	Rolf-Dieter Baier has closed down his specialist Pentacon Six camera company, while leaving the website pages up for information only.	22nd November 2020
Using Pentax 67 lenses on the Pentacon Six	We now know that it is possible to use Pentax 67 lenses on the Pentacon Six!  This new page tells how it can be done!	9th November 2020
300mm Tele-Kilar test results	Results of first tests using the 300mm Tele-Kilar with the Multi-Kilar 2×  –  4× variable converter.	8th November 2020
Lens brochures	Addition of information on a 1964 brochure from Carl Zeiss Jena on the new version of the 180mm Sonnar just released for the Praktisix	7th November 2020
Kilfitt Lens Data	Improvements to this page and some additional information	3rd November 2020
1000mm Zoomar Sport-Reflectar	First report on this exceptional and rare mirror lens	2nd November 2020
300mm Tele-Kilar lens	New report on this lens: using it on the Multi-Kilar for the Pentacon Six and using it on 35mm cameras via the Kilfitt M39-M42 adapter	1st November 2020
Novoflex bellows for the Kiev 88?	Novoflex manufactured bellows for the Hasselblad 1600F and 1000F, and these bellows may mount on the Salyut/Zenith 80/Kiev 80/Kiev 88.  The link goes to a new page on this.	24th July 2020
Noflexar N-200 lens	Addition of a report on the Novoflex N-200 lens (at the bottom of the page)	8th July 2020
Lens caps & camera body caps	New Pentacon Six camera body caps and lens caps reviewed	17th June 2020
Using the Praktisix in near-zero and sub-zero temperatures	Further information on the photograph on testing the performance of the Praktisix in extremely low temperatures	13th June 2020
Lenses for the Praktisix and Pentacon Six	Addition of a 1956 brochure from Meyer-Optik listing five lenses for the new Praktisix	11th June 2020
Using the Pentacon Six in near-zero & sub-zero temperatures	Addition of further information on testing the Praktisix for use in cold environments	3rd June 2020
Using the Pentacon Six in near-zero & sub-zero temperatures	New page on precautions and limitations  – and how to overcome them!	18th May 2020
Should I store the Pentacon Six with the shutter cocked?	I have been asked this question many times, and have now added my answer to the Frequently-Asked Questions page.	12th May 2020
Labelling of Carl Zeiss Jena lenses	Addition of link to another page with information on this, here.	11th May 2020
Exakta 66 TTL prism	Minor improvements: it is not really practical to mount the Exakta 66 plain prism onto a Pentacon Six	4th May 2020
Pentacon Six repairers	Addition of a further repairer – with stocks of spare parts! – in Germany (see top of column one)	31st March 2020
New welcome message	New message in the light of the current Coronavirus epidemic in many countries	24th March 2020
55mm Super-Angulon on the Exakta 66	Addition of further picture of this lens from the 1986 (?) publicity brochure	16th March 2020
Praktisix IIA serial numbers	A report of the sighting of a Praktisix IIA with the serial number 43569 results in the need to adjust the highest serial number for this camera up by less than 1.5% compared with the previous calculation.	27th January 2020
Book on Meyer-Optik / Pentacon lenses	New book on Meyer-Optik Görlitz by Rainer Appelt.  Details available here and here in English and here in German	4th December 2019
Depth of field with tilt lenses	Addition of new pictures taken with the Hartblei 45mm Super-Rotator shift/tilt lens.  Side-by-side comparison of tilt and non-tilt	1st November 2019
View camera movements with the Pentacon Six	A new page with information on “technical bellows” and “view cameras”, and how to obtain with a Pentacon Six the movements that they offer	30th October 2019
1959 West German price list	This lists the outfit available at the time, along with the recommended retail prices.  It includes prices for the Kilfitt 90mm Makro Kilar, the Kilfitt 300mm Pan-Tele-Kilar.	5th October 2019
1966 West German price list	This lists the full outfit available at the time, along with the recommended retail prices.  It includes prices for the Kilfitt 90mm Makro Kilar, the Kilfitt 300mm Pan-Tele-Kilar and the Enna 400mm Tele-Ennalyt.	4th October 2019
