A Chinese Fed-2

[zhang xk]

Hi all,

Nanjing 58-I is a Chinese copy of the famous Fed-2, but is much rarer than the original. I have yet to one in person. Less than 2,000 cameras were made since 1958. This camera belongs to a Chinese collector. :bang:

Fed-2 and early Kiev 4A are the two Russian rangefinder cameas among my favourite Soviet cameras. I think Fed-2 is more like a simplified Contax than a Leica. Or it is similar to an early Nikon rangefinder except the LTM mount.

Kind regards

Zhang

 

[lushd]

Hi Zhang - got quite excited there as I thought you were going to tell us that you had got one of your own. I have 2 Seagull cameras and used to own a Seagull TLR. All are capable of giving good results and they have such interesting history. Did you handle this camera? If you did, was it as smooth and quiet as a FED 2?

 

[simonankor]

Wow, thanks for posting this... I had no idea!

 

[zhang xk]

Hi Zhang - got quite excited there as I thought you were going to tell us that you had got one of your own. I have 2 Seagull cameras and used to own a Seagull TLR. All are capable of giving good results and they have such interesting history. Did you handle this camera? If you did, was it as smooth and quiet as a FED 2?

Hi Donald,

Sorry I never saw one in person. It is extremely rare. I doubt if some 1000+ cameras were made. It is much less often seen than a Shanghai 58-I, that also is said less than 2,000 copies were made. I have many vintage Chinese cameas. I think the best is the Shanghai VI TLR made in 1963. I suspect that it used imported Zeiss lens elements.

I have some Shanghia 58-II. This camera is better finished than most Soviet Leica copies, but most are less smooth than a later Zorki 1. I think this Nanjing 58-II could be the same.

Here is an image of a beautiful Chinese "LAIKA".

 

[ZorkiKat]

Hi Donald,

Sorry I never saw one in person. It is extremely rare. I doubt if some 1000+ cameras were made. It is much less often seen than a Shanghai 58-I, that also is said less than 2,000 copies were made. I have many vintage Chinese cameas. I think the best is the Shanghai VI TLR made in 1963. I suspect that it used imported Zeiss lens elements.

I have some Shanghia 58-II. This camera is better finished than most Soviet Leica copies, but most are less smooth than a later Zorki 1. I think this Nanjing 58-II could be the same.

Here is an image of a beautiful Chinese "LAIKA".

亲爱的张同志

你的“莱加”是很美丽吧！

我要一个上海58—II!

Which factory made the Nanjing 58-1? And what's with the "58" designation? Was it for 1958 and does it have significance in Chinese history, camera-wise or photographically?

The FED-2's long-base rangefinder, as well as the twin locking rings at the bottom are the only ones which maybe Contax-like in it. The rest, including the rangefinder optics are more Leica than anything else.

Jay

 

[Oldprof]

Very nice pictures Zhang! Thanks for sharing.

 

[lushd]

Lovely pictures - thanks again Zhang. For those who want to know more Douglas St Denny wrote a book about Chinese cameras which explains the derivation of all the names. It's out of print now though copies turn up on Ebay and elsewhere. It's worth buying as it provides an excellent history and view of society in the times that produced the cameras.

I think 1958 is a significant year and the camera commemorates it. As has been discussed in previous threads, some of the camera names ring strange in western ears. My favourite is the "Five Goats" TLR though I am sure many western names and marketing concepts give Chinese people a double take too.

 

[captainslack]

I've got St. Denny's book and MUST HAVE a Five Goats!

The Shanghai 58-I was made at the Shanghai Camera Factory in Shanghai.

 

[zhang xk]

亲爱的张同志

你的“莱加”是很美丽吧！

我要一个上海58—II!

Which factory made the Nanjing 58-1? And what's with the "58" designation? Was it for 1958 and does it have significance in Chinese history, camera-wise or photographically?

The FED-2's long-base rangefinder, as well as the twin locking rings at the bottom are the only ones which maybe Contax-like in it. The rest, including the rangefinder optics are more Leica than anything else.

Jay

Dear Comrade Jay,

A Chinese "Laika" is beautiful, isn't it? I am surprised you don't have one yet. I will keep one for you if you ever come to China.

1958 is the 1st year of the "great leap forward" movement (I don't know if it means anything to you.) in China. Many China's 1st was made in this year, watches, cameras, cars, etc.

Here is an image of the 1st mass produced Chinese wristwatches, Shanghai A581 model. These are equal to similar Swiss ones of the time for quality and finish. They are also very beautiful.

