Chinese Red Flag 20 and lenses

[J-Paul]

Thanks, Zhang
Cheers
JP

 

[zhang xk]

More production numbers:

26, Xingfu (happiness) 120 box camera, a copy of Juwel. 75,000 cameas made in Tianjin between 1956-1959.

27, Xingfu-2 simple 120 camera, 11,000 cameas made in 1959 in Tianjin.

28, Xingguang (star light) 135mmm bakelite camera, about 20,000 cameras made in 1959-1960 in Beijing.

29, Valing 120, 127 box camera, made in 1940's in Shanghai. Rare for their age.

30, Laodong (labour) I,II, 120 camera. about 10,000 cameras made in 1960 in Shanghai.

31, Feiyue(jump&fly) DC-741 120 rangefinder camera with a fixed 75/3.5 lens. 10 cameras were made in 1974 in Wuxi, Jiangshu province.

32, Nanjing 58-2, a copy of Fed-2. about 2,000 cameras made in 1958 in Nanjing.

33, Bailing(lark) 821 early model. 135mm rangefinder with a fixed 40/2 lens which is a Summicron copy. about 600 cameras made in 1982 in Henan province.

34, Huaxia 821, same as Bailing 821. 150,000 cameras were made since 1983.

35, Huaxia 822, same as Huaxia 821, with a hot shoe. 400,000+ cameras made since 1984.

36, Huaxia 823, same as Huaxia 822 with multiple exposure. 99,000 cameras with many cosmetic versions.

37, Huaxia 841, same as 823 with a build-in meter. about 30,000 cameras made since 1988.

38, Xihu(west lake) 35, a copy of Mometta. LTM mount, 50/3.5 lens. focal plane shutter 1/2-1/500. 3 cameras were hand made in 1959 in Hangzhou.

39, Xihu PT, 135mm rangefinder with a fixed 40/2.8 lens. about 30,000 cameras were made since 1972 in Hangzhou.

40, Zhujiang H801, 135 rangefinder with a fixed 37/1.8 4g/6e lens. 1197 cameras made since 1979 by a few militray factories in Henan. Later those factories made Huaxia series cameras.

TBC.

 

[J-Paul]

Hello Zhang,

Thank you for these very interesting numbers!! :angel:
For the Seagull 501 camera, it is a friend who has this model without number nor no engraving. Is this maybe a protoptype?
He bought it 15 years ago to Hong Kong on a "flea market" (?).

I found this site on this camera.

http://www.eyescoffee.com/collectcamera/seagull501/index.php



Thank you again for your help.

If it interests you, what he/it seems me while reading you, I have as a few microscope cameras that I can present you...

Cheers

JP

 

[zhang xk]

Hello Zhang,

Thank you for these very interesting numbers!! :angel:
For the Seagull 501 camera, it is a friend who has this model without number nor no engraving. Is this maybe a protoptype?
.....Thank you again for your help.

If it interests you, what he/it seems me while reading you, I have as a few microscope cameras that I can present you...

Cheers

JP

Hi JP,

In this new book, there is no such a Seagull 501 version, so it could be a prototype. It is a very rare camera. I have a Seagull 501 stored somewhere. Mine is a gift from a friend of mine. This new book does not mention Seagull 501's production number. These are interesing Cultural Revolution relics.

I believe those numbers were never published before, so I post them FYI.
If you have more interesting Chinese cameras, I will be glad to see what they look like.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

More production numbers.

41, Shanghai 58-IV, a Rolleiflex copy. 11 cameras made in 1958 in Shanghai.

42, Shanghai 4A, only a few prototypes made in 1963 in Shanghai.

43, Shanghai 4, 120 TLR, made in Shanghai since 1962. according to my examples, some 60,000+ cameras were made until July 1973.

44, Seagull 4, 120 TLR, the same as Shanghai 4, made until March 1967. about 50,000 cameras.

45, Seagull 4A-1, same as Seagull 4A but with a Tesser type taking lens. Not mass produced.

46, Seagull 40 anniversary gold edition. 2,500 cameras made in 1998.