Using “square” filter systems with the Pentacon Six	A new page introducing the use of square and rectangular filter systems with the Pentacon Six and the Exakta 66 (with links to this page added from other relevant pages)	1st October 2019
Mir-69 45mm wide angle lens	Addition of a further picture taken with this lens, with appropriate commentary	28th September 2019
Meyer-Optik 250mm Telemegor	Addition of filter dimensions for this lens, by my measurement, not checked with a filter	27th September 2019
Enna 400mm Tele-Ennalyt	Tests with a 95mm × 1 ring just received from SRB show that the filter thread is 95mm with a pitch of 1.	27th September 2019
Rodenstock Imagon lenses	Minor corrections and improvements	22nd September 2019
Links to SRB Photographic	SRB have changed their web page address.  The links to them have been revised here and here.	15th September 2019
Size of 120mm Vega lens	Can the Pentacon Six camera case be closed when the 120mm Vega lens is mounted on the camera?  Here are the results of a careful study!	18th August 2019
Novoflex TISBIG–U	Addition of design dimensions for the Novoflex 6×6 pistol grip and the optional replacement bellows that permitted closer focussing, plus manufacturing numbers for these bellows	11th August 2019
“Focal length tolerance”	Addition of Friedrich-W Voigt’s explanation of focal length tolerance at the design stage	5th August 2019
Novoflex minimum focussing distances; prices	Addition of the minimum focussing distances for the 240mm and 500mm Noflexar lenses when the Tispigriff-U is used instead of the standard grip, or the Tisbig-U is added to the standard grip, plus relevant prices in 1970	27th July 2019
Kilfitt Rapid-Focus-Tele-Zoomar	Addition of test pictures and an evaluation of the results	20th July 2019
Enna 400mm Tele-Ennalyt	Addition of a test picture taken with this lens, plus an evaluation of the result	20th July 2019
90mm Macro Zoomatar with Multi-Kilar	Addition of a test picture taken with the 90mm Macro Zoomatar, with the Multi-Kilar on 2.5× magnification	20th July 2019
Telemegor and Orestegor lenses	Addition of sample pictures taken with the 300mm Telemegor and Orestegor lenses and with the 400mm Telemegor	20th July 2019
Meyer-Optik lenses “Made in Germany”	Addition of a sample picture taken with the 300mm lens, plus a link to a page with a picture taken with the 500mm lens	19th July 2019
Hartblei/Wiese 45mm Tilt/Shift lens	Addition of test pictures taken with the Wiese “Technoplan - T” version of the 45mm tilt/shift lens.	14th July 2019
Kilfitt Multi-Kilar: further tests	Addition of the results of further tests of the Multi-Kilar, at combinations of lenses and magnifications not previously covered.	14th July 2019
Makro Kilar / Macro Zoomatar	Probable date of Kilfitt brochure added	14th July 2019
400mm Tele-Ennalyt	Addition of lens diagram and information on the Enna Pocket Book	27th June 2019
Filters for Kilfitt Makro-Kilar	Confirmation from a Kilfitt brochure of the correct size of filters for the Makro Kilar (and subsequent Macro Zoomatar)	26th June 2019
The red window on the Pentacon Six TLs	More information on the siting of the red window on this camera, and the implications for the film used in it.	26th June 2019
How to recognise multi-coating	In response to a visitor request, some pictures of a multi-coated lens, to assist in determining if a given lens is multi-coated or not	26th June 2019
120mm Vega lens	Correction of one detail: the Pentacon Six ever-ready case can be closed with the Vega in place, provided that the Vega doesn’t have a standard-thickness UV filter fitted to it.	9th June 2019
Pentacon Six TLs	Additional information on size of film gate, and addition of further photographs and other information	6th June 2019
Viewfinder diopter correction lenses	Addition of information on using a diopter correction lens in the viewfinder eyecup	31st May 2019
Kilfitt Multi-Kilar test report	The results of tests with the Multi-Kilar, with detailed photographs	23rd May 2019
The 180mm Schneider Xenar tested	The results of tests with the Schneider 180mm Xenar lens on the Novoflex bellows, used with the Induro GIHH100CP tripod and the Benro GD3WH geared drive (bottom third of page)	28th April 2019
