Praktina IIA User manual

Digitally signed by Mike Butkus
                                          DN: cn=Mike Butkus, o=Butkus camera manuals,
                                              ou=butkus.org, email=mike@butkus.org, c=USMike Butkus Date: 2024.06.16 21:20:03 -04'00'




donated by JDM Von Weinberg

be your companion: the Single-lens Reflex Camero

 e thoroughly acquainted  with your camero  right from  the
 now how to make  full use of  its  abilities ot  all times,  it  is
   ith  all  its ports. Once you have learned to understand  its
  ind  it to be a. faithful helper, not disappointing you, however

 mind that the Praktina  is a  little fine-mechanic-optical pre-
  unt of  skill and attentive handling  is required in poducing
  ing their functioning', and finally in assembling them under
  oster-mechanics and engineers.  In very.,careful  inspection
     is discorded. One thousandth  port of a millimeter often
   will be capable of reaching the degree'pf final inspection
  py owner. The Praktina, as you see,  is accustomed to being
  and  will, of course, appreciate such treatment also on the

    is the singll'e-Iens reflex princip'le, upon which rests  its entire
 etnod of operation, and  its versatile applicability. By way of
   of rays, the Pra,ktina lens projects a  life-like image of the



donated by JDM Von Weinberg

final photograph  01) to a ground  glass. This  reflex image  is
the most favorable picture composition, but also in checking
The Praktina  is a picture-taking camera, but  in addition to
passed finder system. The ground-glass viewfinder {reflex
able ot every distan<;e and every focaJ length, particYlarly,
The Optical System and Mechanical Equipment
in the Praktina are especially adapted  for joint functionin              es  in the
predetermined  for composing, checking and taking the Pi~::::~:::~
allow for the most favorable combination  in accordance wjt~
tographic task. Beginni,ng with the choice of the proper len
you proceed on to the opNcal and mechonical attachment"iIII".-'4~IIIIII..iIiII"
remarkable versatility.
To enable you to understand the functi
the comparatively few performances a
on the following pages, a summary 0  01
and handling of the camera. The ma   c
parts right from the beginning, the~m~F.e~slT:Ii'l:i~EdE:~~~~~F.ill!ir
Certainly you wou'ld not like to be a  av
moment, but would wther wish  to d        i
phic situations.

Illustrotions showing  important  controls

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The lenses and how to exchange them
In connection with the PRA'KTI NA  It A, lenses having focal lengths ranging from 35 mm to
500 mm and apertures up to f/1.5 may ;,e used; they enable the camera to ,penetrate into
practically every sphere of photography. All the lenses are fixed to the camera by means of
a screw bayonet fitting, nowadays the most advantageous connection between camera and
lens.  If the lens  is to be exchanged, you turn the milled ring of the screw bayonet  in an
anticioCkwise direction as far as  "it will go. The lens  is thus unlocked and can be lifted off
the camero  .. When  inserting a  lens, make sure that the pin on one of the bayonet tabs
engages the reCess  in the lens seat. After the  lells has been ~itted into the camera body,
you tighten  it by turning the milled ring of the screw bayonet clockwise. Lenses should be
exchanged  in a shady place to prevent direct light from entering the camera. Never touch
the surface  mir,ror with your  fing:ers.  It  is best to release the shutter before exchanging
lenses; the mirror will then flap up and thus be protected against damage.

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Specia'l Supplemental lenses
         are  available  for  the  Praktina  in  focal  langths
         ranging  from 35 min  to 500 mm and up  to an
               ure of f/1. 5. These special lenses are apptied
                actly the same manner as the standard  lens.
            need no special viewfinders; the ground-glass
             ge. always perfectly true to  I'lature, holds good
                  all focal lengths. Short-focus lenses possess a
           e picture angle. whereas the picture angle  in
            g-focus lenses extends only to a few degrees.
          djustm,ents and scales on the lens mount
           e standard lens of the Praktlna   II A  is either a
       o mm jena Flexon, f/2. or a 50 mm lena  T, f/2.8.
           oth of these standard lenses are equipped with
            fully  automatic diaphragm. At  every winding  of
           film  transport and  shutter,  the diaphragm opens
          to its widest aperture. whereby focusing is rendered
         possible on the ground-gloss image at its brightest.
      On actuation of the shutter release knob, the dia-
        phragm closes down automatically to the pre-set

