Christian Senet's Praktisix IIA Page
Discussion
The Praktisix II is part of a long series of cameras, culminating in the
Pentacon 6 series (and later Exakta 66 of Kiev make, and Kiev Pentacon 6
mount lenses).
The Praktisix II was a medium format SLR camera from the mid-1960s. The
camera is similar to the Pentacon 6 and distantly to the Pentax 67 body
with a waist level finder attached. In other words, it looks like a 35mm
camera on steroids, but an early 35mm SLR using a waist level finder. This
design began with the Korelle
Reflex, Novoflex, and Master Reflex and carried on to the later Pentacon
6 series.
The lenses for Praktisix were reportedly interchangeable with
other Praktisix models and even some Pentacon 6 and related models (e.g.,
Kiev Pentacon lenses). This lens availability potential is very
useful, as most vintage medium format SLRs don't have the depth of
production in years or numbers to make it easy to find desired lenses.
In the mid 1960s, only seven medium format 120 roll-film SLRs were
marketed. The Praktisix II
had competiton from the Hasselblad 500c and 500EL, the
Bronica S and C, Kalimar 660,
the Optika Professional, and the Praktisix II.
Source: Adapted from World of 120 SLR, pp. 150-153, Norman Rothschild, December 1965, Pop. Photography.
[Ed. note: price info, source r.p.m.]
From: [email protected] (George)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace
Subject: FS: Practisix 6x6
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998
Practisix 6x6 with 80mm 2.8 ausJena in excellent plus condition with case
(in decent condition). Works perfectly. Kiev 60/Exacta 66 lens mount. $150.
-George Struk
Natural Light Black & White Photography -
http://www.accesshub.net/naturalight
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1998
From: Bob Shell [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Schneider Equivalent Versus Zeiss Version
>Regarding the 6000 series camera, I noticed while I was browsing at Wall >Street Camera the equivalent of the Zeiss lenses offered in 60mm >Distagon and 150mm Sonnar. Beside them were the Schneider-Kreuznach >lenses designated as the 60mm Curtagon and the 150mm Tele-Xenar. The >salesman (Eli) said they were discontinued by Rollei as they were >expensive to buy from Schneider and that it was a duplication of the >Zeiss version that Rollei carried. The comments that was told to him (by >his customers) was that the Schneider was superior to the Zeiss in >contrast and sharpness.
The lenses were discontinued by Rollei. Eli may be right about the reason.
I don't know if they are measurably superior to the Zeiss equivalents, but
they are newer designs. The 150 Schneider is a floating element design,
and should show superior performance at close distances.
>Can someone give me some more additional information regarding these >lenses and are the Exakta 66 version the same formula? Is >Schneider-Kreuznach still making lenses for medium format lenses the >Rollei and the Exakta 66 system? Is Exakta66 parent company; Pentacon, >still manufacturing the Exakta line? Should I buy these used lenses or >buy the newer Rollei EL lenses? I'm planning on trading my Hasselblad >system for a Rollei 6008 Integral.
The lenses for Exakta 66 are optically identical. Schneider still makes
lenses for Rollei and Exakta, but no longer makes these specific lenses in
Rollei mount.
Ekakta made a sort of half-hearted showing at photokina. They had one
camera sitting all by itself on top of a glass display case with a few
lenses in the case. A simple brochure and a very bored man behind the
glass case who seemed to know very little about the camera. On the other
hand, the rest of the stand was devoted to Praktica, and they had lots of
cameras and lenses on show, and a much more enthusiastic staff.
Bob
From Hasselblad Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000
From: Marc James Small [email protected]
Subject: Re: Hasselblad in Space
At 08:13 PM 6/30/2000 EDT, [email protected] wrote:
>For those who might be interested, I've got a colorful book, "OUT OF THIS >WORLD: American Space Photography" which has pictures of John Glenn's ANSCO, >the first camera in space as well as the modified 500C and explains how it >was modified.
I recall that Yuri Gagarin had a Praktisix along with him, didn't he?
Marc
From: [email protected] (FLEXARET2) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 16 Dec 2003 Subject: Re: Praktisix better than Pentacon? The Praktisix wind lever mechanism is simpler than the one in the Pentacon 6, as it only counts to 12, not 24 (for 220 film), has a manual reset and no lock at the 12th exposure. However, it does not meter the film as accurately as the Pentacon 6, as it does not have the serrated counter wheel which touches the film. In my many years of using both kinds of cameras I have found it equally possible to get either Praktisix or Pentacon 6 cameras with wind lever/counters working well, or badly. - Sam Sherman