Chinese Red Flag 20 and lenses

[oftheherd]

I think some of us have mentioned this before zhang xk, but I really appreciate your continued updates on this thread. It is providing a history of the Chinese cameras that would be hard to come across otherwise. Not only the photos, but the commentary. Good history! Thanks.

 

[zhang xk]

I think some of us have mentioned this before zhang xk, but I really appreciate your continued updates on this thread. It is providing a history of the Chinese cameras that would be hard to come across otherwise. Not only the photos, but the commentary. Good history! Thanks.

Many thanks for your comments! So many people showed interest in this thread over the years so I feel I must update it whenever I find something new(or old?).

China is still trying hard to catch up with the world top optical products producers in many fields so the history continues.

 

[CliveC]

China is still trying hard to catch up with the world top optical products producers in many fields so the history continues.

On an episode of QI, it was claimed Chinese science never came to par with Western science until the 20th century because the Chinese never invented or used glassware and optics until relatively late.

I suppose it is only logical it reflects on the state of camera equipment as well.

 

[zhang xk]

On an episode of QI, it was claimed Chinese science never came to par with Western science until the 20th century because the Chinese never invented or used glassware and optics until relatively late.

I suppose it is only logical it reflects on the state of camera equipment as well.

It seems China moved much slower than Japan in this area. I don't know. Maybe the policy makers decided to give up the industry because it left far behind Japan for many decades.

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

It seems China moved much slower than Japan in this area. I don't know. Maybe the policy makers decided to give up the industry because it left far behind Japan for many decades.

it's only a shame, i would love to see some more of China's home grown industry overtaking or surpassing others in some spheres of industry instead of importing everything.

thanks again for this thread!

 

[zhang xk]

it's only a shame, i would love to see some more of China's home grown industry overtaking or surpassing others in some spheres of industry instead of importing everything.

thanks again for this thread!

Here is an example of China's precision technology. Most of this type technology can not be imported for military applications. My impression is that China has made some progress in certain industries in recent years.

China can make extremely precision lens elements. The picture explains that If a lens has a diameter of 3500 kilometers, and an area of China's size (9.6 million square kilometers), a deviation of less than 15.7 mm can be reached!

 

[zhang xk]

I thougt this thread was deleted.

Here is a group of rare Chinese lenses, cine, industrial,....

 

[zhang xk]

A rarely seen Seagull 501 low cost medium format camera.
On the top plate, there is Mao's slogan" Serve the people".

 

[john neal]

I'm sure I have a Great Wall / Red Flag fixed lens RF camera somewhere - must dig it out and post some pics. It's partially stripped down for CLA and recollimation of the lens (a job I satrted about 5 years ago!).

Can you throw any light on that one Zhang?

 

[zhang xk]

I'm sure I have a Great Wall / Red Flag fixed lens RF camera somewhere - must dig it out and post some pics. It's partially stripped down for CLA and recollimation of the lens (a job I satrted about 5 years ago!).

Can you throw any light on that one Zhang?

Hi John,

It must be a Great Wall SZ-1, or SZ-2 spring wind rangefinder camera. Please share with us some pictures. A Red Flag 20 cost big money these days. I wish I bought some when they were not so expensive some years ago.

There is also a Great Wall PF-1, a fixed lens SLR of special design. I forgot if I posted images of it here.

 

[erkanumut]

I found a book that listed Chinese cine equipment. There are 11 types of 35mm movie cameras and 4 types of 16mm movie cameras. This SX16K was made by Linxia Sine Equipement Research Institute. It shoots at 6-144 frames/second, and is powered by a 27V battery. At 6-48 frames, the stability is within 0.01mm, and at 48-120 frames, it is within 0.02mm. I don't know much about movie cameras, but it looks like a high quality camera.

China also made 18 models of 35mm and 19 models of 16mm projection cameras plus many 8.75mm projection cameas, accesary lenses and related equipments. This area of Chinese optical industry was never mentioned before.

I have that book (电影摄影机的使用与维修 USE AND MAINTENANCE OF FILM CAMERAS) finally!

 

[zhang xk]

I have that book (电影摄影机的使用与维修 USE AND MAINTENANCE OF FILM CAMERAS) finally!

Congratulations!

My information ，however， is from another book entitled '电影电视技术手册‘。

 

[zhang xk]

This 35mm movie zoom lens is much rarer than the Redflag-20 Leica copy. It is the only one I have seen anywhere. I wonder if it could fetch a higher price ? It is only a prototype, so the production cost could also be much higher than the Redflag-20 camera's USD 6,000.:bang:

 

[Red Robin]

I may have missed it in a previous post but,were the Red Flag -Leica camera lenses coated? Also, as with Leica, is there much of a counterfeit problem ? Lots of fakes still come out of some European back-room shops.

 

[zhang xk]

I may have missed it in a previous post but,were the Red Flag -Leica camera lenses coated? Also, as with Leica, is there much of a counterfeit problem ? Lots of fakes still come out of some European back-room shops.

I don't have Red Flag optics, but I heard that they were coated lenses. I haven't heard of a faked Red Flag yet.

Thanks Stephen for moving the thread.

I am sorry for many of those off-topic contents in this thread that I let them drifted off the theme over the years. Perhaps, I should start another thread for vintage Chinese cameras and optics in a proper forum? I feel that many people are interested in those almost unknown Chinese products.

 

[zhang xk]

I have that book (电影摄影机的使用与维修 USE AND MAINTENANCE OF FILM CAMERAS) finally!

Here is a rarely seen GSS-35 35mm high speed camera image FYI. It shoots at 50-200 frame/Second, and was made by Ganguang.

I saw some interesting Chinese optical products recently, but this is not a proper place to show them.

 

[J-Paul]

Hello friends
Dear Zhang xk

Sorry for my long absence from here. Big health problems ... and momentary abandonment for old cameras. I started selling some nice pieces from my collection, including my Red Flag and almost all my Leica, at Westlicht.
No sadness. I continue my passion with my virtual collection in pictures and also for some historical research on special cameras.
So much for the news!

I did not know that Red Flag 20 Hongqi was also the mark of cars for Chinese officials.
With the same caligraphy

Perhaps there was also a perfume for Madame Mao?:bang:
Kind regards

J-Paul

 

[jcr211]

Hello everyone.

Sorry to bump an old thread, but...information is EXTREMELY scarce.

This is one of the few threads containing related info...

anyway, I purchased a vintage Great Wall cinema zoom lens, 18-180mm f3.2, made by Beijing Nr. 608 factory.

I am interested in ANY information anyone can find about this zoom lens of mine, and..

I would much like to purchase the Chinese Cinema PRIMES made by the same factory, some of which I see have been pictured in this thread.

Would anyone happen to know someone like @zhangxk who sadly it seems is no longer active?

Anybody who would be able to help me locate a few examples of these lenses? (20mm F2.0, 50mm f1.3, etc)