The definitive equipment listing for Prakticas on the internet
	Main  |  Camera Bodies  |  Lenses  |  Accessories  |  Photo index  |  Contact Cameras -> Pentacon Six: Praktisix Praktisix II Praktisix II A Pentacon Six Pentacon Six TL Pentacon Six TLs The original manufacturer of these cameras was Kamera Werkstätten in 1959 they became V E B Kamera and KinoWerke Dresden, in 1964 they became VEB Pentacon and finally in 1970 Kombinat VEB Pentacon. VEB (Volkseigner Betrieb) roughly translates as "People owned Industry". These changes of names were caused by the various reorganizations of the photographic industry by the East German government. Initially the cameras and accessories had a stylized "KW in a diamond" logo and later the "Pentacon tower" logo. Most of these cameras were produced as a source of hard currency and sold outside of East Germany. Six major variations were produced. The Praktisix, Praktisix II, Praktisix IIA, Pentacon six, Pentacon Six TL (early) and Pentacon Six TL (late). There was also a series of Pentacon Six cameras marked Hanimex Praktica 66 made for Hannes Import and Export of Australia. Obviously the Hanimex models are rare anywhere except Australia. The cameras are really a series of improvements from the first Praktisix. Other than the name changes there are no major changes from model to model. This represents the normal progression in the communist world where new models were rarely introduced. The process was to continuously improve the present models or at least find a more economical method of manufacture. Back | Index