Captain Jack's Praktina SLR Cameras  
 

The Praktina Single Lens Reflex Cameras were manufactured in East Germany by the firm VEB Kamera-Werke Niedersedlitz. The Praktina was one of the first "system" 35mm SLR cameras produced, rivaled at the time only by the Ihagee Exakta in terms of the number of professional features and accessories offered for it. The Praktina even surpassed the Exakta in the areas of motor drives and long film backs, accessories never offered by Ihagee. It wasn't until the advent of the Japanese Nikon F that a camera was offered with such a diverse number of accessories.

Two basic Praktina models exist, the Praktina FX and the Praktina IIa with two major variations of each. Each feature interchangeable lenses, a very sturdy breechlock lens mounting facility, interchangeable finders and a direct Newton viewfinder. Hummel identified an early Praktina without the FX/IIa engraving, (Hummel #108), apparently a prototype that never reached production.

Lens makers who offered lenses in Praktina mount included Carl Zeiss Jena, Schneider Kreuznach, Albert Schacht, Steinheil München, Angénieux, Enna München, Isco Göttingen, Kilfitt and others.

My favorite Carl Zeiss Jena lenses in Praktina mount are the 25mm f4 Auto Flektogon, the 35mm Auto Flektogon, the very sharp 50mm Auto Pancolars and Flexons, the 75mm f1.5 Preset Biotar, the 80 f2.8 Auto Biometar and the 180mm f2.8 Sonnar. From Steinheil, my favorites are the 55mm Auto Quinon, the 135mm f2.8 Preset Tele-Quinar and the 300mm f4.5 Preset Tele-Quinar.

  To View my collection of Praktina Accessories:
Click HERE
 
 
  To View my collection of Praktina Lenses:
Click HERE
 
 
  To View my collection of Praktina Literature:
Click HERE
   
 

Camera: Praktina FX, Ver. 1

Serial #: 18653

Hummel #: 109

Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm f2.8 Tessar (preset)

Serial #: 3819446

Finder: Praktina Prism, Ver. 1

Notes: The Version 1 Praktina FX has provision for manual or preset diaphragm lenses only. Other lenses can be fit but there is no internal mechanism in the camera to stopdown semi-auto or automatic lenses.

 
 

Camera: Praktina FX, Ver.2, Type 1

Serial #: 33508

Hummel #: 109

Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena 58mm f2.0 Auto Biotar (semi-auto)

Serial #: 4818541

Finder: Praktina Prism, Ver. 1

Notes: The Version 1 Praktina FX has provision for manual/preset diaphragm lenses only. The Version 2, pictured here can take both semi-automatic and manual/preset lenses. Further variations can be found with differences in the number of PC sockets (Type 1 - 1 socket; Type 2 - 2 sockets) and the size of the newton finder window.

 
 

Camera: Praktina FX, Ver. 2, Type 2

Serial #: 55756

Hummel #: 109

Lens: Steinheil München 55mm f1.9 Auto Quinon (semi-auto)

Serial #: 1478737

Finder: Praktina Prism, Ver. 1

Notes: The Version 1 Praktina FX has provision for manual/preset diaphragm lenses only. The Version 2, pictured here can take both semi-automatic and manual/preset lenses. Further variations can be found with differences in the number of PC sockets and the size of the newton finder window.

 

  
 

Camera: Praktina IIa, Ver. 1

Serial #: 106408

Hummel #: 110

Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm f2.0 Auto Flexon

Serial #: 4463120

Finder: Praktina Metered Prism

Notes: The Version 1 Praktina IIa, pictured here, can only use the fully automatic lenses. The Version 2 Praktina IIa has provisions to take both fully automatic and semi-automatic lenses.

   
 

Camera: Praktina IIa, Ver. 2 [RARE]

Serial #: 124775

Hummel #: 110 (a)

Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm F2.8 Auto Tessar

Serial #: 5469749

Finder: Praktina Prism, Ver. 2

Notes: The Version 2 Praktina IIa, pictured here, can take both the fully automatic and semi-automatic lenses. The Version 1, Praktina IIa has provisions to take only fully automatic lenses.

 

    

Mirror Box for Ver 2, Praktina IIa

Note the two notches in the female lens flange.

 

Camera: Porst Reflex [RARE]

Serial #: 103864

Hummel #: 110a

Lens: Aus Jena 50mm f2.0 Auto Pancolar

Serial #: 6821684

Finder: Praktina Prism, Ver. 2

Notes: Imported into West Germany by Porst, it is essentially a Praktina IIa, Ver. 1, with an accesory shoe added and a plate reading "Porst Reflex" attached to the front of the camera. Quite uncommon.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Camera: Hexacon Supreme [VERY RARE]

Serial #: 31328

Hummel #: 109a

Lens: Aus Jena 58mm f2.0 Biotar (preset)

Serial #: 3958562

Finder: Praktina Prism, Ver. 1

Notes: Essentially a Praktina FX, Ver. 2, with a plate reading "Hexacon Supreme" attached to the front of the camera. Imported by Peerless Camera of NY City in the mid 1950's, it is VERY uncommon.

    

 

Another Praktina camera exists with the name Corbina.

 

Pentacon Super

If the Exakta Real was the last German attempt to manufacture a professional caliber Exakta SLR then the Pentacon Super should be considered the final leap in the evolution of the Praktina and the earlier Pentacon/Contax SLR cameras. In size, the Pentacon Super is a larger and heavier camera than the Praktina very much like the Exakta Real is substantially heavier than the Exakta Varexes.

The Pentacon Super was short lived, however a Motor Drive and a Long Exposure back were produced for it as was a TTL Prism and Hooded Waist Level Finder. It utilized a special M42 screw mount. It was offered with the magnificent Carl Zeiss Jena 55mm f1.4 Auto Pancolar lens. It also featured TTL metering and shutter speeds from 10 seconds to 1/2000th.

 

Camera: Pentacon Super [RARE]

Serial #: 1532

Hummel #: 119

Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena 55mm f1.4 Auto Pancolar

Serial #: 7172645

Finder: Pentacon Super TTL Prism

 

    

Pentacon Super Hooded Finder

 

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