The path of rays leads from the object to be photographed through the lens via surface mirror, focusing system, beam splitter, pentaprism, and viewfinder eyepiece to the eye of the photographer. The image is focused by rotation of the distance setting ring on the lens mount with the aid of the focusing system. T beam splitter, set into the optical system at the back of an image limiter corresponding to the negative,] reflects an invariable percentage of the light of the entire image field on to the large-area photo resistance.

The light particles outside of the image angle, that would have a negative influence on the measuring procedure, are completely eliminated. All correcting factors for filters, close-ups, macro- and micro-exposures, previously forming a mathematical task for the photographer, are automatically taken into account by this new type of measuring system. The meter reading is shown in the viewfinder by the needle of a microammeter. Current source of the measuring system is a mercuric oxide cell in the base of the camera. The measuring circuit is closed by depressing the, switch-on key or the shutter release.

When the shutter release is depressed, the surface-coated mirror moves into position for the exposure and returns into viewing position immediately after the shutter has run down. The diaphragm of the lens is automatically opened to its widest aperture. Thus, the finder image is almost continuously visible, except for the short moment of the exposure. In the mirror reflex system there is no danger of parallax error, even with lenses of extreme focal lengths or with close-up equipment. The finder image is somewhat smaller than the negative format. Everything that you see in the viewfinder must necessarily appear on the film. The finder image can, therefore, be utilized to its very edges.

Abridged Instructions for Use

1. Open camera back (6). 2. Pull up rewind knob (5). Place cartridge into cartridge chamber (7). Push rewind knob in. Fix beginning of film to take-up spool (10) and wind it up tightly until teeth of film transport sprocket (9) engage in upper and lower - film perforations. 3. Close the camera back. 4.   Adjust film speed indicator (move dial (16) to mark (17).

5.   Adjust film type setting disk (13). 6.   Actuate winding lever (11) and shutter release (3) until exposure counter (14) stands on number 1. 7.   Light measuring: 7.1. Preset either shutter speed (speed setting dial 15) or diaphragm numeral (diaphragm ring 28). 7.2. Depress switch-on key (2).

7.3. While depressing the switch-on key, readjust either the diaphragm stop (diaphragm ring 28) or the shutter speed (speed setting dial 15) until meter needle (23) in the viewfinder meets the marking point (24). Release the switch-on key.
When using lenses without automatic pressure diaphragm, please refer to section on "Automatic diaphragm release".

8.   Focus for sharpness of image, with the aid of the rangefinder lens or the circular focusing screen, by moving distance setting ring (26).

9.   Release the shutter.

Attention! If red warning signal (20) is visible in viewfinder, first actuate winding lever (11). 10. Exchanging the film: After the last exposure depress rewind release knob (12). Swing out rewind crank (29). Rewind film in direction of arrow. 11. Remove cartridge from camera. Beside these items it is, of course, necessary to study the complete Instructions for Use carefully.

Inserting the film
Any kind of perforated 35 mm film (black-and-white or color) in commercially available cartridges may be used. Push the back lock (1) downwards, open camera back (6), pull out rewind knob (5) as far as it will go. Place full cartridge into cartridge chamber (7). Push rewind knob in again, at the same time moving it to and fro to cause catch (8)-to engage in core of cartridge.
Insert beginning of film, until resistance is felt, into slit of take-up spool (10). Rotate the take-up spool to wind up the film (coating outwards) until the teeth of transport sprocket (9) engage in the perforations on both sides of the film. On take-up spool with pilot pin (spool with one flange) connect perforation to pilot pin. Rotate milled edge of take-up spool to wind up the film. Press back against camera body (locks automatically).

Setting the type of film
Move the symbol corresponding to the film in the camera on film type setting disk (13) against the marking point.

= Black-and-white	= Negative color film for daylight
= Reversal color film for daylight	= Negative color film for artificial light
= Reversal color film for artificial light

Exposure counter
The exposure counter (14) need not to be adjusted. It is set automatically when the camera back is closed.

Preparing for the exposure
Swing winding lever (11) around as far as it will go and let it glide back. Release shutter. Repeat this procedure until counter stands on 1. Swing winding lever only in winding-up direction until it stops. (Movement by force in the opposite direction would cause damage to the camera.)
The coupling of shutter wind and film transport makes double and blank exposures impossible.