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value just before the shutter opens. Consequently, there  is no loss of time whatever bet-
ween focusing and exposing, and the camera  is ready for the next picture as soon as the
shutter has been rewound. The lens mount includes scales for focusing as well as for setting
the diaphragm, and a depth-of field scale.
The leather-covered focusing ring serves for setting the distance.  It is provided with a scale
from which you may read the distance values and which enables you to set the lens to any
estimated or previously measured value. Directly next to the distance scale is the depth-of-
field scale. This helps you to find out how far the actual sharpness extends at a certain
diaphragm and distance setting. The reormost adjusting ring is rotated to set the diaphragm.
Since lenses with  fully automatic diaphragm are always opened  to their widest aperture
during focusing,  it being desirable on the other hand to check the effect of the finder image
at a certain diaphragm stop, the diaphragm can be closed down temporarily to the pre-set
value by means of a I'ever arranged laterally on the lens mount.

How to use the diophrogm
Adjustment of the diaphragm required for the exposure  is effected by means of the dia-
phragm setting ring on the lens mount. This ring clicks  in noticeably at the  full diaphragm
settings and at one intermediate position in between each. Small diaphragm numbers mean
large apertures and large diaphrag,m numbers refer to the smaller lens apertures. Thus the
flow of light coming  in through the lens may be regulated by means of the diaphragm.

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large  diaphragm, apertures  permit  short  exposure  speeds,  whereas  small  diaphragm
apertures require long exposure speeds; the next larger diaphragm number means doub-
ling the exposure time.
However, the diaphragm should not be used as a ..light stop";  its task  is rather to influence
the range of sharpness in the picture.
Depth of field
When viewing the ground-glass image you will already have noticed that the sharpness of
the image diminishes rather quickly in front and at the back of the ..focused" object. But the
majority of scenes reach over quite an extensive deJ3th. The range of sharpness may be
increased by closing down the diaphragm aperture (by using a larger diaphragm number),
it also depends on the camera-to-object distance and on the focal length of the lens.
All  this sounds very complicated, but  it may be read  off the depth-of-field scale without
app,lying any arithmetic. This scale  is arranged on either side of the focusing indicator, eacn
row with the complete series of diaphragm numbers. The foreground and backg'round limit
of sharpness is shown on the focusing scale next to the'two coinciding diaphragm numbers.
The left-hand row shows the range of sharpness in the foreground, whereas the right-hand
numbers indicate the extent of sharpness to the back of the focusing  line. At a distance oi
16'8" (5 meters), for instance, the depth of field at a diaphragm setting of f/8 reaches from
10' to 50' (3 to 15 meters), while at fill  it reaches from 8'4" (2,5 meters) to  infinity. !Please
refer also to the diagram on page 7.

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Lenses with diaphragm pre-setting device

While  it  is altogether unnecessary with lenses having  fully automatic diaphragm to make
any extra manual adjustments on the diaphragm between focusing and releasing the shutter,
there  is a pre-setting device to facilitate control of the diaphragm on the special long-focus
lenses..The setting ring directly behind the diphragm scale  is pressed towards the back and
rotated until  its mark stands opposite the desired diaphragm number, where  it  is allowed
to  click  in. Focusing  is then performed with the diaphragm wide open, and immediately
before the exposu<re  is made the diaphragm ring  is returned to the pre-set stop, while the
camera  is still being held at focusing  level.



