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THE PRAKTINA SYSTEM CAMERAS |
The Seventh Generation
Praktina IIA model DA
The seventh generation allows the diaphragm's control of automatic and semi-automatic lenses. There are two mechanisms inside the mirror box. The first, on the left, engage the pin of automatic lenses and the second, on the right, engage the pin of semi-automatic lenses that must be mounted on the camera rotated of 120° anticlockwise.
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This model has also others useful improvements. The dials for speed settings and reminder film type have a thickness of 2.5mm to improve the grip and make easier the rotation of the dials. All the previous models have a thickness of 1.5mm.
The film rewind is made by a rewind crank and the film reminder dial has ASA 6-1600 and DIN 9-33 settings.
In the 1961 West Germany magazines this camera appears with the designation "Model 61".
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| Praktina IIA model DA version 1 No. 126516 with Jena ASB Pancolar 2/50mm | |
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| Praktina IIA model DA version 2 No. 127533 with Jena ASB T 2/50mm | |
Specification
| Manufacturer Name | VEB Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden | |||
| Factory Designation | Praktina IIA | |||
| Model Designation | DA | |||
| Years | 1960 | |||
| Number produced | approx. 3,500 | |||
| Standard Lens | ASB T 2.8/50mm or ASB Pancolar 2/50mm | |||
| Model Identifiers | • "Praktina IIA" engraved on the front of the camera • Diaphragm control of semi-automatic and automatic lenses (1) |
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| Versions Identifiers | Version 1 "KW" logo (2) Version 2 Accessory shoe (3) | |||
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| Full specifications | See the Praktina specifications page. | |||
A little mystery surrounds this model
In the book SPIEGELREFLEXKAMERAS AUS DRESDEN, written by Richard Hummel in 1995, Praktina IIA specifications include "the mechanism to actuate the diaphragm of the semi-automatic lenses" with a note that this feature was introduced "in the course of production". Instructions to use semi-automatic lenses were printed by KW in 1960 as addendum to the camera working instruction. This information suggests that VEB Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden finished the production of Praktina cameras with the release of this model. But there's a problem.
In the book DER VEB PENTACON DRESDEN, written by Gerhard Jehmlich in 2009, there is a note about this model: "nicht in VEB Kamera-Werke Niedersedlitz für automatic + semi-automatic eingerichtet", that's to say that the Praktina IIA with the diaphragm's control of semi-automatic lenses was not assembled in the VEB Kamera- und Kinowerke factory.
Who and where assembled these cameras for the West Germany market? This is the little mystery that still surrounds this model and the manufacturer's name has yet to be confirmed in order to complete the history of the Praktina cameras.
 Photo Magazin, May 1961 |
 Photo Magazin, June 1961 on the left Photo Magazin, August 1961 on the right |
 Photo Magazin, September 1961 |
End of Praktina era
As reported from various sources, the VEB Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden stopped the production of Praktina cameras in May 1960, but the Praktina story ended four years later when these cameras disappeared definitely from the market.
Some information on Praktina between 1960 and 1964:
♦ The Praktina IIA was distributed in the USA starting from 1960. The importer was the Standard Camera Corporation, distributor of Praktina cameras since 1956
♦ The Modern Photography magazine publishes the Praktina IIA test in the December 1960 issue
♦ In 1961 some advertising in the West German magazines carry the indication "Praktina IIA Modell 1961" and the "Pentacon" logo is replaced by the "Berolina" logo
♦ The West German magazine "spiegelreflex praxis" publishes the Praktina IIA test in the August 1961 issue. The tested camera is the model 61 that allows the use of automatic and semi-automatic lenses
♦ In the news of the Leipzig trade fair that was held in September 1961, the East German magazin "fotografie" reports that the Praktina IIA was shown in the Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden stand
♦ The West magazine "Berolina-Spiegel", in the 1962 issue number 19 published by Berolina Kino-Optik GmbH, contains an 8-page article dedicated to Praktina IIA and its automatic lenses
♦ The last brochure of the Praktina IIA is dated 1963 and there are no references to the VEB Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden. On the back of the brochure there is the Berolina logo and the reference to Berolina Kino-Optik GmbH as exclusive distributor for the Federal Republic and West Berlin
♦ The last price list of Berolina Kino-Optik Gmbh is dated 1963/64
♦ In the February 1964 issue the magazine "Photo Magazin" publishes the news that the Praktina IIA and its accessories are available again
Price List
| Berolina Kino-Optik Gmbh, West Germany, Preisliste 1/1961 | |
| Body, waist-level finder, matte focusing screen | DM 240 |
| Body, waist-level finder, matte focusing screen, Jena ASB T 2.8/50mm | DM 430 |
| Body, waist-level finder, matte focusing screen, Jena ASB Pancolar 2/50mm | DM 535 |
| Body, eye-level finder, matte focusing screen | DM 280 |
| Body, eye-level finder, matte focusing screen, Jena ASB T 2.8/50mm | DM 470 |
| Body, eye-level finder, matte focusing screen, Jena ASB Pancolar 2/50mm | DM 575 |
| Body, metering prism finder, matte focusing screen | DM 310 |
| Body, metering prism finder, matte focusing screen, Jena ASB T 2.8/50mm | DM 500 |
| Body, metering prism finder, matte focusing screen, Jena ASB Pancolar 2/50mm | DM 605 |
| Matte focusing screen with split-image rangefinder | DM 36 |
| Berolina Kino-Optik Gmbh, West Germany, Preisliste 1963/64 | |
| Body, waist-level finder, matte focusing screen | DM 255 |
| Body, eye-level finder, matte focusing screen | DM 280 |
| Body, eye-level finder, matte focusing screen, Jena ASB T 2.8/50mm | DM 470 |
| Body, eye-level finder, matte focusing screen, Jena ASB Pancolar 2/50mm | DM 550 |
| Matte focusing screen with split-image rangefinder | DM 36 |
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Last update January 2022
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