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The '''Praktiflex''' is a [[35mm]] SLR film camera, manufactured by Kamera-Werkstätten VEB Niedersedlitz, ([[KW]]) Dresden, former East Germany and produced between 1939-49.
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The '''Praktiflex''' is a 35mm SLR that was launched by [[KW]] in 1939. It was one of the very first 24x36 SLRs, its production would continue after the war and its successor the [[Praktica]] initiated a very long and successful series.
  
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KW was the third manufacturer to introduce a 24×36 [[SLR]] camera; only the [[Kine Exakta]] and the Russian [[Sport (SLR)|Sport]] preceded it.
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Also, the Praktiflex was the world's first small-format SLR camera with a returnable mirror and with a screw mount for interchangeable lenses.
   
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Its successor, the [[Praktica]], became a very long and successful series of models.
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The Praktiflex had a special 40mm diameter screw thread lens mount, and could only take [[Praktiflex lenses]].
  
   
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The Praktiflex has a special 40mm in diameter screw thread lens mount, and takes only [[Praktiflex lenses]]. The [[42mm screw lenses|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.
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[[Category: 35mm SLR]]
  
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[[Category: Germany]]
  
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There are many models and variants of the Praktiflex. They could be divided two main generations. <ref> Generation, model and version IDs are as to [http://www.praktica-collector.de/079_Praktiflex_15th.htm Mike's Praktica Collection]</ref>
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The first generation includes pre-WW2 models and the second generation includes post-WW2 models.
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==First generation specifications==
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*Produced between 1939-46
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*Lens: offered with various brand's lenses <ref name="lens">[[Praktiflex lenses]]</ref>
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*Mount: M40x1 screw type
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*Focusing: via condenser type ground-glass focusing screen
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*Shutter: horizontal-run rubberised cloth-blind type shutter speeds: 1/25-1/500, +B
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*Shutter release knob: on the top of the camera
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*Mirror: instant return, raises by pressing the release button. Shutter releases only when the mirror is raised.
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*Viewfinder: Waist-level view finder with condenser type ground-glass focusing screen (Stevens Screen), fixed, w/ Magnifier and eye level sports finder
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*There are some variants with special coloured leatherette like red, blue, gray.
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*Some variants have no strap lugs and some variants have strap knobs
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/r2r_ptr/4046543867/in/pool-46195334@N00/
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|image= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3511/4046543867_0463c9da61.jpg
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|image_align= center
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|image_text= Praktiflex 1st generation - 4th model ([[Hummel]] 073, [[Schulz]] version 4), (1939), w/ (E.Ludwig) Anastigmat-Victar 50mm f/2.9 <ref> as to [http://www.praktica-collector.de/073_Praktiflex_4th.htm Mike's Practica Collection]</ref> image by Arthur Petrosian
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|image_by= Arthur Petrosian
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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==Second generation specifications==
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*Produced between 1947-49
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*Lens: Praktiflex offered with various brand's lenses <ref name="lens" />
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*Lens mount: M40x1 screw type
  +
*Focusing: via condenser type ground-glass focusing screen, w/ central cross
  +
*Shutter: horizontal-run rubberised cloth-blind type shutter speeds: 1/25-1/500, +B
  +
*Shutter release knob: on front of the camera
  +
*Cocking knob: also winds the film, auto-stops on film-advance
  +
*Mirror: not instant return, spring raised mirror returns when the shutter cocked
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*Viewfinder: Waist-level view finder with condenser type ground-glass focusing screen (Stevens Screen), fixed, w/ Magnifier and eye level sports finder
  +
*Back cover: Removable
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*Others: Tripod socket: 3/8 inch; Strap lugs
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*Body: metallic; Weight: 748g
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/s-demir/5296355723/in/pool-46195334@N00/
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|image= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5088/5296355723_c481d9c7fd.jpg
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|image_align= center
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|image_text= Praktiflex 2nd generation, 15th model, (Hummel 079, Schulz version 15), 1947, w/ Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar T, 58mm f/ 2 <ref>as to [http://www.praktica-collector.de/079_Praktiflex_14th.htm Mike's Practica Collection]</ref> image by Süleyman Demir
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|image_by= Süleyman Demir
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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{|class=plainlinks align="center"
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|
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/s-demir/5296358465/in/pool-46195334@N00/
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|image= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5296358465_f4550f7712_m.jpg
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|image_align=
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|image_text=
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|image_by=
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|image_rights=
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}}
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|
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/s-demir/5296954666/in/pool-46195334@N00/
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|image= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5296954666_5924b4ab6f_m.jpg
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|image_align=
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|image_text=
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|image_by=
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|image_rights=
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}}
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|
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/s-demir/5296955432/in/pool-46195334@N00/
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|image= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5296955432_324dfc620b_m.jpg
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|image_align=
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|image_text=
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|image_by=
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}}
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|-
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|colspan=3 align="center"| Praktiflex 2nd generation, 15th model, (Hummel 079, Schulz version 15), 1947, w/ Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar T, 58mm f/ 2 <small>Images by Süleyman Demir {{ with permission }}</small>
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|}
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==Praktiflex FX==
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The name Praktiflex FX was briefly used in the 1950s for a USA export name for a version of the [[Praktica]] FX. It was also sold under various other brand names such as "Columbia 35" and "Rival Reflex" in export markets.
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterlerman/5135913488/in/pool-46195334@N00/
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|image= http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1376/5135913488_f94f1ed447_m.jpg
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|image_align= center
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|image_text= Praktiflex FX image by Peter Lerman
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|image_by= Peter Lerman
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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==Notes and references==
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<references/>
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== Links ==
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* [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C565.html in EarlyPhotography]
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* [http://www.praktica-collector.de/ in Mike's Praktica Collection]
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* [http://www.praktica-collector.de/126_Praktiflex_FX.htm Praktiflex FX] at Praktica collector's [http://www.praktica-collector.de]
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* [http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/instructionmanuals.html Manual available on the Favorite Classics section of kyphoto.com]
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In German:
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* [http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Praktiflex.html The development of the modern small format SLR camera], an article in [http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/index.html Frank Mechelhoff's camera site], featuring the Praktiflex, Contax S, Exakta VX and original Pentax
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In Polish
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* [http://aparatyanalogowe.pl/content/praktiflex-i Praktiflex I in aparatyanalogowe.pl]
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[[Category: German 35mm SLR]]
 
