Praktica MTL3

This camera was originally purchased by my father some time in the late 70s/early 80s in the UK. Several decades later, as I prepared to explore 13 countries in 30 days, he offered the camera for me to take on my travels. I quickly accepted, excited to give his first camera a new life.

Of course, it spent most of those decades in a closet, unused, while he raised me and my sisters. As a result, it’s developed the light leaks you’ll see in most of the photos taken with this camera. During my travel, I tried taping the film door seams and lens mount with electrical tape I hastily purchased in Florence, but sadly it had little effect. At this point, I think it’s more likely to be a sticky shutter, as the MTL3 has an all-metal shutter.

At some point I’ll probably take it to a camera repair shop. Sure, the camera itself is worth very little, but the sentimental value from my father and it surviving a 30-day trip around eastern and western Europe makes it worth it to me.

Although, I’ve come to love the light leaks…