Berlebach and Benro compared	A comparison of the Berlebach UNI 14 tripod with the Benro Mach 3 TMA28C (scroll down)	19th April 2019
Using the Benro Geared Head on the Induro tripod	How to overcome problems and mount the Benro GD3WH geared head onto the Induro GIHH100CP low-level tripod (at the bottom of the page)	15th April 2019
Tripod heads	Addition of a review of the Benro Gear Drive 3-Way Head (GD3WH) (scroll down)	13th April 2019
Benro Quick-Release plate limitations	In my description of the Benro B3 ball head, I explained that their implemention of the Arca-Swiss Quick Release plate is only partially compatible with some other Arca-Swiss style mounts.  More details of this now added.	9th April 2019
Tripods for low-level photography	A new page with information on some options for tripods and ball heads for photography very near to ground level	3rd April 2019
Serial numbers for the Hanimex Praktica 66	A slightly lower serial number has been reported for a Hanimex Praktica 66.  Serial number data adjusted accordingly	29th March 2019
Third “foot” for the Pentacon Six	Sources for a possible third “foot” for the Pentacon Six	29th March 2019
Schneider-Kreuznach 180mm Xenar lens	Details and pictures added of this lens and the Novoflex adapter for using it on bellows with the Pentacon Six mount	18th March 2019
Kilfitt Multi-Kilar lens converter	A totally new page, with comprehensive information on the extraordinary Kilfitt Multi-Kilar lens converter	11th March 2019
A further book on Novoflex	Addition of information on “Makro Fotografie und die superschnellen Tele – Das Neue Novoflex Buch”, by Harald Zeyss.	3rd March 2019
150mm Xenar on Novoflex bellows	The results of macro and infinity tests with the Schneider 150mm Xenar lens supplied by Novoflex with their Praktisix/Pentacon Six bellows	2nd March 2019
Kilfitt 500mm Sport Reflectar test results	An illustrated report on test results with two versions of this lens	6th February 2019
Kilfitt 500mm Sport Reflectar	The different versions of the Kilfitt/Zoomar 500mm Sport Reflectar mirror lens: information and pictures added.	6th February 2019.
Kilfitt serial numbers	Addition of information on the format of Kilfitt/Zoomar serial numbers	6th February 2019
Results of tests with the 240mm Noflexar lens	Results added of tests with the Novoflex 240mm rapid-focus lens	5th February 2019
Results of tests with the 500mm Noflexar lens	Results added of tests with the Novoflex 500mm rapid-focus lens	5th February 2019
Conversion of the 40mm Zenzanon lens	Addition of details of the conversion process, along with photographs of this from the specialist technician who carried out the work.	3rd February 2019
The effect of using a shift lens	Two additional pictures at the bottom of the page to show the effect of using full shift on the 55mm Arsat shift lens, contrasted with using no shift at all.	22nd January 2019
Names of camera parts	Addition of links to images of camera top locking pin and button (here and here)	3rd January 2019
Camera body top caps	Addition of pictures and text on camera body top caps to the page on camera body front caps and lens rear caps	3rd January 2019
40mm Curtagon pictures	Addition of further pictures taken with the possibly-unique 40mm Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon lens	2nd January 2019
Review of 40mm lenses	A detailed description of a one-off modification of a Bronica Zenzanon-S lens to Pentacon Six mount, along with the results of comparative tests of the lens and the 40mm Curtagon	1st January 2019
Novoflex bellows	More information on the Novoflex bellows and the Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar lenses that were available from Novoflex, with suitable adapter rings.	28th December 2018
Novoflex bellows focussing slide lock	Further study of the Novoflex bellows focussing slide reveals that it is lockable.  The appropriate reference here has therefore been corrected.	28th December 2018
Early advertisements for the Praktisix	Addition of a 1957 ad in a West German magazine and a 1965 ad in an American magazine	25th December 2018!
