Kamera-Werke showed in 1952 the prototype of a completely new 35mm SLR camera with the name "Praktina" engraved on the front. The Praktina was the first SLR to get the full interchangeability of lens, finder, focusing screen, camera back with the capability to use a motor. This camera sports a set of innovative features that place it remarkably ahead of its time. It took seven years to see an other SLR camera, the Nikon F, that get the interchangeability of lenses, finders, focusing screens, camera back and with the provision for a motor.
One year later, with slight changes, the Kamera-Werke showed the final version of the Praktina. With the same look of the first prototype the new Praktina had improved features as the semiautomatic control of the lens diaphragm and the F and X flash synchronization via two bipolar contacts.

At the beginning of 1953 Kamera-Werke renamed the Praktina adding the "FX" under the "Praktina" logo. This provisional model had the same features of the Praktina with the semiautomatic control of the lens diaphragm and two sockets for "X" and "F" synchronization.

At the end of 1953 Kamera-Werke marketed the Praktina FX. In this model the semiautomatic control of the lens diaphragm is missing and the camera has only one socket for "X" synchronization.

In 1954 Kamera-Werke introduced on the market the Praktina FX with the provision for the lens diaphragm control. The Praktina was the first SLR in the world to have the diaphragm's control internal to the camera body. In this model the diaphragm shuts automatically when the shutter release is pressed and it needs to be reloaded manually to full aperture after each exposure. The body was identical to the model FX with the addition of internal coupling to the diaphragm lens. Various improvements, including the "F" and "X" synchronization for bulb and electronic flash, were introduced in 1955.

The KW introduces the Praktina IIA in 1958. This camera seems identical in the aspect to the previous Praktina FX but inside it has important improvement. The shutter has geometric speed settings from 1" to 1/1000", the lenses have a fully automatic diaphragm control and the flash synchronization for FP-F-X is made via a selector lever using only one socket.

The last model of Praktina IIA had an additional mechanism to control the lens diaphragm of the SB lenses and therefore it was possible to use properly all the SB and ASB lenses. Inside the camera there are two mechanism. The first , on the left, engage the pin of ASB lenses and the second, on the right, engage the pin of SB lenses mounted on the camera rotated of 120° anticlockwise.
In the written history of VEB Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden the production of Praktina is stopped in August 1960. For the record the Praktina story ends definitely in 1964 when the last cameras disappear from the market.

There are Praktina destined to the export with different name as Corbina, Hexacon Supreme and Porst reflex. There are also Praktina destined to export with special markings to indicate that the cameras are manufactured in the Germany East under the Soviet administration.