Chinese Red Flag 20 and lenses

[Abbazz]

Speaking of weird Chinese cameras: http://www.camerachina.com/products_display.php?id=141

Five 4.5x6 pictures simultaneously, that's an interesting camera indeed! Is it available for sale? Any idea of the price?

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[Avotius]

uhhhg, I have an real itch lately to go pick up a collectors camera in this shop near here, they have a shanghai 58 leica copy in there for about 2300 rmb, in near damn perfect condition

 

[Keith]

What a fantastic thread ... I can't believe I've only just noticed it.

Zhang ... you are a true asset to this forum and I hope to god no one succeeds in ruining it by constantly attempting to introduce politics. You have diverted these zealots away fom such talk very diplomatically so far ... congrats again! 🙂

 

[bunkawen14]

I'm trying to get in touch with Zhao Zhenxin. The email function on your membership is turned off, it seems. I live in Shanghai and have made a specialty of photographing the old city. (A sample: http://www.howardwfrench.com/photos/Disappearing-Shanghai-The-Show). I would like very much to meet sometime.
Howard French

 

[Avotius]

I live in china and just asked my gf, who is chinese about mao's wife. She said she is probably one of the most hated women in chinese history and her and her husband had very different ideas about the future china, and also because of her china went into a 10 year depression. Icky.

 

[Avotius]

alright all you numb nuts on here who have decided to believe all the propaganda about mao....mao himself did not order these people dead, what actually happened is that he wanted to build a larger modern economy by bringing people together and having them work on metal production and having larger families. More people means more workers. The reason so many people died is not because they were killed, its because so many people went to follow his message to produce metal that no one worked in the farms and then there was no food. Get your facts straight. There are 1.3-1.4 some billion chinese people right in here because of what mao said before, and why they try to have a one child only law which doesnt work.

 

[Bill58]

Bull___. Looks like you've been brainwashed too. The next thing you'll want us to believe is that Mao was in reality a great humanitarian.

 

[dingadingdang]

I don't think politics belongs on here at all, but what makes you such an expert avotius?

 

[vanyagor]

IIRC it was the law since Soviet times that everything over 50 years counted as "antique" and needed a license for export. As photoequipment ages, it gradually begins to fall under this regulation. Maybe Yevgeni can clear this up.

Philipp

I do not know the exact age wich makes it antique, but it is true, there is such a law. Old books fall into that category as well. I understand it might drive the prices up. But still I think this is a good law in fact (assuming it would work as it was supposed to). If this law would really work, then you'd need to get a license to export smth. This whould make it more difficult to forge and export fakes which is a good thing. Basically any camera (that qualifies as antique/vintage) whould have a license confirming its authenticity

I just doublechecked the website of russian customs and they say item of historical value are those at least 100 years old. This info might be outdated though, cause I've also heard about 50 years limit. Also that law does not apply to items that were mass produced. So there should be no problem with fed or Zorki. There is one subtelty though. You might need to show a proof that it was indeed mass pruduced 🙂

Personally I've never encountered any problems of this kind flying from Russia. But I've heard from my friends it is worse when you are flying from Ukraine (or other FSU states)

Sorry for being off topic.

Back on topic: Very interesting thread. It's a pitty is so long though: I had no patience to read all of it 🙁 And I agree would be nice to keep politics out of it

 

[zhang xk]

What a fantastic thread ... I can't believe I've only just noticed it.

Zhang ... you are a true asset to this forum and I hope to god no one succeeds in ruining it by constantly attempting to introduce politics. You have diverted these zealots away fom such talk very diplomatically so far ... congrats again! 🙂

Many thanks Keith for your kind words. I am pleased that you found the thread interesting. I believe many obscure Chinese photographic products posted in this thread was never mentioned before.

As for politics, I don't think it is the right place for them here, and those discussions were usually very heated, and could be very long and boring for those not interested in those issues.

Kind Regards,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

uhhhg, I have an real itch lately to go pick up a collectors camera in this shop near here, they have a shanghai 58 leica copy in there for about 2300 rmb, in near damn perfect condition

Hi,

2300 rmb for an early Shanghai 582 in mint condition is about the right price. A Shanghai 581 in any condition could cost much more. Most of these are not users, like those colllectable Leicas, they should be displayed in a well lit glass case.😀

 

[zhang xk]

I'm trying to get in touch with Zhao Zhenxin. The email function on your membership is turned off, it seems. I live in Shanghai and have made a specialty of photographing the old city. (A sample: http://www.howardwfrench.com/photos/Disappearing-Shanghai-The-Show). I would like very much to meet sometime.
Howard French

Hello Howard,

Those pictures of the disappearing old Shanghai are fantastic.🙂 Congratulations. Those will be invaluable historical records.

I believe Zhao Zhenxin maintains a personal museum of Chinese photographis products, but I have yet to make a visit. I don't know him in person. If you live in Shanghai, it should be easy to arrange a meeting with him.

I am not sure if you want to send an email to him or to me? If you read Chinese, here is a website that I think is owned by Zhao and you can get in touch with him there.

http://www.chinesecamera.net/index.php


Good luck,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

I do not know the exact age wich makes it antique, but it is true, there is such a law. Old books fall into that category as well. I understand it might drive the prices up. But still I think this is a good law in fact (assuming it would work as it was supposed to). If this law would really work, then you'd need to get a license to export smth. This whould make it more difficult to forge and export fakes which is a good thing. Basically any camera (that qualifies as antique/vintage) whould have a license confirming its authenticity

I just doublechecked the website of russian customs and they say item of historical value are those at least 100 years old. This info might be outdated though, cause I've also heard about 50 years limit. Also that law does not apply to items that were mass produced. So there should be no problem with fed or Zorki. There is one subtelty though. You might need to show a proof that it was indeed mass pruduced 🙂

Personally I've never encountered any problems of this kind flying from Russia. But I've heard from my friends it is worse when you are flying from Ukraine (or other FSU states)

Sorry for being off topic.

