The German Democratic Republic, commonly known as East Germany, was a country that existed from 1949 to 1990. During this time there were several film camera manufacturers and factories in East Germany, which included Praktica, Pentacon and Zeiss Ikon. The brands were also known outside of the GDR and are still well known to many photographers today.
Praktica was an East German camera manufacturer founded in 1949 in the city of Dresden. The company was one of the first camera manufacturers in East Germany and produced a range of popular SLR cameras that were known for their durability and reliability. Praktica cameras were used by both professional and amateur photographers in East Germany and were also exported to other countries.
Beier was another East German camera manufacturer based in the town of Freital, near Dresden. The company produced a range of cameras for different film formats. The company was founded in 1923 and started with the production of wooden plate cameras. After the Second World War, a large part of the company was incorporated by the East German state and completely taken over in 1972. From this point on, Beier was the VEB camera factory Freital. The camera models include the Beirette models.
Zeiss Ikon was an East German camera manufacturer founded in 1926 in the city of Dresden. The company was a joint venture between German camera manufacturer Zeiss and German camera manufacturer Ikon, and produced a range of high quality cameras that included rangefinders, SLRs and medium format cameras. Zeiss-Ikon cameras were widely used by professional photographers in East Germany and were also exported to other countries.
Cameras made in GDR
Beirette VSN
A 35mm camera built in the GDR.
Beroquick KB 135
The Beroquick KB 135 is a 35mm camera from East German production.
Boots Beirette B.L.
The Boots Beirette B.L. is a camera of the private label of the British drugstore chain from East German production.
Contax FBM
The Contax FBM is an M42 SLR camera from the late 1950s for the 35mm format.
Fotoicon MTL 3
The Fotoicon MTL 3 is an old film camera from East Germany.
Hanimex Praktica 66
The Hanimex Praktica 66 is medium format camera with a East German origin. It was built by the VEB Pentacon Dresden in the GDR and sold on the Australian market.
Hanimex Praktica L
The Hanimex Praktica L is a camera from the brand that was built in the GDR.
Hanimex Praktica Nova I
A camera from the GDR built for the American market.
Hanimex Praktica Nova I B
A single lens reflex camera for the 35mm format from the GDR for the American market.
Hanimex Praktica Super TL
The Hanimex Praktica Super TL is an SLR from GDR production for the American market.
Pentacon FBM
The Pentacon FBM is an SLR camera from the late 1950s from the GDR.
Pentacon Six
The Pentacon Six is an East German single lens reflex camera for medium format film and is the predecessor of the Pentacon Six TL and the successor of the Praktisix.
Pentacon Six TL
The Pentacon Six TL is a single lens reflex camera for medium format film by the VEB Pentacon Dresden.
Pentaflex SL
The Pentaflex SL is a single lens reflex camera with M42 lens thread.
Porst FX 4
The Porst FX 4 is a reflex camera by Photo Porst from East German production.
Porst reflex CX3
The Porst reflex CX3 is a camera from Photo Porst.
Porst reflex CX4
The Porst reflex CX4 is a camera based on a camera from Eastern Germany.
Porst reflex CX6
The Porst reflex CX6 is a M42 SLR from East Germany.
Porst Reflex FX 6
The Porst Reflex FX 6 is a camera from Photo Porst and was built in the GDR.
Porst Reflex FX2
It is a single lens reflex camera from Photo Porst and was also sold under the Praktica brand.
Porst Reflex FX3
The Porst Reflex FX3 is a 35mm camera. The company Pentacon built the camera from 1967 to 1971 for Photo Porst.
Pouva Start
A simple medium format camera from Freital, Germany.
Praktica 1000
The Praktica 1000 is a single lens reflex camera for the Dutch market from Pentacon.
Praktica Autoreflex S
The Praktica Autoreflex S is a camera sold by Ringfoto and was built by VEB Pentacon.
Praktica Autoreflex S-TL
The Praktica Autoreflex S-TL is a SLR camera and was also sold under an other name.
Praktica Autoreflex SL
The Praktica Autoreflex SL is a camera made by the VEB Pentacon in Eastern Germany.
