Difference between revisions of "Praktina"

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The '''Praktina''' is a [[35mm]] [[SLR]] film camera launched in 1952 by [[KW]] located in [[Dresden]], East Germany, the cradle for modern camera industry and optics. KW was the first manufacturer to make the SLR camera a practical proposition for the advanced amateur by introducing the [[Praktiflex]] in 1939. The giant [[Zeiss Ikon]] certainly entertained the idea at that time, but it was never realised as originally envisaged. Some ten years had to pass before the KW [[Praktica]] and [[Contax S]] emerged from Dresden. Then the Praktina shortly followed. But this camera was far ahead of the competition, sporting a new breach lock lens mount, solving many of the problems related to the lens mount precision and wear. However, the new lensmount required special [[Praktina lenses]]. The interchangeable [[pentaprism]] finder was an integral design feature, while the seemingly redundant direct vision [[viewfinder|optical finder]] would be helpful under special conditions, like when using a waist level finder or a manual preset lens. The shape of the camera body is obviously obtained directly from the Contax S, but the back is not hinged for easy attachment of the Bulk Film Magazine for 400 exposures.
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{| class="plainlinks floatright" style="text-align: center;"
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|image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/95742794@N05/52573030416/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dbroglin/3130051553/ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/3130051553_56e1c200f7_m.jpg]
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52573030416_94da1a2910_w_d.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Praktina IIA with [[Tessar]]
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|image_by= Jörg Krüger
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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The '''Praktina''' is a [[35mm]] [[SLR]] film camera launched in 1952 by [[KW]] in [[Dresden]], East Germany, the cradle of modern camera industry and optics. KW was the first manufacturer to make the SLR camera a practical proposition for the advanced amateur, by introducing the [[Praktiflex]] in 1939. The giant [[Zeiss Ikon]] certainly entertained the idea at that time, but it was never realised as originally envisaged. Some ten years had to pass before the KW [[Praktica]] and [[Contax S]] emerged from Dresden. The Praktina followed shortly after; but this camera was far ahead of the competition, with a new breech-lock lens mount, solving many of the problems related to the lens mount precision and wear. However, the new lens mount required special [[Praktina lenses]]. The interchangeable [[pentaprism]] finder was an integral design feature, while the seemingly redundant direct vision [[viewfinder|optical finder]] would be helpful under special conditions, such as when a waist level finder is fitted, or a manual preset lens.<ref>Advertising literature states this is a Newton finder, and was provided for 'fast action and available light' photography </ref>. The shape of the camera body is obviously obtained directly from the Contax S, but the back is not hinged for easy attachment of the Bulk Film Magazine for 400 exposures.
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Several remarkable features, apart from those already mentioned, are associated with this camera. It was the first SLR camera prepared for a motor drive, at first a spring driven one for some twenty frames was offered, but later a battery powered electric motor drive was available.
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{{br}}
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/s-demir/4989503330/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4989503330_862f05a854_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/s-demir/4988899447/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/4988899447_7d4d56ec62_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/s-demir/4988898971/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/4988898971_3224423185_m.jpg]
 
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|| ''Praktina IIa with CZJ Flexon 2.0/50 <small>Picture by David Broglin. {{with permission}}</small>''
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| colspan=3 align=center |
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{{Flickr_image_caption
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|image_text= Praktina FX with CZJ Pancolar 2.0/50.
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|image_by= Süleyman Demir
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
 
|}
 
|}
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Several remarkable features, apart from those already mentioned, are associated with this camera. It was the first SLR camera prepared for a motor drive, at first a spring driven one for some twenty frames was offered, but later a battery powered electric motor drive was available. The original Praktina was replaced within a year by the improved '''Praktina FX'''. It featured automatic lens stop down at shutter release, and two standard [[flash sync|PC sync contacts]] replaced the original three contacts. A wide range of all kinds of accessories was available. For the remaining part of the 1950s, the future for the Praktina looked bright, but a new era in the realm of camera history emerged; a situation the introduction of the slightly improved '''Praktina FX IIa''' in 1958 had little effect.
 
