Praktica B Lenses


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    Introduction

When the Praktica B system was launched it was accompanied by a range of lenses named Prakticar. They were made by Carl Zeiss Jena, Pentacon and Sigma Japan. Later Pentacon sourced zoom lenses from Cimko and Cosina. After German reunification the Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar lenses production was closed. Then the Korean manufacturer Samyang was chosen, by the new owners Schneider Dresden, to supply Pentacon with zoom lenses.

Pentacon Prakticar lenses

Meyer Optik Görlitz was one of the companies melted in the VEB Pentacon. While Carl Zeiss lens production facility remained independent, Meyer Optik production was fully integrated in the Pentacon works. When the Praktica B line was created the lenses were no longer badged Meyer-Optik, but "Pentacon Prakticar". After German reunification Schneider Dresden retained the production of some of the Pentacon Prakticar lenses.

Speed/Focal length Ø Weight Made in Comments

2.8/28mm 49mm 240g DDR/Germany   Produced in large quantities. Newer versions with plastic barrel.

1.8/50mm 49mm 230g DDR/Germany   Newer versions with plastic barrel.

2.4/50mm 49mm 160g DDR/Germany   Pancake style lens. Two versions one of them 4mm longer.

2.8/135mm 55mm 465g DDR/Germany   Produced in large quantities. Newer versions with plastic barrel.

4/200mm 58mm 670g DDR   Prototype only.

5.6/500mm 118mm 3500g DDR   M42 mount. Pre-set diaphragm.

Note 1: There are unconfirmed rumors that the 50mm f:2.4 were made under license in Romania by IOR.

Note 2: The 50mm f:1.8 and the 135mm f:2.8 were available from Pentacon after German reunification, but not anymore.

Note 3: There were versions of the 28mm f:2.8, 50mm f:1.8 and the 135mm f:1.8 labeled "Carl Zeiss Jena P", they were intended to mate with the Jenaflex.

Note 4: Short after the creation of Schneider-Dresden at least the 28mm f:2.8 was produced labeled "Meyer-Optik Made in Germany".

Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar lenses

After German reunification the Praktica and the Carl Zeiss Jena production facilities were sold to diffrent owners.So the production of Carl Zeiss Prakticar lenses was stopped.

Speed/Focal length Ø Weight Made in Comments

2.8/20mm 67mm 310g DDR Flektogon design

2.4/28mm 49mm 350g DDR Floating element. Extremly rare

2.4/35mm 49mm 255g DDR Flektogon design

1.4/50mm 52mm 320g DDR

1.8/50mm 49mm 230g DDR Pentacon labeled CZJ for use in Jenaflex(?)

2.8/50mm 49mm 150g DDR Pancake style. Prototype only.

2.8/55mm 49mm 250g DDR

1.8/80mm 52mm 310g DDR

3.5/135mm 49mm 310g DDR

2.8/200mm 72mm 850g DDR Extremly rare.

4.0/300mm 72mm 900g DDR

5.6/1000mm N/A 12Kg DDR Mirror lens. M42 mount.

2.7-3.5/35-70mm 58mm 410g DDR True Carl Zeiss Jena zoom.

4.0/80-200mm 52mm 640g DDR True Carl Zeiss Jena zoom

Note 1:In countries where the Pentacon representatives weren't allowed to trade under the Carl Zeiss Jena name, lenses were stamped with "aus Jena" (Italy, West Germany, USA and others). Was this true for Prakticar lenses ?

Note 2: There was a range of Sigma made lenses, available in many camera mounts, which were labeled Carl Zeiss Jena. Mostly zooms.

Sigma site

Third Party Prakticar lenses (Sigma, Cosina, Cimko)

Speed/Focal length Ø Weight Made in Comments

2.8-4/35-70mm 52mm 380g Japan

4.0-5.6/55-200mm 52mm 420g Japan

4.0-5.6/55-200mmAF 52mm ? Japan Autofocus Version

4.5/70-210mm 52mm 480g Japan

4.5-5.6/80-200mm ? ? Japan

Note :When sold by Pentacon the above lenses were labeled Pentacon Prakticar. They were also sold by Sigma, and by other independent lens manufacturers.

