The Praktica L series of SLR cameras was produced from 1969 to 1989, an amazing period of 20 years. It is said that an L was rolled of the Dresden production line every 30 seconds, and these cameras are therefore still fairly easy to find on ebay and in the flea markets and bazaars of eastern Europe. After using a Diana, the “rapid wind lever” seems like an amazing invention. Being an SLR, the L has a mirror that beams exactly what the lens is seeing into a catoptric chamber on the top of the camera, showing precisely what each shot will look like when you press down on the shutter release through the Praktica’s rectangular view-finder.