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Lovely pictures - thanks again Zhang. For those who want to know more Douglas St Denny wrote a book about Chinese cameras which explains the derivation of all the names. It's out of print now though copies turn up on Ebay and elsewhere. It's worth buying as it provides an excellent history and view of society in the times that produced the cameras.

I think 1958 is a significant year and the camera commemorates it. As has been discussed in previous threads, some of the camera names ring strange in western ears. My favourite is the "Five Goats" TLR though I am sure many western names and marketing concepts give Chinese people a double take too.

I heard that the guy who invented the English brand name was punished. :bang: It should have been "Five Rams". Guangzhou has a nickname of Yang Cheng- the city of Rams. It is fortunate that no one has translated it to "City of Goats". HEHE.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Good photos of some interesting items and they appear to be well made too.

Nikon Bob

 

[lushd]

Hmm - Five Rams is an improvement OK. It would sound rather strange behind some of our familiar brands though. The "Leica Five Rams", anyone?

Still, I believe 'Zorki" means sharp-eyed and FED was named for a secret policeman. In the UK, there was a Nissan model called the "Cedric" in the 1980s. It wasn't a huge success!

 

[ZorkiFan]

Hmm, this puzzles me, one thing I have dealt with from either Russian or Chinese manufacture is guns, and in the gun world, the fit and finish of Russian examples are *far* superior to the Chinese versions.

In cameras, there seems to be very little difference. (from apperance)

Also, in a prior job I sold bearings made in China, and bearings made in the U.S.
The U.S. bearings had better looking part numbers stamped in them, but we had less defects in the Chinese (cheaper) bearings. I pushed them on that fact, and we even made a better markup. I have become a fan of Chinese manufacturing.

 

[erikhaugsby]

亲爱的张同志

你的“莱加”是很美丽吧！

我要一个上海58—II!

à tes souhaits!

would you care to translate into english for the rest of us?

 

[clarence]

'My dear Comrade Zhang

Your Leica is very beautiful, isn't it?
(EDIT: Your Leica is very beautiful!)

I want a Shanghai 58-II!'

Clarence

 

[clarence]

I wouldn't translate the 把 as "isn't it?", but probably leave it out or make it an exclamation mark.

Anyway, I agree. It's a shame they are so rare. I would love to have one, it's just so beautiful!

You're right about that. A straight statement would be more accurate.

Thanks. I'm getting rusty (not like I ever had it anyway)

Clarence

 

[zhang xk]

Hmm - Five Rams is an improvement OK. It would sound rather strange behind some of our familiar brands though. The "Leica Five Rams", anyone?

Still, I believe 'Zorki" means sharp-eyed and FED was named for a secret policeman. In the UK, there was a Nissan model called the "Cedric" in the 1980s. It wasn't a huge success!

Hi Donald,

Chinese manufacturers love animal and flower brand names. There are Sea-gull, Pheonix, Lark, Panda, Red Plum, Peony for cameras, and all sorts of animal and flower names for watches. Only some rarest cameras had a brand name with a touch of political colours, the Red Flag 20 and the East Wind 120 SLR.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

'My dear Comrade Zhang

Your Leica is very beautiful, isn't it?
(EDIT: Your Leica is very beautiful!)

I want a Shanghai 58-II!'

Clarence

Thanks for your translation. I didn't know there are so many Chinese language experts!

I feel comrade Jay's Chinese has much improved over a couple of years ago.

I think the best Chinese user ragefinder camera is the Lark , later Huaxia series camera with a fixed 40/2 Summicron copy lens. This lens is equal if not sharper than a Canon FD 1.8/50 for b/w shots.

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Here is a Chinese Great Wall brand 35mm movie prime 20/2 24X24mm frame lens,scale focusing monted on a Leningrad with an adaptor ring. This is a very sharp lens.

I also have a 35mm F1.28 Great wall lens and a Russian 28mm F2 lens that can also be used the same way.

 

[leica M2 fan]

Hi Donald,

Sorry I never saw one in person. It is extremely rare. I doubt if some 1000+ cameras were made. It is much less often seen than a Shanghai 58-I, that also is said less than 2,000 copies were made. I have many vintage Chinese cameas. I think the best is the Shanghai VI TLR made in 1963. I suspect that it used imported Zeiss lens elements.

I have some Shanghia 58-II. This camera is better finished than most Soviet Leica copies, but most are less smooth than a later Zorki 1. I think this Nanjing 58-II could be the same.

Here is an image of a beautiful Chinese "LAIKA".

Question about " Leica " pictured here, can you give me a price in US Dollars for it ? Thanks in advance.