Praktica 28mm lens info

[sasquatch]

Hi all, first post here.
I have been dabbling using MF lenses on my DSLR for a year or so now and grabbing any m42 lenses I find going cheap at charity shops for my experimentation. Yesterday I got a whole bundle of lenses and among them was a Praktica 28mm f2.8 lens which I can't seem to find any info on anywhere. As I have been reading threads on this site to educate myself since beginning my MF lens journey I thought I would bite the bullet and join up to ask.

Its marked as 'macro' and focuses really quite close, I'm looking forward to some better weather and getting some close focused wide angle flower shots. Its 'way' better than my only other 28mm lens which is a Prinzflex

I seem to be able to find lots of Practica'r' 28mm lenses about but none marked as Praktica, has anyone gone any insights into it?

Many thanks in advance!

EDIT*(Not sure what has happened to my pics, they were there in the preview...)

[calvin83]

[sasquatch]

Thanks Calvin, not sure why they aren't loading in my initial post.
I'm still trying to figure out how the forum works.

ARGH! They are there now!!

[calvin83]

I have seen a similar lens with Albinar, Paragon and Sirius etc.. I have no idea of its original.

[sasquatch]

[BrianSVP]

Also commonly sold as an Auto Sears.

The Sears ones are made in Korea, so perhaps a Samyang?

https://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c_1328.html

[calvin83]

[sasquatch]

They do look to be the same although this one doesn't seem to have the multi-coating, at least it's not marked as such and doesn't have the coloured sheen any of my other MC lenses have.

[calvin83]

[kypfer]

Looks like an interesting find.
It's not unknown for some "oriental" manufacturers to apparently just "borrow" a well-known European brand-name and use it to effectively enhance their own product.
Alternatively, maybe Pentacon were having supply difficulties and bought in some lenses to fill the gap ... we'll probably never know for sure!

[BrianSVP]

I know Hanimex was importing East German Prakticas to Australia in the 70's and often paired them with Asian lenses to supplement the Meyer/Pentacon 50 1.8 Orikkor with which they were typically outfitted rather than importing German lenses. Those typically are labeled "Hanimex," but this could be a similar situation where a non-German importer was looking for cheaper/more readily available lenses to pair with Praktica bodies and secured permission to re-label third party lenses with the Praktica brand.

[Lloydy]

I've got the same lens branded as Ensinor, Tefnon and Clubman. As far as I can tell Tefnon was the house brand of Kobori who made the lens and sold it rebranded to any retailer who wanted their own shop brand (just like the Prinzflex which was a brand used by Dixons in the UK.)
I've also seen that 28 / 2.8 Macro branded as Ozunon, Ozone.
But there is a school of thought it might be made by Toyo Optics or maybe Cimko ? - but every Cimko I've seen, even rebranded lenses, has Cimko's distinctive unequal diamond for the focusing mark. So I don't think Cimko is a contender as manufacturer.

Have a search on this forum for Tefnon - Ensinor and I think there are a few posts about this lens ( and it's 24 / 2.8 brother ) There are many brands on that series of lenses, and I don't think weve arrived at a definitive maker yet.

It's not a bad lens though, I used mine a lot before I got the classic Vivitar 28 / 2.8, and then lenses from the major manufacturers like Minolta, Pentax and Olympus which are obviously better, but that doesn't the Prakticar a bad lens, it's just not quite as good.

[sasquatch]

Wow, thanks for all the responses!
I suspected it might be difficult to get any concrete info on the lens but never realised how many lenses there were that shared the same design between different manufacturers. Either way I think I got a deal and its a good copy, at least from my perspective and intended uses.

Been playing with it this morning just to see how it performs with a table-top studio. Closest it will focus is a hair under 10cm from the front element and it's pretty darn sharp too. Quite enjoy my macro and despite not going to 1:1 this lens will fill a gap in my lens collection for when I want something tiny in the foreground but still incorporate the wider environment.

Not proper testing but this shot was fully stopped down on my Canon FF DSLR iso400


And cropped at 100%



I also picked up a few others all mint. A Pentacon 50 1.8, an Enna Munchen 135/3.5, a Hoya 135/2.8 and Meyer-Optik Gorilitz Lydith 30/3.5 at the same time, all-in for £20 so not a bad visit to the charity shop.

[kypfer]

[sasquatch]

[DrBB]

[sasquatch]

[kypfer]

[calvin83]

[D1N0]

The Praktica was also sold as Polar https://m42lens.com/m42-lens-database/909-polar-automatic-28mm-f-2-8-22-v2

Whenever I see a squared of plastic A/M switch like that I say the lens is likely made by Sun Optics.

[calvin83]

I see "Made in Korea" under 0.35 meter.
https://m42lens.com/m42-lens-database/856-praktica-28mm-f-2-8-22

[Pancolart]

[sasquatch]

[sasquatch]

[kypfer]