17. Taking a Prague camera back to Prague

Prague is one of the most photogenic cities in Europe, full of great architecture and sublime views.

Shortly before a recent trip to Prague (on our way home from Verona, obviously not a direct route) I decided I needed to take a vintage camera with me. Luckily a quick search identified a model which appealed and was also made in Prague. How very fortunate!

The Druopta company began in about 1950, absorbing a few smaller manufacturers including ETA Praha which began manufacturing in 1926. Prague at that time was in Czechoslovakia, which split peacefully into the Czech Republic (Czechia) and Slovakia in 1992. Many of the cameras produced in the 1950s were either made of Bakelite or steel and aluminium, so were quite heavy beasts.

The Druopta Vega was built between 1950-1958 with only fairly superficial changes in that time. Of course, as usual, I'm interested in the older versions, so pick up an early Vega l with a 50mm Druoptar collapsible lens. Available shutter speeds are 1/10 - 1/200 sec, the aperture can be adjusted between f4.4 - f16 and the focusing distance ranges from 0.75 - 10m plus infinity, so it looks on the face of it to be fairly adaptable. As with all cameras of this age, there is no connection between any focusing and what you see through the viewfinder, so you have to remember to set the focus distance to your subject.

On the rear of the camera there is a chart. I don't mind admitting that it took me quite a while to work out exactly what it's telling me!

The distance to the subject is along the top (in metres), your chosen aperture (f) is down the left side. The two figures given for each of these combinations is the nearest and furthest distance (in metres) which will be in focus. I know this as Depth of Field, but have never come across a chart showing it!

While we're on the back of the camera, take a look at that viewfinder, possibly the smallest one ever made at just 2mm diameter. If I remove my glasses and get my eye right up to it I can just make out a rectangle, the supposed composition of my photo. As I later discover on location, this turns out to be quite optimistic!

The lens is of the collapsible type. By the 1970s the shutter wouldn't fire on many manual cameras unless the lens was extended.

But in 1950 that was all a long way in the future. A few 'experimental' photos (OK, I forgot), proves that extending the lens makes a difference to the results!

What I really enjoy about my vintage cameras is that absolutely nothing is automated; you have to work out all the settings yourself. On the Druopta Vega this means:

• extending and locking the lens

• determining the distance to the subject and setting the focus

• deciding what aperture to use

• setting the shutter speed

• cocking and then firing the shutter

• pressing the small lever on the front and then turning the wheel on top to wind on the film

• collapsing the lens

To be fair, I choose the aperture and shutter speed on my Nikon digital SLR too, but it doesn't usually take so long that people or other moveable things have moved in or out of my shot and it needs to be re-composed.

The first test film through the camera isn't too bad, though many of the shots are over-exposed, something to sort out on the next run.

Over-exposure has been a regular problem with the vintage cameras, probably a mix of issues. Shutter speeds are much slower than modern cameras, letting in more light; the aperture may be less accurate and/or slow to change; the availability of appropriate films; light leaks around the body of older cameras, especially ill-fitting catches on the film compartment. This last one I now fix with a little duct tape when in use, to prevent the back of the camera suddenly popping off with a 'live' film.

Now I've got the hang of the camera and remembered to set the focus, the second film brings better results...

The first photo here was taken at a huge parade of tanks and armoured vehicles through a nearby village ford, great fun to watch and a perfect subject for this camera.

So eventually it's off to Verona and Prague with the Praha Druopta Vega, where I have to say it performed very well. What do you think?