I think I have a correction -- auto aperture setting def works on my Zenit TTL normally (its from 1980). Admittedly I'm not sure if it does something differently on any other M42 mount body as this is my only camera for now (cuz its cheap and I was unsure if I'll get into film or not) -- but on it, when auto-aperture is set, yes nothing happens initially as you change the aperture of the lens, but when you shoot, only then does it close to the setting you indicated. Additionally, when you almost-press the shutter release, like you push the button to the point where it suddenly gives far higher resistance and don't push further to overcome it but keep it there, then it closes to the set aperture as well. Basically if you set it to auto but keep the shutter release half-pressed, the aperture on the lens acts just as if it were on manual mode. To do this simple thing, there is indeed a mechanism in the camera to do it; there's a pin protruding from the rim of the lens you might notice, and if it is set to auto, it doesn't step down unless that pin is depressed too. I presume this is what other M42 lenses with aperture control options have as well. And on the body side, when the shutter release is pressed or half-pressed, a jaw-like bit of metal inside the camera raises towards the rim of the lens to depress that pin. I presume none of this would work with a broken spring though. Given how dark the viewfinder is, I don't think its a good advice to set the lenses on manual really, you need all the light you can get while framing the shot & focusing and really only want to close down to set the exposure , presuming you trust the bulit in meter, maybe to check the focus finally, and to shoot - and auto helps to do it that way more easily.

I actually stopped the vlog part way through and checked out my Zenit's for the meter adjusting screw. The 11's got it the E doesn't. I'd always just presumed it was Russian clunky manufacture that it remained unpainted. Instead its, in effect, an exposure compensation button (screw) - genius. No idea that they were just a currency exchange. Still prefer a Praktica in general.

Can this work without a battery if i have my own lightmeter?

Do I need a battery to use this camera?