Chinese Red Flag 20 and lenses

[breathstealer]

Hi Zhang,

Do you have any info about the Hongmei HM-1 folder or the Eastar TLR? I recently picked up both in Beijing, and while both shoot well, I don't know anything about them.

Thanks.

 

[zhang xk]

Hi Zhang,

Do you have any info about the Hongmei HM-1 folder or the Eastar TLR? I recently picked up both in Beijing, and while both shoot well, I don't know anything about them.

Thanks.

Hi,

Both are dual format 120 cameras(12 and 16 frames per roll) that can produce sharp images for the bigger negative. I prefer the Hongmei for its smaller size, and the shutter is reliable for its simple construction as those Lubitel 166's.

They are often seen for sale, so that they are not very rare. The Dong Fang (east) looks like a Rolleiflex on the shelf, right?

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

A M45 mount 58/2 lens

A M45 mount 58/2 lens

Hi,

Here is a rare M45 mount 58/2 lens. I think the lens has the same design as those Chinese 58/2 Biotar for 35mm SLRs. But why M45 mount? Is there a M45 mount enlarger? The front lens element is deeply recessed, so it has a built-in lens shade. It has a S/N of 74035. Perhaps very few were made.

I have convertered it to a LTM 39 lens for Chinese and Russian rangefinder cameras.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

A Arri-Leica M mount adaptor

A Arri-Leica M mount adaptor

Someone got the idea, and now some Arri standard to Leica M mount adaptors are offered for $199 each. Exactly the same concept as I posted in previous threads.
Some superb wide angle 35mm sine optics will find happiness on a Epson RD1 or Leica M8.

 

[zhang xk]

The very 1st Chinese TTL SLR

The very 1st Chinese TTL SLR

A Chinese collector (russian cameras) posted this image of the 1st Chinese TTL SLR, a 孔雀 DL-1 made by an electric meters factory. This is also the 1st model of Chinese SLR with a built-in meter. The s/n indicates that it is the very 1st camera made in 1976? I will check the production date. The nr.2 camera is also found in the hands of another collector, and it is a black version.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

Here is a rare M45 mount 58/2 lens. I think the lens has the same design as those Chinese 58/2 Biotar for 35mm SLRs. But why M45 mount? Is there a M45 mount enlarger? The front lens element is deeply recessed, so it has a built-in lens shade. It has a S/N of 74035. Perhaps very few were made.

I have convertered it to a LTM 39 lens for Chinese and Russian rangefinder cameras.

Cheers,

Zhang

Hi,

I just found out that the very rare Zijinshan SLR has a M45 mount. So I might have found a lens for that camera.

Zhang

 

[breathstealer]

Hi,

Both are dual format 120 cameras(12 and 16 frames per roll) that can produce sharp images for the bigger negative. I prefer the Hongmei for its smaller size, and the shutter is reliable for its simple construction as those Lubitel 166's.

They are often seen for sale, so that they are not very rare. The Dong Fang (east) looks like a Rolleiflex on the shelf, right?

Cheers,

Zhang

Thanks for the info. I was hoping that I had stumbled on some lucky rare find, but I guess that doesn't happen very often.

The good news is, they both take nice pictures. And that's what counts, right?

 

[Luiz Paracampo]

FED medium format

FED medium format

Dear members!

Have anyone ever seen a FED 670?
This camera was described by Bob Shell and one unit sold in E bay in 2004.
We must know thi rarity!!!!
Luiz Paracampo

 

[zhang xk]

Thanks for the info. I was hoping that I had stumbled on some lucky rare find, but I guess that doesn't happen very often.

The good news is, they both take nice pictures. And that's what counts, right?

They should be rare where you live. The lens of Easter is not an exact copy of Seagull's. The diameter of the front element is a bit larger. It is much less common than Seagull 4Bs. The brand name should be East or Orient for 东方. This reminds me of the "Five Goats" when it should be "Five Rams".

 

[breathstealer]

They should be rare where you live. The lens of Easter is not an exact copy of Seagull's. The diameter of the front element is a bit larger. It is much less common than Seagull 4Bs. The brand name should be East or Orient for 东方. This reminds me of the "Five Goats" when it should be "Five Rams".

Ah, I didn't know that. It's only got "EASTAR" written on the front, though come to think of it, there is a tiny "Dong Fang" on the action finder cover.