Sharpness and picture outline

The image projected by the lens is directed by a mirror which has been swung into the light
path, to the lower frosted surface of a plano-convex field lens (ground glass) where  it be-
comes visible to the eye. This ground-glass image is the starting point for all exposures made

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with the Praktina. Picture composition and fra-
  ming as well as sharp focusing are based on
   this image. The ring on the lens mount is turne
   either to the right or to the left until the obje
  on the ground-glass screen appears at its sh
   est. With the Praktina  II A  this focusing of
  image  is always performed with the diaph
   at its widest aperture.
  The image on the ground glass of the
  may be viewed with any of various  fin
  ments which  are  easily  interchange
   enables you to adopt the most suit
   for every one of your pictures.
     It must be noted that the ground-glas
    is visible only when the shutter is wound
   with the mirror in the 45 0  position.



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Magnifying lens in              left
working position              Focusing through the
                                finder hood  is perform.
                          ed with  the camera
                                  chest level




                               9 with the finder hood
                                                                          I task allotted to the finder hood  is to keep
                                                light away from the field lens. Slight pressure
                                     ear button brings it into working position, where-
                                   he field  lens becomes  visible. For viewing the
                                                                      , the camera   is held  at chest  level and you
                                              in from above on to the field  lens. To close the
                                                        r hood, you push down the top cover and all the
                                     er parts fold in automatically.

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                                    Eyepiece for Newton finder
                       donated by JDM Von Weinberg

For criticol focusing there  is  0  swing-in magnifier inside the finder hood which gives an
approximately fourfold enlargement of the ground-glass image. When using the magnHier,
you hold the camera close to the eye.


Exchanging the finder elements

The various finder elements of the Praktina are quickly
interchangeable. For this purpose, the finder system in
the camera must first be unlocked by pushing the rec-
tangular milled knob between the screw bayonet and
the camera base to the position ot which a red mark
becomes visible. The finder system may then be pulled
out towards the back of the camera and replaced by
another  finder. The newly  inserted  finder system   is
fixed by movement of the milled knob up to the point
where the red mark is no longer to be seen. Please be
very careful when exchanging the finder systems, for  it

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is the precISion workmanship embodied  in their guide
            bers that plays a  rTlajor part in the correct func-
           ng of the ent'ire camera.



              control with the penta prism

              e penta prism  in the camera, the image may
             ed  in the direction of the object at eye  level.
                   $ a great advantage, inasmuch as the ground-
               age, contrary to the image in the finder hood.
                  right way round; the movements seen  in the
             age are thus altogether in accordance with
                         . You wi~1 notice the great convenience of using
           penta prism  for vertical  pictures. Contrary to the
        nder hood.  the image  in  this  case  also  appears
        upright.

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Left
                                                         Using the penta prism
                                                                 naturally necessitates
                                                            holding the camera at
                                                           eye level
                                                             Right
                                                        The penta prism  is
                                                        most convenient  for  ex-
                                                            posures in the vertical.
                                                        The camero must, of
                                                                course, be held very  firmly



To facilitate using the penta prism, persons with faulty eye-
sight may insert corrective eyeglasses inta the eyepiece of
the viewfinder and then focus without their spectacles on.
Disturbing  sidelights are kept away from the finder by
the use of a rubber eyecup which  is fixed to the camero
by  l11eans of  0  bayonet  fitting. This not only eliminates
stray light but also permits qUick and more precise focusing.

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Also different Finder Elements
may be  inserted  into the  Praktina camera.
In close-up work, where sharp focusing  is a
matter of utmost importance, the Focusing
Magnifier,  yielding  a  6-fold  magnification
of the picture area, may be used.  If you  in-
tend taking 3D pictures (with Stereo Attach-
ments) you have the possibility of applying
a Stereo Finder which  will  reveal  the two
 part pictures appearing on the ground glass
 in  full depth.
                    Above
                     The focusing
                           yields a  magnifier
                          6fo)d enlargement
                         of the ground-glass image

                     Below
                      The stereo viewfinder
                          reveals the ground.gloss
                     image in 3-dimensional
                           effect

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The Penta Prism with Exposure Meter

may be regarded by the Praktina owner as one
the most useful additions.  It incorporates  in
unit the Penta Prism and the Exposure Meter.
measuring range of the exposure meter  lie
ween 3 and 25000 lux.
How to use the Exposure Meter:
Before taking the meter reqding you  firs
speed (DIN or ASA value) of the film load
camera by rotation of the inner disk. Then
light cover, direct the camera towards the
to be photographed and read the value in
by the  pointer. Turn the outer milled  ring
the triangular mark of the speed graduating
to the same value on the scale opposite the
ter  field. The combination  of shutter speed.
diaphragm aperture now indicated by the expos
meter can be transferred  to the shutter and   I
 settings on the camera.