Pentacon Six/Exakta 66 repairs in the USA	Positive report received today of repairs by Leonid Treskunov of two Exakta 66 (1984-2000) cameras	10th December 2018
Kiev 88CM	Further information on the Kiev 88CM, along with improved pictures of it	26th November 2018
Wiese 45mm shift-only lens test results	Addition of pictures taken with this lens, also indicating the consequences of shifting the lens further than is recommended for 6 × 6 format	17th October 2018
Use a wider lens or a shift lens?	A new page comparing wide-angle non-shift and shift images, and explaining the concept of “Residual Perspective”	14th October 2018
The Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon PCS lens	Addition of photographs of this super-rare shift and tilt lens.	4th October 2018
Is a faulty Pentacon Six worth repairing?	New answer on FAQ page: The Pentacon Six that I have bought is faulty.  What should I do?  (Answer currently at bottom of second F.A.Q. column – or click the link in the first column here)	2nd October 2018
Reviews of the Praktisix/Pentacon Six	Addition of a 1962 review of the Praktisix in the British photographic monthly magazine, “Practical Photography”	19th September 2018
New information on Arsat 45mm shift lens	Results of tests with this lens	11th September 2018
Shift lenses: how wide do you need?	Addition of pictures and text, comparing a 40mm non-shift lens with a 45mm shift lens (about half way down the page)	10th September 2018
Literature on the Pentacon Six	A major new section on books, publicity by manufacturers and distributors, ads and reviews  (There are as yet no links from elsewhere on the website, but some will be added soon.)	24th August 2018
Using filters with the Makro Kilar / Macro Zoomatar	A new section on this page shows the ingenious Kilfitt method for using filters with this lens	6 August 2018
Fungus in lenses	What it looks like, how it got there, and how to remove it	5 August 2018
Whole website	Intensity of background images reduced (in response to visitor request), to improve legibility of text.	30 July 2018
Lens mount compatibility	Minor revisions and improvements to this page and to references to FSU lens mounts on some other pages.	7 July 2018
Correction of detail of Novoflex pistol grip	The pistol grip in many of the Novoflex lens photographs on this website contains a tripod clamp that was not original to the lens	18 June 2018
Novoflex Tele-Noflexar 500mm lens	Addition of a publicity photograph from the Novoflex company archive	18 June 2018
Maximum aperture of the 500mm Tele-Noflexar	The revised designation of the maximum aperture of this lens, as stated in the second edition of Gabler’s book on the Novoflex system (just below half way down the page)	18 June 2018
Novoflex 240mm fast-focus lens	Addition of a publicity photograph from the Novoflex company archive and information on the chest and shoulder support	18 June 2018
Novoflex bellows	Addition of a publicity photograph from the Novoflex company archive, plus additional information on the copying attatchment	18 June 2018
“Z” or “3”?	Further information on the designation of the 600mm Soviet mirror lens	6 February 2018
SLR and Twin Lens Reflex cameras	Why is the Pentacon Six called a “Single Lens Reflex”?  Including cut-away shots of a Praktisix.	1 January 2018
Image quality with mobile phones	Addition of an explanation of differences between the resolution obtained with a good, modern mobile phone, and what is normal with the Pentacon Six	25 November 2017
Differential focus and bokeh	Addition of two photographs to illustrate this, along with an explanation	20 November 2017
150mm Kaleinar lens	Further comments based on using this lens “in the field”, and a sample picture taken with it	1 October 2017
150mm Hartblei lens	Addition of further information on this lens, and link to a page with a picture taken with the 150mm Kaleinar on which it is based	1 October 2017
Extension tubes instructions	Links to extension tubes and exposure corrections added to the Instructions page	21 September 2017
Using extension tubes	Substantial improvements to this page, with more information that will be helpful when using extension tubes	20 September 2017
Exposure factors	Addition of a detailed explanation of “exposure prolongation factors”.  This should make everything much clearer!	18 September 2017
Noviflex	Further information on this camera and extra pictures of it	12 September 2017
Arsat MC lens	Addition of text on ARSAT Multi-Coated lenses, and a picture of the ARSAT version of the 45mm Mir-26B	4 September 2017
1.4× converters and the “C” mount designation	Addition of photographs of two 1.4× converters from ARSAT, one of them with the new mount designation “C”	29 August 2017
The Pentacon Six lens mount	A major re-write of this page, with new photographs to show the difference between the Pentacon Six and Salyut/Kiev 88 lens mounts	19 August 2017
Hartblei 45mm shift lens test	Results of a detailed test of the Hartblei 45mm shift-only lens	17 August 2017