Setting the film speed indicator
Rotate film speed dial (16) to bring the speed numeral of the film in the camera against the triangular mark (17) on the speed setting dial. (important for automatic exposure control.)

Setting the exposure speed
The focal-plane shutter of the PRAKTICAmat is designed for exposure speeds from 1 sec. to I/l000 sec., also for the B setting for exposures of any desired length of time (shutter remains open as long as release button (3) is depressed, or the locking device of a cable release is fixed).
The setting is the shortest exposure speed in connection with electronic flash (on release of the flash the picture gate is completely opened).
Rotate speed setting dial (15) until the speed value clicks in next to marking point (18). Setting is possible in either direction, before or after the shutter has been released (limit stop at B and 1 sec.). Settings outside of the click-in points cause faulty exposures.

Light measuring
The automatic exposure system of the PRAKTICAmat, when using lenses with automatic diaphragm release, allows for two possibilities of light measuring:
With preset shutter speed (e. g. in action shots)
Shutter speed is adjusted! Depress switch-on key (2) and rotate diaphragm ring (28) on lens mount until meter needle (23) meets the marking point (24).

With preset diaphragm stop (e. g. at a certain depth of field)
Diaphragm stop is adjusted! Depress switch-on (2) and rotate speed setting dial (15) - using only the click-in stops - until meter needle (23) meets the marking point (24). Should the needle not match the point, choose the most favorable shutter speed and readjust diaphragm ring (28).
Pressure on the switch-on key causes the diaphragm to be stopped down automatically to the pre-set value.
If, despite readjustment of diaphragm and shutter speed the needle will not center itself, this means that the lighting conditions are insufficient for the automatic exposure control system, and you will have to use an extra light source or a more sensitive film.

Checking meter reading immediately before the exposure
On actuation of the shutter release, before the shutter actually runs down, the measuring circuit is closed once more, thus making it possible to check for correct exposure (centering of needle) immediately before the picture is taken.

Should the needle refuse to deflect altogether, the current source (32) will have to be tested. (See section "Testing and exchanging the current source").

Unfavorable taking conditions (glaring side light) may cause false light to fall into the viewfinder eyepiece and lead to a faulty meter reading. Remedy: Use protective cap supplied with camera.

  Light measuring with lenses having no automatic pressure diaphragm
With lenses of this type the automatic diaphragm mechanism inside the camera has to be disconnected (see section "Automatic diaphragm"). With some of the (older) lenses, owing to the construction of their mounts, the switch-on key cannot be depressed. In this case depress the shutter release carefully and take the meter reading before the shutter runs down. Focusing should be performed beforehand, since the diaphragm in these lenses does not reopen automatically.

There are two possibilities of focusing with the PRAKTICAmat.

Focusing
The viewfinder of the PRAKTICAmat includes a Fresnel lens. In the center of the lens is the split image rangefinder (21), surrounded by a circular focusing screen (22) (micro screen).

1st method
The split image rangefinder (21) is used when the subject reveals conspicuous lines in the horizontal or vertical image. On rotation of distance setting ring (23) the two part images move towards, or away from, each other. As soon as the conspicuous lines meet to form one complete picture, maximum sharpness has been achieved.

2nd method
The circular focusing screen (22) is used for action scenes or for objects without distinct lines. Focusing is performed in the same manner as on the usual ground glass.

The Fresnel lens surrounding the focusing screen serves to brighten up the image but is not to be used for focusing.

Taking lens and viewfinder lens being one and the same, there is no danger of parallax error. Persons with faulty eyesight may insert corrective lenses in special mounts into the eyepiece of the viewfinder, which also accepts other special finder attachments.

Depth of field
The distance figures on the lens refer to the film plane (marking 19 on cover plate).

The limits of the depth of field for the respective apertures can be read from the depth-of-field scale (27) on the lens mount. Also, critical inspection of the finder image is possible on actuation either of switch-on key (2), or of stop-down lever (25) after taking the meter reading.

Releasing the shutter
Depress shutter release (3) steadily until the shutter has run down. Rotation of milled ring to make red dots meet locks release mechanism against inadvertent triggering. Unlocking is performed accordingly. For exposures longer than 1/30 sec. tripod (connecting socket 33) and cable release should be used. Body shutter release accepts cable release.