Two wonderful Praktica B200's, both of the very first type with the slim, metal cocking lever. The B200 was introduced in 1979 and these two were built in 1981 and 1982. Two different 50mm lenses are fitted. The 'pancake' 1:2.4 (right) and the larger 1:1.8 (left). The B200 was the first fully automatic camera made in Dresden. Japanese NEC- technology was used, but not promoted due to the communist course the GDR followed at the time.

IMHO, the Practika B-series was a very handsome, serious looking SLR. Although overall quality was not on par with the Japanese producers, the used electronics and offered possibilities were far beyond the prices asked. Praktica was the moneymaker for the GDR, with good sales mostly in Europe (Netherlands, France, UK were top 3, I believe).