[[Category: East Germany]]
  
[[Category: East Germany]]
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[[Category: KW]]
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[[Category: KW|Praktiflex]]
 
[[Category: P]]
  
[[Category: P]]
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[[Category: 1939]]

Latest revision as of 04:31, 11 September 2018

The Praktiflex is a 35mm SLR film camera, manufactured by Kamera-Werkstätten VEB Niedersedlitz, (KW) Dresden, former East Germany and produced between 1939-49. KW was the third manufacturer to introduce a 24×36 SLR camera; only the Kine Exakta and the Russian Sport preceded it. Also, the Praktiflex was the world's first small-format SLR camera with a returnable mirror and with a screw mount for interchangeable lenses.

Its successor, the Praktica, became a very long and successful series of models.

The Praktiflex has a special 40mm in 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.

There are many models and variants of the Praktiflex. They could be divided two main generations. [1] The first generation includes pre-WW2 models and the second generation includes post-WW2 models.

First generation specifications[]

  • Produced between 1939-46
  • Lens: offered with various brand's lenses [2]
  • Mount: M40x1 screw type
  • Focusing: via condenser type ground-glass focusing screen
  • Shutter: horizontal-run rubberised cloth-blind type shutter speeds: 1/25-1/500, +B
  • Shutter release knob: on the top of the camera
  • Mirror: instant return, raises by pressing the release button. Shutter releases only when the mirror is raised.
  • Viewfinder: Waist-level view finder with condenser type ground-glass focusing screen (Stevens Screen), fixed, w/ Magnifier and eye level sports finder
  • There are some variants with special coloured leatherette like red, blue, gray.
  • Some variants have no strap lugs and some variants have strap knobs
4046543867_0463c9da61.jpg
Praktiflex 1st generation - 4th model (Hummel 073, Schulz version 4), (1939), w/ (E.Ludwig) Anastigmat-Victar 50mm f/2.9 [3] image by Arthur Petrosian (Image rights)

Second generation specifications[]

  • Produced between 1947-49
  • Lens: Praktiflex offered with various brand's lenses [2]
  • Lens mount: M40x1 screw type
  • Focusing: via condenser type ground-glass focusing screen, w/ central cross
  • Shutter: horizontal-run rubberised cloth-blind type shutter speeds: 1/25-1/500, +B
  • Shutter release knob: on front of the camera
  • Cocking knob: also winds the film, auto-stops on film-advance
  • Mirror: not instant return, spring raised mirror returns when the shutter cocked
  • Viewfinder: Waist-level view finder with condenser type ground-glass focusing screen (Stevens Screen), fixed, w/ Magnifier and eye level sports finder
  • Back cover: Removable
  • Others: Tripod socket: 3/8 inch; Strap lugs
  • Body: metallic; Weight: 748g
5296355723_c481d9c7fd.jpg
Praktiflex 2nd generation, 15th model, (Hummel 079, Schulz version 15), 1947, w/ Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar T, 58mm f/ 2 [4] image by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)
5296358465_f4550f7712_m.jpg
5296954666_5924b4ab6f_m.jpg
5296955432_324dfc620b_m.jpg
Praktiflex 2nd generation, 15th model, (Hummel 079, Schulz version 15), 1947, w/ Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar T, 58mm f/ 2 Images by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)

Praktiflex FX[]

The name Praktiflex FX was briefly used in the 1950s for a USA export name for a version of the Praktica FX. It was also sold under various other brand names such as "Columbia 35" and "Rival Reflex" in export markets.

5135913488_f94f1ed447_m.jpg
Praktiflex FX image by Peter Lerman (Image rights)

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ Generation, model and version IDs are as to Mike's Praktica Collection
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Praktiflex lenses
  3. ↑ as to Mike's Practica Collection
  4. ↑ as to Mike's Practica Collection

Links[]

In German:

In Polish

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