Praktica
Kamera Werkstätten VEB Niedersedlitz (1949)
Pentacon Dresden GmbH (1990)

It seems almost impossible to write a short summary of the history of the Praktica. At this point I have chosen 3 models that for me represent different stages in the Praktica history. However the Praktica came out of the KW Guthe & Thorsch company and survived as a cameras brand through countless mergers, nationalizations, change of company names and managements. The company names listed above only marks the beginning and the end for the Praktica brand. One can say, that the Praktica evolved from the Praktiflex, which were commisioned by Charles Noble in the "K.W. days" and that was designed by Alois Hoheisel back in the late 30's. The first postwar Praktica were designed by Sigfried Böhm, and Charles Noble was no longer part of the story. Mike who has made a wonderful Praktica page puts it this way: "The first Praktica was built in 1949 by the Company "Mechanik Kamera Werkstätten VEB Niedersedlitz" which was founded as "Kamera-Werkstätten Guthe & Thorsch GmbH" 1919 by Benno Thorsch and Paul Guthe in Dresden. In 1989 the Berlin wall was down; the GDR was no more; and a great name was soon to fade into history. The famous Pentacon factory in Dresden was shortly closed and with it, unless something unexpected happens, the end of the Praktica SL.". For the full Praktica story, and model references please visit Mike's great website:

Mike's Praktica Home
 

Praktica FX 2  (1956) SLR
Serial no.: n/a
Format:  24 x 36 on 35mm film (135)
Optics: Carl Zeiss Tessar 1:2,8  50 mm (manual aperture preset) M42
Shutter: Horizontal focal plane cloth B + 1/2 sec. => 1/500 sec.
Mics.: Internal aperture release
Accs.: Meyer-Görlitz Trioplan 1:2,8  100mm

The FX 2 still bears the KW logo, and when it was released in 1956 it was the first SLR to feature an internal automatic aperture release. The viewfinder are not interchangeable, but a add-on prism can be fitted on top of the folding viewfinder, which can also be opened as a sports-viewfinder, and furthermore features a magnifying glass for precise focussing. The FX 2 are a solid but basic SLR with the typical Praktica release button on the camera front, removable back cover, and non instant return mirror.
 

Click to enlarge

Praktica IV FB  (1964-66) SLR
Serial no.: 666584
Format:  24 x 36 on 35mm film (135)
Optics:  Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primotar 1:3,5  50mm
Shutter: Horizontal focal plane cloth B + 1/2 sec. => 1/500 sec.
Mics.: Selenium lightmeter, external match needle metering  & internal aperture release
 

Allthough manufactured nealy 10 years later than the FX 2, the basic camera body on the IV FB are the same as on the FX 2. Designer Horst Strehle have merely added this and that to the Böhm body, as f.e. the new prism and viewfinder which I find very good indeed. It's big and bright and offer split-screen forcussing. He also added the match needle lightmeter just to the right of the rewind knob. The base of the rewind knob are the lightmeter dial, and a folding rewind crank have also been added. The most peculiar feature is probably the rapid advance lever situated in the bottom of the camera body and you can still use the wind knob on top as well. The IV FB feels like a huuuge camera probably because of the big prism housing, but it is actually not much bigger than the FX 2. Removable camera back and non instant return mirror.
 

Praktica Super TL 1000  (1980) SLR
Serial no.: n/a
Format:  24 x 36 on 35mm film (135)
Optics:  Shown with Russian Helios-44 M 1:2,0  58mm auto aperture
Shutter: Vertikal metal focal plane B + 1 sec. => 1/1000 sec.
Mics.: CDS lightmeter, internal match needle metering by stop down, internal aperture release

I only got the TL 1000 for 1 reason, oh well maybe 2. The first reason was (and is) that I wanted a solid no-frills low cost camerabody that I could bring anywhere and in all kinds of weather and put some of all my stray M42 lenses to use. The second reason would be that I have lost of memories of the TL 1000, which were THE student camera in Denmark back in the 80's. On the photo above I have fitted one of my favourite standard M42 lenses, the russian Helios 44. I could imagine, that the TL 1000 were imported to Denmark at very reasonable prices, and in those days it were very cheap here in comparison with the Japanese brands. If you can live with the stop down metering, the TL 1000 are in fact a nice camera, and not many cameras back in the 80's came with a vertical metal focal plane shutter. I think it's nice to have a camera body that you don't have to care for that much, but just bring anywhere under all kind of conditions, and the TL 1000 do the job, and delivers value for very little money, and at the same time it is still a good entry level SLR with hinged back, instant return mirror and match needle metering in the viewfinder. The most amazing thing are the price you'll have to pay for a solid SLR like the Praktica. I just recently saw a Praktica MTL5 being sold on eBay for 12,- Euro's !!. Well excuuuuuse me, but these warhorses are in fact very very useable....