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The built-in Newton Finder
The eyepiece for this finder  is positioned at the back of the camera next to the b.ed of the
finder elements. the Newton finder comes in handy for poorly lighted  interiors, where the
ground-glass image gets too weak and causes difficulty in picture composition.
It  is also of advantage in flasl1 work; and H you happen to have a Praktina with finder hood
only, you may use the N'ewton finder for sports and similar pictures. The sG:ene, in this case,
may be focused beforehand on the ground gloss, or you set the estimated or measured
distance with the help of the distance scale. The finder eyepiece is adopted to toke correc-
tive eyeglasses for users with faulty eyesight.

The field lens is interchangeable
and may be replaced by special image field lenses.
To exchange  field  lenses, you  first remove the finder element from the camero and then
push aside the two  little leaf springs holding the field  lens  in place. By turning the ca-
mero downwards, you  let the field lens fallout into your hand. Then you insert the other
field lens and push bock the fastening springs to hold the field 'lens tightly in place. Avoid
touching the frosted surface.

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leld lens  is not only a suitable medium
                  ocusing in close-up photography, but  it  is
                  cellent help towards obtaining good results
               ur other pictures.  In principle,  it may be com-
              with a coupled split-image rangefinder and  is

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recommended to all who find  it difficult to define the point of absolute sharpness  in the
normal ground-glass image.
In a circular measuring  field are two optical wedges, transposed by 180°. Their dividing
line cuts the clear glass  field  into two even  parts. During the focusing performance, the
two part images  in the measuring  field move towards or away from each other. When  in
correct focus, they must meet precisely.  It  is especially advisable to focus on straight lines
running through the dividing line of the measuring field.

Field lenses for macro- and micro-photography
Exposures  in the field  of macro- and micro-photography often require  field  lenses with
clear glass spot and hairline cross, by means of which focusing on the bright air image Is
rendered possible. Hairl·ines and image must appeor sharp simultaneously.





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Winding the shutter
The focal-plane shutter  in the Proktino   is tensioned
by clockwise rotation of the winding knob as far
will go. At the same time,  film and  picture co
mechanism are automatically advanced  to the
frame, the mirror  is swung into the  light path  0
lens, ana the lens diaphragm  is opened to  its WI
aperture.

Setting the shutter speeds
The exposure time needed  for the picture  is  set
means  of the speed  disk arranged underneath   t
winding  knob.  The  numeral  indicating  the  desir
speed has to stand against the triangular mark on th
top cover. All exposure speeds, from 1 sec. to  11.... sec.
and B, are set on this one disk, and  it does not matter

19                      Release knob with cable release connection

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whether the speed  is set before or after the shutter is wound. Also, the disk may be turned
in either direction.
The exposure speed scale has been calibrated  in such a manner that every speed value
between 1 sec. and  '/"00 sec.  is respectively double or one half of its neighboring value. This
pertains alsa to the diaphragm scale, which means that for double the exposure time you
have to use the next smaller diaphragm opening, or vice versa, as long as the conditions
for the exposure remain the same.
The flash mark (i) on the speed disk indicates the shortest shutter setting at which the
width      e shutter slit  is larger than the width of the picture. That  is why this setting  is
p                         x osures with electronic flash.

                                  eleasing the shutter
                                                   ith lenses having automatic diaphragm, the internal
                                       chanism, by means of the obliquely placed release
                                      b on the front of the camera body,  is actuated to
                                      e down the diaphragm to the pre-set value and to
                                          se  the  mirror  which,  in   its  turn,  actuates  the
                                                        er. To avoi.d blurring the picture, never press the
                                        e knob with a jerk.  It is most convenient to use
                                                         rst limb of the right index finger.
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