Chinese made leica4 M copy Red Flage 20

[Dan Chang]

During 1970's Chairman Mao's wife likes photography, she especially likes Leica, and one of the Chinese camera manufactures in Shanghai made about 270 copies. only to government news agency with three lenses all Leica copies (35/1.4, 50/1.4 and 90/2), the camera combined Leica M4 and Canon 7/7s design, not up to Leica's quiality but a nice Leica copy, it can fetch about $10000 on the market. this camera belong to a Chinese collector and writer.

here is an article about him in English
http://app1.chinadaily.com.cn/star/2004/0401/pr20-1.html

 

[jlw]

Thank you for sharing the story of this dedicated man. I hope his book is a success!

I've heard the Red Flag described as pretty much a straight knockoff of the Leica M5 body design (sans TTL meter) hence the angled ends and sharply-cranked advance lever. But having never seen one, I can't know whether or not this is true.

Anyone...?

 

[kiev4a]

Looks more like a cross between an M3 and a Canon (with the chamfered body).

According to Princelle, about 300 Red Flags were made. I've seen a couple on Ebay but never saw what they brought because it was more than I could afford. I understand the do suffer from mechanical problems.

I salute the dedication of the Chinese collector who is trying to save and document the heritage of China's early camera industry. The financial and governmental obstacles he has had to overcome are enormous. I wish him well with his book project.

 

[Dan Chang]

inside looks like a M4 lay out.
to me it has more historical value than user value.

 

[Dan Chang]

and lots of Chinese like DIY. like this re-worked Canon and Nikon 105

 

[rich815]

Here's another Chinese Leica copy I have. The Shanghai 58-II.

 

[rich815]

Ok, ok, that's actually a Russian knock-off of the Shanghai 58-II which is a Chinese knock-off of the Leica III.

Nonetheless, surprisingly it's lens performs fairly nicely:

 

[Dan Chang]

Can these Russians copy Red Flag 20? I will buy a copy

 

[rich815]

If they made copies of the 58-II I would imagine they probably copied the Red Flag too. Then again, the 58-II was very close to the Russian copies of the Leica III that to make a Shanghai 58-II copies was not a big stretch....

 

[former member]

> like this re-worked Canon and Nikon 105

AAAHHHH! The Selenium Meter is GONE! MAKE THEM PUT IT BACK!!!

A good Selenium will last forever.

I remember Pop photo doing a review of the Chinese Leica M copy, and wondering if it would be put into production.

 

[Dan Chang]

These leica copies made in 70's cost about $6000/per copy and Leica M4 sale for about $700-800, all parts are hand made, this is a political show off products, this camera maufacture also made Hass 500c copy called 'East wind' at the same peroid.

 

[J-Paul]

Hello every body !!
You can read here, for Red Flag history and pics from mine ,
on Zhang XK file :

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23143&page=6


Cheers
JP

 

[Avotius]

Also of interest, the Red Flag factory is still in business today, now making fake copies of the Volkswagen Santana car under the name Red Flag.

 

[Pablito]

as opposed to real copies?