Praktica Appreciation Thread

cuthbert · May 18, 2016

AgX said:
Unique metering system

Meanwhile I added a VLC 3 to my collection.

Pentacon had many worldwide "firsts".
The VLCs have a unique metering system:
The metering cell is located inside the mirror-box. As with many other cameras of competing manufacturers.
BUT the cell is located lateral and there is no collapsable accessory-mirror. Instead there is some reflection/refraction system located inside the flat mirror-assembly and similar perpendicular at the side of the mirror, guiding the metering light to the cell.

I know of no other camera using this approach.

Has anyone details on the used light-guide?
Can someone hint at a respective patent?

I also want a VLC but unfortunately it's very expensive.

However this thread needs more pics.

BX20S + Prakticar 50mm f1.8 + Portra 160.

For those who aren't into cars it's a Pontiac Firebird.

Alan Johnson · May 18, 2016

For a short time a camera virtually identical to the Nova I plus Domiplan was marketed under the name Pentaflex SL.
It appears not to have been a great success as the name Pentaflex was never used again.

cuthbert · May 18, 2016

Alan Johnson said:
For a short time a camera virtually identical to the Nova I plus Domiplan was marketed under the name Pentaflex SL.
It appears not to have been a great success as the name Pentaflex was never used again.
View attachment 157182

I think it was because of Pentax.

Other shots at twilight:

AgX · May 18, 2016

Alan Johnson said:
For a short time a camera virtually identical to the Nova I plus Domiplan was marketed under the name Pentaflex SL.
It appears not to have been a great success as the name Pentaflex was never used again.

To avoid confusion:
"Pentaflex SL" is a original Pentacon designation, no export designation.

Basically it is a Nova, but as major difference lacking the longer shutter times.

cuthbert said:
I think it was because of Pentax.

Maybe. "Pentax" had been sold by Pentacon to Asahi.

AgX · May 18, 2016

Add-on on the VLC:

Screen and field-lens form a unit (cemented together), something that is not uncommon at all.
But that (exchangable) assembly is located within the finders. Likely something unique.

Anyway, having got a sample with p-finder thus does not give you the direct means to easily improvise on a wlf version, as with other cameras.

AgX · May 20, 2016

VLCs p-finder:

The housing consists of two parts glued together, what hampers cleaning prism or eyepice if necessary.

baachitraka · May 20, 2016

May I ask which camera in B-series to get?

AgX · May 20, 2016

BX 20, as being the most advanced model.

baachitraka · May 20, 2016

what is the most desired lens in B-mount?

cuthbert · May 20, 2016

baachitraka said:
May I ask which camera in B-series to get?

I have a soft spot for the Jenaflex, if you use TTL flash the BX20 is better, but the building quality seems to have falled down gradually from the B200 to the BX20S.

baachitraka · May 20, 2016

I prefer OM-2n for quick shots and looking something similar in Praktica. 28/50/100mm are the lens choice but I do not know whether 100mm exist in B-mount.

cuthbert · May 20, 2016

baachitraka said:
what is the most desired lens in B-mount?

Many...mainly the Pancolar 50mm f1.4, the 80mm f1.8, the Flektogon 20mm f2.8, the Flek 35mm 2.4, the Vario-Sonnar 80-200mm f4 (DDR, not to be confused with the oriental ones), the 300mm...I have some of them.

This is my humble Praktica system!

Sewin · May 20, 2016

Here's my B set up.

My preference is the BC1, although the hand grenade B200 looks nice and rugged.

I also much prefer the primes to the telephoto's.

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railwayman3 · May 20, 2016

From my experience, the Flektagons and Sonnars were fantastic lenses....I always had a feeling that these were hand-made, to high quality, in smaller quantities, while the 50mm's were, perhaps, more mass-produced and a little variable in QC. Just my own impression and that of Photo Society friends at the time.

cuthbert · May 20, 2016

Sewin said:
Here's my B set up.

My preference is the BC1, although the hand grenade B200 looks nice and rugged.

I also much prefer the primes to the telephoto's.

[/URL][/IMG] View attachment 157329

You mean you prefer the 135mm Sonnar to the zoom? That is one of the "cheap" lenses the Praktica importers ordered in Korea, I have many of them, some are made by Cosina and they aren't that great.

Made in DDR zooms on the other side are excellent, but very rare and expensive. They should be two, a Vario-Pancolar and a Vario-Sonnar...my VS is the best zoom I've ever had, basically a pile of primes.

