A small 35mm SLR system created by VEB Kamera-Werke Niedersedlitz.
The first model in the system, the Praktina FX (1953), was a fairly advanced camera with a focal plane shutter with speed ranging from 1 to 1/1000th of a second, and a breech-lock bayonet mount with support for lenses with internal semi-automatic diaphragm mechanism. Pro features included interchangeable viewfinders plus a built-in Newton direct optical finder, self-timer, synchronization at all speeds for regular flash and at 1/25 and 1/50 for electronic flash, detachable back, and compatibility with motor drive.
An improved model, the Praktina IIA (1957), added support for lenses with internal fully-automatic diaphragm mechanism, new 30% brighter prism finder, geometric progression of shutter speeds, and single FP-F-X flash synchronization socket. However, production of the Praktina IIA ceased already in May 1960 due to high costs and competition from the much more popular Contax (Pentacon) and Praktica screw-mount models, also produced by VEB Kamera-Werke Niedersedlitz.
A fairly wide range of lenses was available for this system, and the main manufacturers were companies such as Meyer-Optik (Pentacon) and Carl Zeiss Jena. Most lenses had a fixed mount, but models such as Orestor 135/2.8, Orestegor 200/4, Orestegor 300/4, Orestegor 500/5.6 had to be used with an interchangeable adapter.