  
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=== Links ===
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The original Praktina was replaced within a year by the improved '''Praktina FX'''. It has automatic stop-down upon shutter release, and two standard [[flash sync|PC sync contacts]] replaced the original three contacts. A wide range of all kinds of accessories was available.
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* [http://www.praktina.com/ praktina.com, a site about Praktinas.]
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/pentacon/html/pentacon_praktina_fx.php Praktina FX] on [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand
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For the remaining part of the 1950s, the future for the Praktina looked bright, but a new era in camera history emerged; the introduction of the slightly improved '''Praktina IIA''' in 1958 had little effect.
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/s-demir/4988900505/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/4150/4988900505_a500e03ba0_w_d.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Praktina FX with Pancolar
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|image_by= Süleyman Demir
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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== Notes ==
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<references />
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== Links ==
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*[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/praktica/praktina_iia/praktina_iia.htm Praktina IIa user manual] at [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Butkus.org]
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*[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/praktica/praktica_fx/praktica_fx.htm Praktina FX user manual] at [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Butkus.org]
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* [http://www.praktina.com/ The Collector's Guide to Praktina System] by Alberto Taccheo
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=11121 Praktina FX] on [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand (in French)
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* [http://sites.google.com/site/fromthefocalplanetoinfinity/praktina2a Praktina IIA] by Daniel Jiménez
  
 
[[Category: German 35mm SLR]]
 
[[Category: German 35mm SLR]]
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[[Category: East Germany]]
 
 
[[Category: KW]]
 
[[Category: KW]]
 
[[Category: P]]
 
[[Category: P]]

Latest revision as of 18:46, 17 January 2024

52573030416_94da1a2910_w_d.jpg
Praktina IIA with Tessar
image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)

The Praktina is a 35mm SLR film camera launched in 1952 by KW in Dresden, East Germany, the cradle of modern camera industry and optics. KW was the first manufacturer to make the SLR camera a practical proposition for the advanced amateur, by introducing the Praktiflex in 1939. The giant Zeiss Ikon certainly entertained the idea at that time, but it was never realised as originally envisaged. Some ten years had to pass before the KW Praktica and Contax S emerged from Dresden. The Praktina followed shortly after; but this camera was far ahead of the competition, with a new breech-lock lens mount, solving many of the problems related to the lens mount precision and wear. However, the new lens mount required special Praktina lenses. The interchangeable pentaprism finder was an integral design feature, while the seemingly redundant direct vision optical finder would be helpful under special conditions, such as when a waist level finder is fitted, or a manual preset lens.[1]. The shape of the camera body is obviously obtained directly from the Contax S, but the back is not hinged for easy attachment of the Bulk Film Magazine for 400 exposures.

Several remarkable features, apart from those already mentioned, are associated with this camera. It was the first SLR camera prepared for a motor drive, at first a spring driven one for some twenty frames was offered, but later a battery powered electric motor drive was available.

4989503330_862f05a854_m.jpg 4988899447_7d4d56ec62_m.jpg 4988898971_3224423185_m.jpg

Praktina FX with CZJ Pancolar 2.0/50.
images by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)

The original Praktina was replaced within a year by the improved Praktina FX. It has automatic stop-down upon shutter release, and two standard PC sync contacts replaced the original three contacts. A wide range of all kinds of accessories was available.

For the remaining part of the 1950s, the future for the Praktina looked bright, but a new era in camera history emerged; the introduction of the slightly improved Praktina IIA in 1958 had little effect.

4988900505_a500e03ba0_w_d.jpg
Praktina FX with Pancolar
image by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)

Notes

  1. ↑ Advertising literature states this is a Newton finder, and was provided for 'fast action and available light' photography

Links

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