Samyang site

Samyang made Prakticar lenses

Speed/Focal length Ø Weight Made in Comments

4.0-4.5/18-28mm 72mm 490g Korea

3.5-4.5/28-70mm 55mm 370g Korea

4.0-5.6/28-200mm 67mm 810g Korea

3.5-4.5/35-70mm 52mm 310g Korea

4.0-5.6/70-210mm 52mm 450g Korea

4.0-5.6/75-300mm 55mm 730g Korea

Note 1: The lenses available in the present from Pentacon, are the ones listed in the above table plus the 28mm f:2.8, 50mm f:2.4.

Note 2: When sold by Pentacon the above lenses are labeled Pentacon Prakticar. They are also available from Samyang, but they are very rare.

Note 3: Pentacon also provides this lenses under the Exakta brand. It also provides a Korean made 28mm f:2.8, labeled Exakta.

Other Lenses

Tele Converters

There is a 2X teleconverter available in PB mount. It is a Japanese made Kenko Teleplus . It is available fom Pentacon (under the Prakticar and Exakta labels) , and from Kenko.
A Sigma made teleconverter was available for some time.

Tamron lenses

Tamron provides an Adaptall II mount for using their lenses in Praktica Bayonet cameras (Adaptall II Mount model 14C).

M42x1 lenses
Pentacon makes an adapter that allows the use of M42x1 lenses in PB cameras. It has electric contacts, so the camera can be used in stepped-down metering.
T mount lenses
There are no T Mount adapters for PB cameras.
In theory one can use T mount lenses via two adapters (PB to M42 plus M42 to T mount).
T2 mount lenses
Samyang makes an adapter to use T2 mount lenses in PB cameras. This adapter, unlike the M42x1 adapter provided by Pentacon, does not have electric contacts so the camera meter will not work.
This adapter can be obtained from Jessops in the UK.

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			Introduction When the Praktica B system was launched it was accompanied by a range of lenses named Prakticar. They were made by Carl Zeiss Jena, Pentacon and Sigma Japan. Later Pentacon sourced zoom lenses from Cimko and Cosina. After German reunification the Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar lenses production was closed. Then the Korean manufacturer Samyang was chosen, by the new owners Schneider Dresden, to supply Pentacon with zoom lenses.


			Pentacon Prakticar lenses

			Meyer Optik Görlitz was one of the companies melted in the VEB Pentacon. While Carl Zeiss lens production facility remained independent, Meyer Optik production was fully integrated in the Pentacon works. When the Praktica B line was created the lenses were no longer badged Meyer-Optik, but "Pentacon Prakticar". After German reunification Schneider Dresden retained the production of some of the Pentacon Prakticar lenses.


			Speed/Focal length	Ø	Weight	Made in	Comments
			2.8/28mm	49mm	240g	DDR/Germany	Produced in large quantities. Newer versions with plastic barrel.
			1.8/50mm	49mm	230g	DDR/Germany	Newer versions with plastic barrel.
			2.4/50mm	49mm	160g	DDR/Germany	Pancake style lens. Two versions one of them 4mm longer.
			2.8/135mm	55mm	465g	DDR/Germany	Produced in large quantities. Newer versions with plastic barrel.
			4/200mm	58mm	670g	DDR	Prototype only.
			5.6/500mm	118mm	3500g	DDR	M42 mount. Pre-set diaphragm.


			Note 1: There are unconfirmed rumors that the 50mm f:2.4 were made under license in Romania by IOR.
			Note 2: The 50mm f:1.8 and the 135mm f:2.8 were available from Pentacon after German reunification, but not anymore.
			Note 3: There were versions of the 28mm f:2.8, 50mm f:1.8 and the 135mm f:1.8 labeled "Carl Zeiss Jena P", they were intended to mate with the Jenaflex.
			Note 4: Short after the creation of Schneider-Dresden at least the 28mm f:2.8 was produced labeled "Meyer-Optik Made in Germany".



			Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar lenses

			After German reunification the Praktica and the Carl Zeiss Jena production facilities were sold to diffrent owners.So the production of Carl Zeiss Prakticar lenses was stopped.