Biometar at closest focussing distance	Addition of a spontaneous shot taken with the 80mm Biometar at its closest focussing distance, mounted on a Pentacon Six	16 August 2017
The effect of using a 2× converter	New images added to show the effect of using a 2× converter, plus other minor improvements to the text on this page.	15 August 2017
Arsat 45mm shift lens	A new report on the Arsat 45mm shift lens.  Links on other related pages added.  Some editing of related pages to minimise repetition.	13 August 2017
Novoflex TISPIGRIFF-U	These special bellows permit much closer focussing with the Novoflex Medium Format lenses.  Addition of superb photographs, courtesy of Novoflex	28 June 2017
Filters	Major new page on filters for Pentacon Six lenses, with an introduction to the use of filters and many illustrations	3 May 2017
Makro-Kilar & Macro Zoomatar	Major expansion of this page with much more information and many new pictures	24 April 2017
Depth of field in macro photography	Sample pictures of depth of field with the 80mm Biometar used for macro photography.	22 April 2017
Kilfitt lenses for Norita cameras	New information on the availability of Kilfitt/Zoomar lenses in the Norita 66 mount	12 April 2017
Using the Pentacon Six bellows	Links to new video added on the bellows page (see 1st column), the instructions page, the macro page, the macro examples page and elsewhere	12 April 2017
Kilfitt lens and camera mounts	Explanation of the Kilfitt lens and camera mount systems and introduction to the codes of interest to those using Pentacon Six and Praktisix cameras.	12 April 2017
Video on Pentacon Six bellows	New video uploaded on how to use the Pentacon Six bellows.  See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMZkj-naS2o	10 April 2017
Tilt lens tests	Changed link to next section now directs to the introduction to macro photography	24 February 2017
Introduction to macro photography	Improved description of how the amount of light reaching the film is affected by the use of extension tubes and bellows	24 February 2017
Pentacon Six lenses on Pentax 6×7?	Improved link (here) to the answer to the question “Is it possible to modify Pentacon Six lenses so that they can be used on the Pentax 6×7?”	18 February 2017
Russian lenses, especially the Tair	Additional link to results of Tair test plus minor formatting improvements on this page and also here.  Plus addition of improved links between lens data pages.	8 February 2017
Why development stopped	More information on the decade of technical progress in East Germany (and the USSR!) and when and why it stopped	6 January 2017
The Kiev 90	Minor corrections and improvements	6 January 2017
Focussing screens	Addition of a link to a further supplier of the Kiev Screen for the Pentacon Six, Zhanna, who trades as “Grizzly33bear”	6 January 2017
Radioactive lenses	Some suggested avenues for investigating the safe disposal of radioactive lenses	28 December 2016
Link on Instructions page	Corrected link for point 11 (Finding the serial number)	25 December 2016
Lenses for the Norita	Information received that the Kilfitt Macro/Makro-Kilar 90mm lens was available in the Norita mount.	13 December 2016
80mm Biometars	Correction to statement concerning which were the last 80mm Biometars to be completed in the original Pentacon Six style.	18 October 2016
600mm mirror lens	Much more information on the different versions of this lens, plus many new photographs of it.	19 August 2016
120mm Imagon	Information on and pictures of 120mm Rodenstock Imagon added	9 Auguat 2016
Format, focal length & focus	Addition of some illustrations to this page	5 August 2016
Format, focal length & focus	A new page explaining the relationship between format and focal length, and the consequences for depth of field in images	2 August 2016
Checking a camera for shutter faults	New link from the instructions index to a page describing a faulty shutter	23 July 2016
Kilfitt zoom lenses	Information added on a further Kilfitt / Zoomar zoom lens for the Pentacon Six, plus details of a book on Kilfitt/Zoomar	13 May 2016
Rodenstock Imagon lenses	A detailed report on the Rodenstock Imagon 150mm soft-focus lens	11 May 2016
Macro photography	Page greatly expanded with many more images, showing the effects of using extension tubes, bellows and close-up filters	10 May 2016
Is my lens radioactive?	Answer to a visitor’s question about radioactive lenses	2 May 2016
Hartblei 45mm Shift/Tilt lens	A full description of the Hartblei 45mm shift lens with tilt-down facility (in this case re-badged with the Wiese name), with many new illustrations	30 April 2016
Requirements of tilt lenses	More information on desirable characteristics of tilt lenses, and more information on the Hartblei Super-Rotator 45mm Tilt/Shift lens	30 April 2016
Requirements of shift lenses	More information added on the characteristics and requirements of shift lenses	30 April 2016