Since them I also bought a pair of "humble" and common B lenses, the 28mm f2.8 and the Sonnar 135mm, they are cheap but work fine.

baachitraka said:
I prefer OM-2n for quick shots and looking something similar in Praktica. 28/50/100mm are the lens choice but I do not know whether 100mm exist in B-mount.

the TTL system used by Praktica is the same as Oly, for the lenses the Mayer 28mm f2.8 is relatively good (as good as a Pentax M28mm f2.8), in the 50 mm range ideally you should get the 1.4 but it's rare and expensive, so is the CZJ Pancolar 1.8, the standard Pentacon 1.8 is nifty enough and came in two variants, the older is better built IMO.

In the 100 mm range you might use the Vario Sonnar or the 80mm but they are both extremely expensive, a more decent compromise is the Sonnar 135mm f3.5 or the Pentacon 135mm f2.8, the former is said to be sharper optically but if you are using it for portraits perhaps the softness of the Pentacon might be an advantage.

Pentacons 28mm, 50mm and 135 are very cheap, CZJ are very expensive!

AgX · May 20, 2016

baachitraka said:
...I do not know whether 100mm exist in B-mount.

Does not exist.

Sewin · May 20, 2016

AgX said:
Does not exist.

Unless 2x teleconverter + 50mm prime

Sewin · May 20, 2016

cuthbert,

I just stick with the standard cheapo Pentacon Prakticar MC lenses on my B's.

cuthbert · May 20, 2016

Sewin said:
cuthbert,

I just stick with the standard cheapo Pentacon Prakticar MC lenses on my B's.

Go 1.4! You won't be disappointed!

Probably the best standard I have along with the new Nokton 58mm f1.4...all the CZJ lenses are amazing, at least on pair with the Leitz and CZ West Germany from an optical point of view.

I cannot deny a Praktica is not as well made as to say a MX or a ME Super but in terms of lenses the commies did a very good job...more pics to prove that:

Agulliver · May 21, 2016

The first 35mm SLR I ever used was a Praktica MTL5, in 1982. I still have it though the winding mechanism doesn't always work.

My favourite of all my SLRs is my Praktica BX20S....the last of the line. I've got some other Praktica B-mounts such as BCA and BMS...a Nikon F50 and F601 and D50, and a Ricoh film SLR the name of which escapes me....but I keep coming back to the BX20S. It takes better photos than any of the Nikons, sometimes with the same Tamron lenses. Plus I have a good collection of Sigma lenses in the PB mount which always perform well. Colour print, colour slide, B&W...the BX20S has been repaired a couple of times (once after I dropped it onto a stone floor so hardly surprising) but has kept on going for 23 years and I hope for more yet. Whether photographing the trees in the wood behind my back garden in Bedfordshire or the lights of Las Vegas...it's always done me proud.

Sewin · May 21, 2016

Nice pictures cuthbert,

Agulliver, nice reply, perhaps I need to add a BX20 to my collection

I too have a D50, like it a lot, did you know you can get an adapter for approx £40 which will allow you to use all your Praktica B lenses on the D50.

cuthbert · May 21, 2016

Sewin said:
Nice pictures cuthbert,

Agulliver, nice reply, perhaps I need to add a BX20 to my collection

I too have a D50, like it a lot, did you know you can get an adapter for approx £40 which will allow you to use all your Praktica B lenses on the D50.

I'm afraid I must confess I don't even know what a D50 is...but however I would agree they are all excellent and underrated lenses, this is the "simple" Mayer-Pentacon 50mm f1.8 that you can find for few quid:

Sewin · May 22, 2016

Hi cuthbert,

It's a Nikon D50, which shouldn't be mentioned on here

cuthbert · May 24, 2016

baachitraka said:
I prefer OM-2n for quick shots and looking something similar in Praktica. 28/50/100mm are the lens choice but I do not know whether 100mm exist in B-mount.

AgX said:
Does not exist.

With my great surprise I found out that indeed a 100 mm f2.8 for Praktica WAS made, albeit just in M42 form:

I assume it's a Meyer Optik design.

I think in this thread it would be good to try to find out some info regarding Made in DDR lenses for Praktica M42 and PB bayonet as well...I found out that some of them are virtually unknown (it appears CZJ made a 28mm with floating element for instance, and a rare 55m macro).

What do you guys think?

baachitraka · May 24, 2016

This is what I am looking for. It will pair well with Helios 44-2, I guess. Thanks for bringing it out.

Praktica Appreciation Thread

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