			Speed/Focal length	Ø	Weight	Made in	Comments
			2.8/20mm	67mm	310g	DDR	Flektogon design
			2.4/28mm	49mm	350g	DDR	Floating element. Extremly rare
			2.4/35mm	49mm	255g	DDR	Flektogon design
			1.4/50mm	52mm	320g	DDR
			1.8/50mm	49mm	230g	DDR	Pentacon labeled CZJ for use in Jenaflex(?)
			2.8/50mm	49mm	150g	DDR	Pancake style. Prototype only.
			2.8/55mm	49mm	250g	DDR
			1.8/80mm	52mm	310g	DDR
			3.5/135mm	49mm	310g	DDR
			2.8/200mm	72mm	850g	DDR	Extremly rare.
			4.0/300mm	72mm	900g	DDR
			5.6/1000mm	N/A	12Kg	DDR	Mirror lens. M42 mount.
			2.7-3.5/35-70mm	58mm	410g	DDR	True Carl Zeiss Jena zoom.
			4.0/80-200mm	52mm	640g	DDR	True Carl Zeiss Jena zoom

			Note 1:In countries where the Pentacon representatives weren't allowed to trade under the Carl Zeiss Jena name, lenses were stamped with "aus Jena" (Italy, West Germany, USA and others). Was this true for Prakticar lenses ?
			Note 2: There was a range of Sigma made lenses, available in many camera mounts, which were labeled Carl Zeiss Jena. Mostly zooms.


Sigma site
Sigma site			Third Party Prakticar lenses (Sigma, Cosina, Cimko)

			Speed/Focal length	Ø	Weight	Made in	Comments
			2.8-4/35-70mm	52mm	380g	Japan
			4.0-5.6/55-200mm	52mm	420g	Japan
			4.0-5.6/55-200mmAF	52mm	?	Japan	Autofocus Version
			4.5/70-210mm	52mm	480g	Japan
			4.5-5.6/80-200mm	?	?	Japan

			Note :When sold by Pentacon the above lenses were labeled Pentacon Prakticar. They were also sold by Sigma, and by other independent lens manufacturers.


Samyang site
Samyang site			Samyang made Prakticar lenses

			Speed/Focal length	Ø	Weight	Made in	Comments
	4.0-4.5/18-28mm	72mm	490g	Korea
	3.5-4.5/28-70mm	55mm	370g	Korea
	4.0-5.6/28-200mm	67mm	810g	Korea
	3.5-4.5/35-70mm	52mm	310g	Korea
	4.0-5.6/70-210mm	52mm	450g	Korea
	4.0-5.6/75-300mm	55mm	730g	Korea

	Note 1: The lenses available in the present from Pentacon, are the ones listed in the above table plus the 28mm f:2.8, 50mm f:2.4.
	Note 2: When sold by Pentacon the above lenses are labeled Pentacon Prakticar. They are also available from Samyang, but they are very rare.
	Note 3: Pentacon also provides this lenses under the Exakta brand. It also provides a Korean made 28mm f:2.8, labeled Exakta.



	Other Lenses

	Tele Converters

	There is a 2X teleconverter available in PB mount. It is a Japanese made Kenko Teleplus . It is available fom Pentacon (under the Prakticar and Exakta labels) , and from Kenko. A Sigma made teleconverter was available for some time.

	Tamron lenses

	Tamron provides an Adaptall II mount for using their lenses in Praktica Bayonet cameras (Adaptall II Mount model 14C).
	M42x1 lenses Pentacon makes an adapter that allows the use of M42x1 lenses in PB cameras. It has electric contacts, so the camera can be used in stepped-down metering. T mount lenses There are no T Mount adapters for PB cameras. In theory one can use T mount lenses via two adapters (PB to M42 plus M42 to T mount). T2 mount lenses Samyang makes an adapter to use T2 mount lenses in PB cameras. This adapter, unlike the M42x1 adapter provided by Pentacon, does not have electric contacts so the camera meter will not work. This adapter can be obtained from Jessops in the UK.


Visit the About... page for more information about this site