Kiev focussing screens for the Pentacon Six	Where to buy the Kiev focussing screen for the Pentacon Six	20 April 2016
Hartblei shift & shift/tilt lenses	Extra information and numerous extra photos of the three Hartblei 45mm shift and shift/tilt lenses	18 April 2016
How close can I get?	Illustrated answer to the question "How close can I get with the close-up accessories", showing the effects of using the auto tubes and some other items	7 April 2016
"Made in Germany"	How the country of origin was indicated on photographic equipment and literature produced in East Germany between 1945 and 1990.	29 March 2016
Conversion factors with different formats	The answer to two, related questions: "What do I see when I use a Pentacon Six lens on my 35mm camera?" and "What is the crop factor with Pentacon Six lenses on APS-C-sized sensors?"	16 March 2016
Viewfinders	How to choose the best viewfinder and focussing screen - a response to a question by a visitor to the website	15 March 2016
Novoflex C for medium format	NOVOFLEX brochure on the C-Grip 400mm lens for medium format cameras + pictures of books by Richard Hünecke	11 March 2016
Novoflex C & D versions	Information on medium format cameras that could be used with this newer fast-focus system	9 March 2016
Novoflex books and lenses	Information added on books on the NOVOFLEX system, and on developments of NOVOFLEX lenses and bellows	9 March 2016
Information on French Novoflex book	The French edition of the Novoflex Taschenbuch (Pocketbook), the "Livre de Poche Novoflex"	8 March 2016
Minimum focus with Novoflex lenses	Illustration and explanation of the use of special bellows with Novoflex follow-focus lenses	8 March 2016
Novoflex lenses	Additional pictures of the Novoflex Fast-Focus lens system	8 March 2016
Novoflex lenses for Norita	Information added on the availability of the Novoflex Medium Format lenses for the Norita camera	8 March 2016
Rodenstock Imagon	Addition of reference to a further Imagon lens, with a focal length of 150mm	16 February 2016
Kilfitt lens data	Additional information on Kilfitt lenses	16 February 2016
Hartblei shift new photo	Additional picture of the Hartblei 45mm shift lens, plus further explanation of the characteristics of the Hartblei 45mm Super-Rotator lens	5 February 2016
Revised links on lens data page	Improvements to links on lens data page, and associated links between pages, so that you don't miss any pages	5 February 2016
Kilfitt/Zoomar lenses for Norita/Rittreck	Information on Kilfitt/Zoomar lenses that were available with the Norita/Rittreck mount	5 February 2016
Rittreck/Warner 66 vs. Norita/Graflex Norita	Interesting new information on differences between these cameras	24 January 2016
Small, specialist manufacturers	Over the past 25 years, some remarkable lenses for the Pentacon Six have appeared.  Where did they come from?	18 January 2016
Further Wiese shift lenses	Information on different versions of the Wiese 45mm shift lens	18 January 2016
Wiese Pentasix cameras	Information on two types of "Pentasix" cameras from Wiese, including a detailed review of one of them	18 January 2016
Wiese 45mm shift lens	Detailed report on a 45mm PCS shift lens from Wiese Fototechnik, Hamburg	16 January 2016
Wiese 45mm shift lens	First confirmation of existence of a 45mm shift lens from Wiese in Hamburg	15 January 2016
"Mystery" 2× converter	Report on further 2× converter for the Pentacon Six -- perhaps a "home-made" or "informal enterprise" item.	15 January 2016
"Mystery" focussing screen	Information on (and pictures of) a further focussing screen for the Pentacon Six (scroll down)	15 January 2016
Compatibility problems	More information on compatibility problems with various lenses, and improved links to other information on this subject elsewhere on this website.	1 January 2016
Improved links	Improved links to many pages, especially those concerning lens data	30 December 2015
Lens shades	Minor improvements to details on two of the lens shade pages, here and here.	30 December 2015
Camera case	Information on the Pentacon Six camera case expanded and moved to a new location.  Improved links to it and from it to other pages.	28 December 2015
Pentacon Six or digital	Detailed revision and update to comparison with digital cameras	21 November 2015
Pentacon in Italy	Why were cameras from communist countries so popular in post-war Italy?  The answer, plus information on, and pictures of, some special P-6 and Pentacon cameras	3 October 2015
Four new German articles added	More "PHOTO Deal" articles on the Praktisix and Pentacon Six (written in German)	6 September 2015
Telear-4B	Additional information on the rarely-seen 250mm f/3.5 "Soviet" Telear-4B, plus pictures of it	1 September 2015
Petzvar test results	Report on tests of the Ivanichek Petzvar lens on the Pentacon Six	14 August 2015
Strap connectors	Correction of typographical error	10 August 2015
ZM-3B filter size	Correction of information on filter size for this lens	5 August 2015