Praktica B 100
The Praktica B 100 is a single lens reflex camera produced in the 1980s by the VEB Pentacon Dresden in East Germany.
Praktica BCA
The Praktica BCA is a single lens reflex camera by Pentacon.
Praktica BCC
A 35mm camera, built in Dresden, that was mainly designed for the GDR domestic market.
Praktica BCS
An electronic SLR from East Germany.
Praktica BM
The Praktica BM is SLR camera for 35mm film is one of the last cameras of the East German camera producers.
Praktica BMS
The Praktica BMS is a camera from Pentacon from the late days of the East German company.
Praktica DTL 2
The Praktica DTL 2 is an M42-SLR from the 70s.
Praktica DTL 3
The Praktica DTL 3 is a camera for the M42 lens thread.
Praktica EE 2
The Praktica EE 2 is a 35mm SLR with light meter from Pentacon.
Praktica EE 3
The Praktica EE 3 is a camera from the late 1970s.
Praktica FX2
The Praktica FX2 is a single lens reflex camera with M42 lens thread.
Praktica L
Praktica L is a successful SLR of VEB Pentacon Dresden.
Praktica L2
The Praktica L2 is a single lens reflex camera from the 70s.
Praktica LB
The Praktica LB is a camera from the 1970s.
Praktica LB 2
The Praktica LB 2 is a SLR made by the VEB Pentacon.
Praktica LLC
The Praktica LLC is an East German SLR camera and was built from 1969 to 1975 by VEB Pentacon Dresden.
Praktica LTL
The Praktica LTL is a film camera from the 1970s.
Praktica LTL 2
The Praktica LTL 2 is a SLR made in the 1970s.
Praktica LTL 3
The Praktica LTL 3 is a SLR made in the 70s by Pentacon.
Praktica MTL 3
The Praktica MTL 3 is a camera with M42 lens thread from Pentacon.
Praktica MTL 5
An SLR for 35mm by Pentacon from the GDR.
Praktica MTL 50
The Praktica MTL 50 is an East German camera.
Praktica PL electronic
Praktica PL electronic is Pentacon's first SLR camera with an electronic lock.
Praktica PL Nova I
The Praktica PL Nova I is a 35mm SLR from the 60s to 70s from the VEB Pentacon.
Praktica PL Nova I B
A single lens reflex camera from Dresden from the VEB Pentacon.
Praktica PLC 2
The Praktica PLC 2 is a camera made in the splitted Germany in the 1970s.
Praktica PLC 3
The Praktica PLC 3 is a German SLR from the VEB Pentacon.
Praktica Super TL
A single lens reflex camera from Praktica, a brand of the VEB Pentacon Dresden.
Praktica Super TL 1000
The Praktica Super TL 1000 is a M42-SLR for 35mm film from Pentacon.
Praktica Super TL 2
The Praktica Super TL 2 is a SLR from the 1970s.
Praktica Super TL 3
This is a camera from the 1970s made in the East of Germany.
Praktica Super TL 500
The Praktica Super TL 500 is a single lens reflex camera from the 80s by the East German compay VEB Pentacon Dresden.
Praktica VLC 2
The Praktica VLC 2 is a SLR camera for M42 lenses from VEB Pentacon Dresden.
Praktica VLC 3
The Praktica VLC 3 is a SLR camera for M42 lenses.
Praktisix
The Praktisix is a single lens reflex camera for medium format film from East Germany. It is the predecessor of the Pentacon Six.
Revue BC 2
The Revue BC 2 is one of the last versions of a Pentacon single lens reflex camera under the Revue brand from Foto Quelle.
Revue ML
The Revue ML is a single reflex camera from Foto Quelle from East German production.
Revueflex Reflex BL
The Revueflex Reflex BL is a SLR from DDR, built by VEB Pentacon.
Revueflex SL
The Revueflex SL is a SLR camera from Foto Quelle, a West German mail order company.
Revueflex TL 25
A West German version of the Praktica MTL 5.
Revueflex TL I
A West German version of the Praktica MTL 3.
Welta Belmira
A 35mm camera from the GDR.