They probably weren't rare where I bought them though - Beijing is probably rolling in them

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

Here are a couple of Chinese military optical devices. Not photographic euipment, but still made by Chinese factories perhaps with Carl zeiss Jena assistance. So the low quality civilain photographic equipment mainly is an issue of affordability rather than a capability of making high quality products. I assume if one of the factories made the Red Flag 20, the quality could be much better. But in 1960-70's, military equipment factories were too busy. USSR was a big threat then.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Nickfed]

Not much military about the rightmost one. It's a dumpy level, of regular design. The raised piece suggests it is not self-levelling and thus a bit dated but still servicable.

 

[zhang xk]

Not much military about the rightmost one. It's a dumpy level, of regular design. The raised piece suggests it is not self-levelling and thus a bit dated but still servicable.

Thanks. I know it is an old Carl Zeiss servey level. I post it for comparison for build quality. It is in military green, so it might have been used for militry construction site? I know that many Chinese precision instruments manufacturers had Zeiss connections, and some are making products bearing Zeiss or Swiss logos under license agreement.

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

Some more Chinese toys. A 8x30 wide angle military binoculars with an infrared filter. This type 62 binoculars is often seen on used markets. It compares well to Zeiss binoculars for optical quality, and it has a wider angle of view.

This is an uncommon Chinese TV lens that looks similar to a Zeiss Tevidon TV zoom lens. And a set of special effect filters neatly packed in a case.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

A camera auction was held recently in Shenyang. A Five Goat TLR was sold for RMB 2,600, and a rare Dalian TLR fetched RMB 7,000! I saw a very rare Changchun TLR some years ago for RMB 200+, but I passed it.:bang: Some rare Chinese cameras began to show their potential of collector's value.

I will show you some less common Chinese TLRs in my collection when I got time.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

I just saw these LF APO lenses that cover 4x5 up to 12" frame. Feiyue is a well known Chinese brand for LF and reproduction lenses, but I didn't know they made these high quality lenses.

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Very rare Zhujiang 120 microscope camera

Very rare Zhujiang 120 microscope camera

Zhujiang 120 folder is already rare, and this one is almost impossible to find. Unfortunately, when I saw it, it was already sold out for a not too high price.

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

I did a simple test of the Medium Format 1000mm mirror lens again ,and compared it with my MTO 1000A 1100/10.5. I found out that the Hassylblad mount 1000mm lens is not a F8 lens,but a F6.3( or maybe a F5.6) fast lens. When the shutter speed for the MTO is 1/80, the shutter speed for the Chinese mirror is 1/250! I used the selftimer to trigger the shutter, and the lens was mounted on a grain bag.
The slightly over exposured is a MTO image, that the image is also slightly larger for the 1100mm focual length. Both are 100% crop of original files without PS. There is also a full frame image shot with Canon zoom at 55mm. See how tiny the poster looks with a 55mm(88mm on a full frame) lens.

This medium format Chinese lens is really a rare bird, and a good quality lens. The resolving power is at least equal to the MTO's, and the contrast seems a little higher. Would this be a desirable lens if China made them in big numbers? This is really a most interesting Chinese military quality toy.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[J-Paul]

Hi Zhang

This ZHUJIANG 120 microscope camera is magnificent. I like (also) many the medical cameras> Nikon, Olympus, Contarex...

I didn't know this model at all.

Thank you for the pics.

I found a MUDAN camera lately> Rollei copy and also a strange CRF 35mm GREAT WALL SZ-1.
Do you know this models and have yourselves of the information on them?

Thank you very much of advance.

If you want some pics, ask me.

Cheers
JP

 

[zhang xk]

Hi Zhang

This ZHUJIANG 120 microscope camera is magnificent. I like (also) many the medical cameras> Nikon, Olympus, Contarex...

I didn't know this model at all.

Thank you for the pics.

I found a MUDAN camera lately> Rollei copy and also a strange CRF 35mm GREAT WALL SZ-1.
Do you know this models and have yourselves of the information on them?

Thank you very much of advance.

If you want some pics, ask me.

Cheers
JP

Hi J-Paul,

Mudan(peony) TLR has many models, and some can be quite rare. The single format one with a crank lever for film advance like a Seagull 4A,but with a 4E/3G taking lens, and the one with a build-in meter, the model with a 1/400 top speed,etc are relatively uncommon. What is your model?

The Great Wall SZ-1 is an interesting camera with a spring film winding. The earliest SZ-1 with a Beijing brand logo, and some with Mao's slogen are very rare,and often sells for much more. I think the camera can take about 10 pictures for each winding. ST Denny estimated about 100,000 SZ-1 were made. The original price was RMB 120 in 1980's.

Cheers,

Zhang