65mm Flektogon	A picture taken with a "zebra" 65mm Flektogon, plus comments on it (at the bottom of the page in this link)	28 July 2015
FAN-1 wide-angle converter	A detailed review of this rarely-seen wide-angle converter	27 July 2015
Using the Kilfitt Macro-Kilar	Examples of images obtainable with the 90mm Macro (or "Makro") Kilar at its closest-focussing distance, compared with the 80mm Biometar (scroll down)	26 July 2015
Depth of field and bokeh	Example images added to show the effect of changing the lens aperture	22 June 2015
Export versions	Additional information on export versions of the Praktisix and Pentacon Six (TL)	12 March 2015
Novoflex 240mm Noflexar	Additional information on this lens and picture of a different example of the lens	8 March 2015
Pentacon extension tubes	Further information and additional pictures of Pentacon medium-format tubes, here and here.	8 March 2015
Jupiter 36B new lens shade	Addition of a close-up picture of the new-design lens shade	8 March 2015
Jupiter 36B re-design	Redesign of the Jupiter 36B 250mm lens and of its lens hood (see also here for problems with the original design)	5 March 2015
Ivanichek Petzvar	A report on a totally new lens in Pentacon Six mount	5 March 2015
Steinheil lenses	A report that some Steinheil lenses were offered with Praktisix mount, and possible information on such lenses	28 February 2015
Pentacon Six TLs Serial Numbers	Range of serial numbers of this camera extended, following discovery of one of these cameras with a lower serial number (scroll down)	21 February 2015
The history of the cameras	This section has been on the website for several years, but with few links from elsewhere on the website. Click on the link to the left to start at the very beginning or here for more information on specific cameras, and follow the links from there.	21 February 2015
Using a 2× converter	Clarification added on 28th January now also included on the page about teleconverters	30 January 2015
Using a 2× converter	Clarification of the effect on the minimum focussing distance of adding a converter.	28 January 2015
Apertures & shutter speeds	Answer to the question "What if the shutter speed and aperture numbers don't line up on the meter?"  (Additional information on this page)	27 January 2015
Novoflex minimum focussing distances	More information on minimum focussing distances for the Noflexar 240mm and 500mm lenses, and details of an English-language book on Novoflex	26 January 2015
Lens data and further tests	Improved link to lenses from other manufacturers	26 January 2015
Close-up in square composition	Standard lens, bellows at minimum extension, hand-held, no prism on the camera, but what results!  (Look for the rose!)	19 January 2015
80mm Biometar resolution	Additional pictures showing the resolution of the Carl Zeiss standard lens for the Pentacon Six (scroll to bottom of page).	19 January 2015
Youtube problems	Problems accessing comments and questions posted on Youtube.  Solution: e-mail me via this website.	3 December 2014
Adapting lenses to the Pentacon Six	How to attach old lenses for medium and larger format cameras to the Pentacon Six (also listed as a new question on the Frequently-Asked Questions page, here)	4 October 2014
Serial numbers	Minor changes to the page in this link, but also addition on that page of a new link to a major page on camera body serial numbers	19 September 2014
Standard lens test	Improvements to details on this page and links from it.  Given the many versions of the Biometar, I no longer use the designation "Mk II" and "Mk III".	22 June 2014
86-95mm filters	New information on 86-95mm filters for Flektogon lenses	19 June 2014
Repairer in Warsaw	Addition of a repair workshop in Warsaw	28 March 2014
Rubinar lens test results	Improved link to test results (plus improved links and minor corrections on some other pages)	28 March 2014
Flash sync speeds	Flash sync at ALL speeds with the Pentacon Six	17 January 2014
Foto-Service Olbrich	New e-mail address for Foto-Service Olbrich, who can still service and repair your cameras and lenses	3 January 2014
Novoflex lenses	Novoflex lenses are called Noflexar, Tele-Noflexar, etc.  Corrections and other improvements here, here, here and here.	31 December 2013
Checking a Pentacon Six	Further information and pictures to help you check a Pentacon Six	21 October 2013
Checking a Pentacon Six	How to check a Pentacon Six prior to purchase, including links to two new Video tutorials	19 October 2013
Spacing comparison	Typical Pentacon Six frame spacing compared with Hasselblad frame spacing (scroll down)	21 April 2013
Various	Minor corrections and improved links, for instance, to the pages on the 40mm Curtagon	15 April 2013
Bokeh with the Biometar	How does the 80mm Biometar perform at wide apertures and what sort of boken (out-of-focus highlights) does it produce?  Here are some answers.	12 April 2013
