Seeing all the European collectors and what they chose to feature often exposes me to photo manufacturers who were uncommon in the US years ago. Praktica is one such manufacturer. There are many, many photos of various Praktica cameras on Flickr with captions extolling their rugged construction and reliable operation. So, when I happened to find an example of a Praktica camera at a local antique store, I decided to try one.
Now, mind you this is the experience of one camera model out of dozens the company offered through the years, and I don't know how well the previous owner cared for the instrument, but I gotta say, "what's the big deal here?"
While it has a shutter speed dial, the speed indicated has no relation to the one you get. Wind and shoot two times in a row and you get two different speeds. Rotate the dial in any direction and you never know what speed it will land on. Now, I know, this is a repair issue. But I have never seen this in any other camera I've owned or known about going back over 30-years.
Everything on this camera is cheap. It's so bad, it was worth buying just to keep finding short-cuts and compromises. The body finish is bad, the controls seem to be machined by high school students. The Selenium meter (hopelessly out of date for 1967, the year this camera was introduced) is hidden behind the front nameplate. So, we know that they knew it was a negative selling point from the get-go. As to the Oreston 50mm normal lens, I'll have to mount the lens on my Spotmatic II to see if that at least it was well made (having my doubts). With its machined focusing and f/stop ring grips, it looks more like a lens for a darkroom enlarger than a camera lens. Plus, you can file your nails on all that exposed metal. Ever heard of rubber grips guys?
So why do Europeans love these East German Prakticas so much? Must be the price when available. Europe has had periods with high VAT taxes on cameras. Perhaps the Prakticas were still a value even when saddled with the extra government charges. I mean, they do LOOK heavy-duty and rugged all right. But if this is an example of 1967 East German camera skills, they had a long way to go. I used to think that we didn't get Prakticas in the 'States because they were a product of a communist nation and we didn't want to trade with such folk for political reasons. (Not like now where we have fully embraced trading with communists as long as we can exploit their workers to fill our super-stores with cheap TVs and socks. I'm kidding and yes, I'm deviating from my point.)
It turns out the main reason is that even the worst Japanese maker, someone like, oh, say, Petri could have made a better shooter than what I've seen in these Prakticas. We may have been saved from countless repair bills and millions of ruined photos.In fact, the Petriflex I own that died in my hands one day has better build quality than this operational Praktica. It's a toss-up for last place in my collection, a Petri paperweight or the "guess what shutter speed you have now!" Praktica. Well, at least the German tank has a M42 lens I can maybe use for snapshots. The Petri's lens, with its proprietary breech-lock bayonet mount, is now only good for burning ants on the sidewalk on a sunny day. Which still makes it more useful than the Praktica Nova IB.
This Meyer domiplan is an interesting lens, very contrasted, very sharp in the center, vivid colors!
ReplyDeleteThis brings back such funny memories! I worked at a wonderful, family-owned camera store in Baltimore summers and holidays 1968-71. We always had at least one Nova 1B on hand for people with a rock-bottom budget. We young salesguys (all were students) loved to make fun of the Nova 1B - you can see a photo of me doing just that here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=296731666526&set=a.19588341526.31361.625436526&type=3&theater
The point of what I was doing in the photo was that we noticed that the Nova shutter went "sprooooinnnngggg!" instead of the typical Japanese "kaa-chunnnnk!"
Back in the early 2000's, I discovered that later Prakticas, the MTL5's and MTL3's in particular, were quite nicely put together and came with pretty good Pentacon 50mm lenses - I ended up with NINE of them! They were from the mid-80's and at $25 or so apiece on eBay, were equivalent to a good 1967 Japanese TTL SLR.
Perhaps you have a bad example, but I have to disagree with your assessment of the Nova IB. I have one in mint condition that works perfectly and the selenium meter is still dead accurate. It was definitely a budget camera in its day, but I think it is solid, rather well-built and even attractive in a chunky way. And the Meyer Oreston 50/1.8 is a great lens. Even the humble Domiplan is capable of surprisingly good results.
ReplyDeletethink the original comments are unfair to our european friends.
ReplyDeletenothing at all wrong with east german cameras.
writer is obviously anti anyone or thing that istn american
god bless america eh.......
I own a "Praktica Nova IB" that is *not* marked "Hanimex". I think Hanimex simply remarked camera equipment.
ReplyDeleteMy Praktica Nova IB was used while we lived in Tunisia 70-74 and used under quite severe conditions mainly due to sand on beaches and in the desert. Still works...
Can't let this pass - ridiculing a whole brand and history on the basis of one broken antique isn't fair.
ReplyDeleteYes part of the appeal of Prakticas was their price - these were very affordable cameras in their day that gave generations of photographers their first break. Many people bought Prakticas and learnt "proper" photography that would otherwise simply not have been able to afford a comparable camera, probably not even a Petri. Especially bearing in mind that, as you note, Prakticas allowed you access to that wealth of decent M42 glass, rather than locking you into a proprietary mount with little support.
It's fair to say the Nova wasn't their most reliable range - both earlier and later cameras had a better rep - but get a good one and they'll still take a great picture more than forty years later. Personally I think they're great looking cameras too.
My Father obtained this camera during WWII with Germany. He picked it out fresh from a factory when we invaded Germany. I treasure it, but have never used it. Someday I will.
ReplyDeleteGary
That's interesting that your father acquired this camera during WWII, given that Novas weren't made until the mid'60s...
ReplyDeleteI use the Praktica Nova and Nova B as well as the Super TL on a regular base. As a collector, these camera's are easy to find in top condition for 20 to 50 Euro, depending on the sub-type etc.
ReplyDeleteMy advise if you want to use a classic camera, buy a decent Nova type camera with a classic lens and learn to use B&W film. Don't buy a Nova B (with exposiure meter) unless it is to complete your collection. Almost no camera with a selenium meter will work fine after 50 years or more.
A decent Nova or Nova B is reliable and can give an extra life cycle even after 50 years of use. It will only take a few rolls to learn to use this camera. Try to find the Zeiss Biotar 58mm, a Zeiss Tessar 50, the Meyer 50 mm is also OK, the Meyer 28 and 135 mm lenses can coplete the set.
FYI, The Pentax or Petri line of camera's started the design with an improved copy of the Praktica, using better materials and selling at a higher price. But my Pentax type H isn't better than the Nova. It only feels a bit more heavy.
I have one that I bought on eBay a few years ago. Dead meter aside, I think it's a good camera, I've always gotten decent pictures. I have four lenses for it, a 28mm, 50mm, 135mm and an 85-210 zoom. The reason I like these cameras so much is the position of the shutter button. It's just designed for the human hand! I only wish I had a shoe for the flash.
ReplyDeleteYes I still have one, my mum had the super TL which was a lot cooler.
ReplyDeleteIt still works well and looks mint, the lens is sharp I agree and hard to focus as the ring is too close the camera. For those who couldnt afford pentax,canon, the praktica rocked