Which lenses for Praktina

[ant!]

The same design optically, the difference is the Pancolar had much better new coatings, these gave far better colour balance. The earlier T coating gave a colder (bluer) look on transparencies films.

Ian

Interesting. This article https://zeissikonveb.de/start/objektive/normalobjektive/pancolar2.html doesn't mention the change in coating, which doesn't mean it is not the case. The change seem to have been done within a production batch though, which explains also DMS206's observation...

 

[Ian Grant]

The first image on that web page shows the quite different reflections from the Pancolar's coatings. I had one in the early 1970s which was similar, and the two Exacta Pancolars aI have now are the same, quite different to the Flexons I've seen.

All the Pancolars have the newer coatings, somewhere I have a CZ advert that mentions the Pancolar's balanced coatings for colour work. The term single coating is a misnomer Zeiss were using more than one coating layer fairly early. Likewise, the term Multi Coated only became the norm when Pentax released their Super Multi Coated lenses, many lenses had multiple coating before that.

Ian

 

[markjwyatt]

The same design optically, the difference is the Pancolar had much better new coatings, these gave far better colour balance. The earlier T coating gave a colder (bluer) look on transparencies films.

Ian

The Flexons were made through the 50s and the Pancolors started at latest by 1960, and serialized after the Flexons (some data missing).

 

[DMS206]

Here is a pic of the lens that had the pancolar ring over the flexon

 

[markjwyatt]

Here is a pic of the lens that had the pancolar ring over the flexon View attachment 332787 View attachment 332787

The Flexon is listed (serial number) for 1958 (I think first piece off the line) for Praktina (note says "auch" Pancolor- also Pancolor). The Pancolor ring of that serial number is in a range (ending in 1962) that should be an M42 (note says "zT. [zum Teil] Exakta", partly Exakta) 58mm f2 Biotar (per the Fabrikationsbuch refenced above).

 

[Ian Grant]

Here is a pic of the lens that had the pancolar ring over the flexon View attachment 332787 View attachment 332787

Interesting as it has the newer coatings.

Ian

 

[ant!]

According to the link I posted above ( https://zeissikonveb.de/start/objektive/normalobjektive/pancolar2.html , section "Flexon und Pancolar 2/50"), there was a new calculation done in 1960 (maybe this had the improved coating?), but the name change to Pancolar happened already before, so there are some Pancolar with the 1954 version (=Flexon) around. And the picture says the lens section (https://zeissikonveb.de/____impro/1/onewebmedia/Marco/Normalobjektive/Pancolar 2!50b.jpg ) is for both versions (1954 & 1960)...

 

[ant!]

And another question:
How would I know from the lens mount if a lens is the SB or ASB version? Has the SB lens always a little lever to open the aperature? Anything which can be seen when looking only at the bottom of the lens?

 

[markjwyatt]

And another question:
How would I know from the lens mount if a lens is the SB or ASB version? Has the SB lens always a little lever to open the aperature? Anything which can be seen when looking only at the bottom of the lens?

I believe the ASB lenses have a cocking mechanism on the bottom of the lens barrel, and a large radial protrusion to activate the shutter release. The SB have a smaller radial protrusion, but no cocking lever. Not sure there is anything different on the bayonet mount.