From its birth in the 1940s up until the fall of the Berlin Wall, Eastern Bloc manufacturer Praktica built a cult following around its no-nonsense, slab-like SLR cameras, offering similar performance to big-name Japanese rivals but at Škoda prices. Today, the Dresden factory is sadly shuttered, but the Praktica name lives on, currently adorning, among other things, a range of suspiciously cheap binoculars. Various configurations all come in at around the $55 (£40) mark, including this chunky set of 10x50s.
The Falcon 10x50s are at the bulkier end of Praktica’s lineup, so if you’re after something to slip into a pocket or daypack, these aren’t it. But if it’s raw enlarging power you need, then, on paper at least, the 50mm objective lenses and 10x magnification should provide enough welly for everything from trainspotting to stargazing.
