Praktica's compact B-bayonet SLR — the BCA, aperture-priority auto, electronic shutter, 1985.
The Praktica BCA is a 35mm film SLR made by VEB Pentacon in Dresden, East Germany, in the mid-1980s within the Praktica B bayonet system. It was a more affordable, compact model in the B range, aimed at users wanting the convenience of the bayonet system and automatic exposure in a lighter, simpler package.
It is a Praktica B bayonet SLR with an electronically controlled vertical-travel metal focal-plane shutter. The BCA offers aperture-priority automatic exposure with through-the-lens open-aperture metering and manual override, with exposure information shown in the pentaprism finder. Being electronically timed, it depends on its battery to fire and meter correctly.
The BCA suits students, beginners and general users wanting a lightweight, easy auto-exposure SLR with modern bayonet handling. It is simpler and more compact than the launch B bodies and pleasant for everyday shooting, though its lighter construction and the narrower B lens range are the trade-offs compared with the older all-metal M42 Prakticas.
On the used market, treat this as an electronic body: test with a fresh battery across auto and manual, since a flat cell can stop it working or misexpose. Inspect foam light seals and mirror-damper foam for perishing, confirm the meter and aperture-priority auto respond sensibly, and check the prism for desilvering. Verify the bayonet contacts are clean, and test film advance, rewind and focusing-screen condition.