Repair & Service manual	On-line source for repair and service manual no longer works (not part of this website).  Manual still available from other source given.	10 March 2013
Photo rucksack sold	Link removed	10 March 2013
Articles in German	Articles in German on Pentacon-Six-mount cameras and lenses	2 March 2013
Photo rucksack for sale	High-capacity Tamrac Rolling Photo Backpack for sale	3 January 2013
Is the Pentacon Six too big?	The Pentacon Six compared with a full frame 35mm digital camera	2 January 2013
More on focussing screens	Pictures of the remaining GDR Pentacon Six screens, and additional pictures of the Exakta 66 Rollei screen	1 January 2013
Variogon “MF” or “M”?	Detail concerning the lens designation of these Schneider lenses for the Exakta 66	1 January 2013
Kiev 88CM mount problems	Incompatibility between Carl Zeiss Jena 1000mm mirror lens and the Kiev 88CM camera.  See more information here.	1 January 2013
What’s the best aperture & shutter speed?	Explanation of how to choose the best aperture and shutter speed for your outfit and the photo that you are about to create	24 December 2012
Metering with the Pentacon Six	How to meter with the Pentacon Six: page upgrade plus addition of three Video tutorials	23 December 2012
Repairers for the Pentacon Six	Barcelona workshop no longer able to repair the Pentacon Six, but Kameraservice Ostkreuz in Berlin recommended!	23 December 2012
Another zoom lens for the Pentacon Six	Introductory information on a further zoom lens for the Pentacon Six	17 December 2012
Digital photography revisited	With the constant advances in digital photography, I have re-written much of this page to reflect the current situation.	17 December 2012
120mm Biometar sold	Lens sold - link removed	17 December 2012
150mm Kaleinar dimensions	Dimensions corrected, following measurement by me (it is actually fractionally smaller than the size given in the manufacturer’s data).	16 December 2012
Other Lenses	Improvements to page on lenses from other manufacturers, including reference to lenses from Foto Wiese in Hamburg	15 December 2012
Body caps & lens back caps	New page added: camera body caps and lens back caps, illustrated and explained. If you have a second body or more than one lens, you need to read this.	14 December 2012
Hartblei lens summary	Improved links to information on Hartblei lenses (linked from the Lensdata page)	14 December 2012
Hartblei 150mm lens	A report on the 150mm Hartblei lens	13 December 2012
Hartblei 2× converter	A report on the Hartblei 2× converter	13 December 2012
Arsenal close-up tubes	Information on and pictures of Arsenal manual close-up tubes	12 December 2012
Sony SEL55210 sold	Lens sold - link removed	28 November 2012
Sony SEL55210 lens for sale	In a one-off for this website, an opportunity to buy a Sony zoom lens for the NEX series of digital cameras.  Not to be repeated.	16 October 2012
120mm Biometar lens for sale	An opportunity to buy the hard-to-find 120mm Biometar in beautiful condition	16 October 2012
Improved links to video tutorials	You can now find in one place links to all the video tutorials.	16 October 2012
Resumption of servicing by Pentacon Dresden	Pentacon Six and Exakta 66 servicing, repairs and upgrades from Pentacon Service in Dresden	16 October 2012
Flektogon lenses for sale	Other Flektogon sold.  Currently no other items for sale, but I do plan to sell some more items in the future.  Please check back on this website regularly.	10 October 2012
Flektogon lenses for sale	One Flektogon sold, the other "under offer"	9 October 2012
Pentacon Six TL for sale	Camera sold in less than 24 hours!  Lenses still available (see link two lines lower)	2 October 2012
Pentacon Six TL for sale	A rare opportunity to buy a new Pentacon Six TL	1 October 2012
Flektogon lenses for sale	A chance to buy a choice of 50mm Carl Zeiss Flektogon wide-angle lenses in excellent condition	1 October 2012
MLU upgrade options	Following the suspension by Pentacon Service of upgrade facilities for the Pentacon Six and Exakta 66, the MLU offered by Baierfoto appears to be the only one available at the present time.	25 September 2012
Suspension of servicing by Pentacon Dresden	Following the unexpected death of Jürgen Frenzel, their Pentacon Six and Exakta 66 specialist, Pentacon Service in Dresden have temporarily suspended repairs of these cameras.	25 September 2012
Wideangle lens test link	Links added between the second page of wide-angle lens tests and the page on Flektogon lenses with spots in them	23 August 2012
Lens design changes	Addition of picture of two 120mm Biometar lenses, including a lens from one of the last batches of lenses produced in 1990.	23 August 2012
Filters in the Sport Reflectar	Picture added showing the filter wheel removed from the Kilfitt/Zoomar 500mm Sport-Reflectar lens.	23 August 2012
White dots in Flektogon lenses	Addition of photo showing two 50mm Flektogon lenses, one with white dots, one without.	23 August 2012

Home

© TRA November 2005 Latest upgrade: April 2024