Back on topic: Very interesting thread. It's a pitty is so long though: I had no patience to read all of it 🙁 And I agree would be nice to keep politics out of it

Thanks Ivan for the infomation. When I was in Moscow some 6-7 years ago, I saw many early Feds in antique shops. I believe they were made before WWII, so they were already more than 50 years old. I bought many cameras at the big flea market in a sport stadium, but I forgot its name. I never had any problems with Russian customs to bring them out, but sometimes I had problems with Chinese customs to bring them into China.😀

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

2300 rmb for an early Shanghai 582 in mint condition is about the right price. A Shanghai 581 in any condition could cost much more. Most of these are not users, like those colllectable Leicas, they should be displayed in a well lit glass case.😀

Here is an early Shanghai 58-2 type A. Probably only a few thousand cameras were made. Now these are rarely seen for sale. I bought this many years ago for RMB 350, and the shop owner asked me to think twice because he thought it was a piece of junk not worth the price.😀
I regreat let go a few pre-1950 Kiev 2s with those collapsible ZK lenses for RMB 60-70 only.

The other one is an uncommon Phenix 301 with a fixed 38/1.8 lens. This camera was made in small numbers, so that it now demands a very high price to collectors($150-200).

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Will]

Here is an early Shanghai 58-2 type A. Probably only a few thousand cameras were made. Now these are rarely seen for sale. I bought this many years ago for RMB 350, and the shop owner asked me to think twice because he thought it was a piece of junk not worth the price.😀
I regreat let go a few pre-1950 Kiev 2s with those collapsible ZK lenses for RMB 60-70 only.

The other one is an uncommon Phenix 301 with a fixed 38/1.8 lens. This camera was made in small numbers, so that it now demands a very high price to collectors($150-200).

Cheers,

Zhang

Zhang,

Looks like a Zorki 3 copy... LOL...

Think I am gonna build up a daily camera sys, in the process of getting some russian standard lense (only got a I-26 now, like it even in colour, quite warm to me, might get some more like I-61, I-50, J-3, J8, J9). Would a Zorki 3 be good choice for a body? or should I get a Bessa R?

 

[zhang xk]

Zhang,

Looks like a Zorki 3 copy... LOL...

Think I am gonna build up a daily camera sys, in the process of getting some russian standard lense (only got a I-26 now, like it even in colour, quite warm to me, might get some more like I-61, I-50, J-3, J8, J9). Would a Zorki 3 be good choice for a body? or should I get a Bessa R?

Hi Will,

A Bessa R? Who wants that plastic crap? A Russian camera of course! But "what is the camera I should buy?" was the question I asked myself many years ago, and now I have a few dozens.😕

Just teasing.😱 I think a Zorki 3 or 3M is a good choice. These cameras seem to be better built. One of my smoothest Russian Leica-Contax camera is a Zorki 3M. It has a very bright view finder, a removeable back, and strap lugs. J-3, J-12, J-9 are all good optics IMO.

 

[Will]

Hi Will,

A Bessa R? Who wants that plastic crap? A Russian camera of course! But "what is the camera I should buy?" was the question I asked myself many years ago, and now I have a few dozens.😕

Just teasing.😱 I think a Zorki 3 or 3M is a good choice. These cameras seem to be better built. One of my smoothest Russian Leica-Contax camera is a Zorki 3M. It has a very bright view finder, a removeable back, and strap lugs. J-3, J-12, J-9 are all good optics IMO.

Zhang,

Any lense that you want to let loose?

Going to GuangZhou in the chinese new year. Might go there in Christimas to see extended family, not sure yet.




Will

 

[Will]

Hi Will,

A Bessa R? Who wants that plastic crap? A Russian camera of course! But "what is the camera I should buy?" was the question I asked myself many years ago, and now I have a few dozens.😕

Just teasing.😱 I think a Zorki 3 or 3M is a good choice. These cameras seem to be better built. One of my smoothest Russian Leica-Contax camera is a Zorki 3M. It has a very bright view finder, a removeable back, and strap lugs. J-3, J-12, J-9 are all good optics IMO.

Zhang,

Is the Zorki 3's VF much better than Fed 1, Zorki 1? Like them for the small size, but dislike them for the seperate RF, VF. Any comment on it?

Thanks




Will

 

[zhang xk]

Zhang,

Is the Zorki 3's VF much better than Fed 1, Zorki 1? Like them for the small size, but dislike them for the seperate RF, VF. Any comment on it?

Thanks




Will

Will,

A Z-3's view finder is VERY bright, almost like a Leica M's. A Fed-1 and Zorki 1 is a Russian Leica IIF copy. I think a Zorki 3 is a mix of Leica M and Contax II. But as I said , you may end up with all the variations of Russian gears. That is the very beginning of GAS.😀 :bang:

 

[Will]

Will,

A Z-3's view finder is VERY bright, almost like a Leica M's. A Fed-1 and Zorki 1 is a Russian Leica IIF copy. I think a Zorki 3 is a mix of Leica M and Contax II. But as I said , you may end up with all the variations of Russian gears. That is the very beginning of GAS.😀 :bang:

I am deep in GAS for East Germany (CZJ) and Russian stuffs.

Wanna get a FD mount body, so I can buy a 75mm f/1.5 Biotar and Helios 44 (85mm, f/1.5; both lense need a adapter), but this have to wait.

Just sent an enquiry for a I-61LD, J8 Black, J9 Black.

Wish me luck.