KW Praktina SLR—A User's Review

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I've been writing a review of the Praktina SLRs for a couple of months, time permitting. I finished it recently and, as they've been mentioned a bit in various threads, lately, perhaps it's a good time to post a link to it. It's fairly long (this will not be a surprise to some of you!) but, you don't have to read it all if you don't want to. 😉
Anyway, it may be of interest to some of you, hopefully, and if so, you'll find it here.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[p.giannakis]

I enjoyed the review and the pictures. Looks similar to my Contax F.

 

[xayraa33]

good review on an interesting camera system.

 

[dee]

Thanks , this was my Dad's camera in 1957 . I was not allowed to touch it at 10 years .
Finally , I found a couple via eBay and was astounded at the quality and finesse ,
I have yet to try out a film , but I am now tempted ,
Thanks for the info.
Dee

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Brett,

Nice camera, lovely review. Have you managed to find a spring drive yet? I bought one, NOS, in NY in 1982 but alas it is long gone. Of course, it gives you an instant return mirror.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Livesteamer]

I like Praktinas and have several. I've got the spring motor but have never been able to make it work with the camera. Are there any secrets to it? The 58mm f2.0 Biotar is one of my favorite old lenses. Thanks for a nice review of a great old system. Joe

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

You're very welcome chaps, and thank you for that feedback.

Roger, I haven't procured a spring motor yet, though I've not tried particularly hard to do so. I've watched a few online but am yet to pounce. I tend to spread myself too thinly over too many different camera systems, which doesn't help. But I wouldn't mind one at the right price, they're an interesting item. I have slowed down on buying into new cameras lately. Except for the Linhof, of course, but in my defence, that found me.
Cheers
Brett

 

[Nokton48]

Hmmm I'm getting sentimental....

My first real 35mm SLR was a Praktina FX3 (I believe that was the export model).
I had the 80mm F2.8 Zeiss Biometar.

Sniff Sniff

 

[Fraser]

Nice review I'd never heard of praktina before.

 

[tunalegs]

Wonderful write up of an interesting camera.

How many pedant points will I get if I point out the Asahiflex cameras also featured a built in reverse galilean viewfinder?

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Wonderful write up of an interesting camera.

How many pedant points will I get if I point out the Asahiflex cameras also featured a built in reverse galilean viewfinder?

Actually, I wasn't aware of that, thank you. The earliest Pentax I have here is an S3 or SV, though I'd happily find room for an Asahiflex if it turns up. 😉
Cheers
Brett

 

[David Murphy]

I have little doubt Canon was influenced by the Praktina mount. The Canonflex came out in 1959, overlapping in the marketplace with the Praktina, and it had the Canon "R" mount, a breech mount, which I am nearly certain is compatible with the later FL and FD mounts (except probably for metering and iris control stuff that came later)

 

[farlymac]

That is such a great write-up, Brett. I really want to get one now, but it will have to wait. Like you, I recently got back into large format with a Calumet monorail camera, and a Crown Graphic Special. Have to learn all over again what I used to know about them before playing around with more 35mm stuff.

PF

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

That is such a great write-up, Brett. I really want to get one now, but it will have to wait. Like you, I recently got back into large format with a Calumet monorail camera, and a Crown Graphic Special. Have to learn all over again what I used to know about them before playing around with more 35mm stuff.

PF

Thanks Phil, that's really good of you to say so. I'm keeping an eye open for a few people, so if I spy anything affordable I'll let you know.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

I was curious about the cost of the Praktina.

Reading praktina.com, from a 1956 price list, the Praktina FX ver SA2 with prism and 58mm f/2 Biotar was DM 835. At that time the DM was about 4 to the dollar, so this is $210.

$210 in 1956 is $1,853.37 in today's dollars.

For comparison, the Nikon F, introduced in 1959 with 50 f/2 was list priced at $359.50 (bartender's page). And, it was $323 in 1963 (Wikipedia).

$359.50 in 1959 is $2,942 in 2016 dollars.
$323.00 in 1963 is $2,513 in 2016 dollars.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Brett, excellent review and commentary on this camera.

I have a couple of these, put into good shape by an excellent repairer in Slovakia (seller "cupog" at eBay).

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Brett, excellent review and commentary on this camera.

I have a couple of these, put into good shape by an excellent repairer in Slovakia (seller "cupog" at eBay).

Actually I purchased a lens hood fitting a few CZJ lenses including the 58mm Biotar from him just a couple of weeks ago. No problems at all with the transaction and the eBay communications were excellent and he was very friendly and approachable, too. I plan to transact with him again. Thanks very much for your comments about the review, much appreciated.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

As a sort of postscript to my review of the Praktina, I heard recently that its designer, Siegfried Böhm passed away only a few weeks ago, aged 95 years. I was not aware that he was actually still alive when I began writing the review of the Praktina SLR. For our German speaking members, here is a link to his Wikipedia article