Praktiflex
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| Early Praktiflex c.1940 |
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| Post War Praktiflex FX |
The Praktiflex is a 35mm SLR camera that was launched by KW in 1939, they were the third manufacturer to introduce a 24×36 SLR camera, only the Kine Exakta and the Russian Sport preceded it. Production continued after the war and its successor, the Praktica, became a very long and successful series of models. The pre-war Praktiflex has the release button at the top of the right-hand side of the body. The mirror is raised by the force exerted by pressing the release button down. Only when the mirror is up is the shutter released.
The Praktiflex has a special 40mm diameter screw thread lens mount, and takes only Praktiflex lenses. The 42mm thread mount became available from about 1947, and was thus initiated by this manufacturer. This lens mount became practically an universal industry standard, until about 1975 when the need for increased exchange of information between camera and lens made the bayonet mount a more practical arrangement.
The Praktiflex FX is a variant of the 1950s, with flash synchronization for bulbs and strobes. In some markets it was sold as the Praktica FX. it was also sold under various other brand names such as "Columbia 35" and "Rival Reflex" in export markets.
Links
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| Praktiflex FX |
- Manual available on the Favorite Classics section of kyphoto.com
- Praktiflex FX at Praktica collector's [1]
In German:
- The development of the modern small format SLR camera, an article in Frank Mechelhoff's camera site, featuring the Praktiflex, Contax S, Exakta VX and original Pentax