47, Seagull 4B, 120 TLR, economy version of Seagull TLR. 1,272,997 cameras were made since 1967.

48, Seagull 4C, 120 TLR with 135mm film kit. 33,545 cameras made since 1968.

49. Tiantan 120 TLR type A and B, some 20,000 cameras made since 1959 in Beijing. 20 type C cameras, a copy of Yashica D were made in 1961.

50, Changhong 120 TLr, similar to Dalai 120 TLR, made in beijing since 1961. 7,000+ cameras.

51, FIVE-GOATS 120 TLR, made in Guangzhou since 1967. About 1,500 cameras.

52, Zhujiang 7 120 TLR, a copy of Rolleiflex 2.8F. Less than 200 cameras. Sold for RMB 5,600 in 1970's. Its taking lens has one more element, and has a resolution of 64 lp/mm.

53, Zhujiang 5(Pearl River 5) 120 TLR, another Rolleiflex copy with a 3e/3g taking lens, and a crank film winding. Prototypes only.

54, Shanghai DF 135 SLR, about 200 cameras made since 1964. Prototypes has a shutter with speeds B, 1-1/600.

55, Seagull DF, the same as Shanghai DF. 130,000+ cameras made since 1968.

TBC.

 

[zhang xk]

Here is an image that shows the early and later versions of Shanghai 203 120 folder. Earlier version has smaller inscripions on the top plate. Less Shanghai 203s were made than Shanghai 582, and the early version is a rare camera.

I only have later Shanghai 203. Shanghai 203s are generally better finished than Seagull 203,and the 75/3.5 lens is generally sharper.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

More numbers.

56, Seagull DF-1, white and black version. C1971 in Shanghai. About 40,000 cameras. It is a better made camera than the DF.

57, Seagull DF-2 with TLL metering. C 1982. Much less often seen than DF-1.

58, Seagull DF-1TEM with TTL metering, C1984. About 50,000 cameras.

59, Seagull DF-3. made in 1982. 3 prototypes only.

60, Phenix JG303M 135SLR made in 1983. 8 prototypes. It is the first Chinese TTL 135 SLR with a 50/1.4 normal lens.

61, Changcheng DFA-CL 135 SLR, inspired by Nikon FTN. only 4 prototypes made in 1975 in Beijing.

62, Tianchi SLR, 135 SLR with a 56mm F1.9 normal lens. 30 cameras made since 1961-1964 in Changchun.

63, Dongfeng 120 SLR. Hassylblad 500C copy with a 1/1500 top speed. 97 cameras made between 1979-1976.

64, Zijingshan (purple gold mountain) 135 SLR M39 mount. About 2,000 cameras made in 1958.

65, Huaxi S-90 135 SLR, Made since 1992 in Sichuan. Less than 1,000 cameras.

66, Chenguang 135 SLR. 52/1.4 normal lens, M44x1 mount. Less than 200 cameras were made between 1959-1963 for all versions. I, II,621, IIIa, D1-IIIA, D1-IIIB.


These are production numbers found in thsi book. The author is working on a revised edition with additional and more accurate information.

 

[zhang xk]

A 55/0.8 lens made in 1958

A 55/0.8 lens made in 1958

An extremely rare 55mm F0.8 lens was made in 1958 by the same institute that made the other lens. A Chinese collector posted an image on the web.

 

[zhang xk]

An extremely rare 55mm F0.8 lens was made in 1958 by the same institute that made the other lens. A Chinese collector posted an image on the web.

Hi,

Here is another interesting optical toy, a portable microscope for military use. It was made in 1971. Nikon made a similar product. But they are not exactly the same. This is not one of those toy microscopes.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Will]

Hi Zhang,

Nice to see you stick around till now.

Took a break from photography since March, and got into Tubes Hi Fi.

Got any spare "working" FED 1 or 2s laying around wanting to pass them on?

Cheers





Will

 

[zhang xk]

Hi Zhang,

Nice to see you stick around till now.

Took a break from photography since March, and got into Tubes Hi Fi.

Got any spare "working" FED 1 or 2s laying around wanting to pass them on?

Cheers



Hi Will,

Nice to see you again! I saw that you use some adapted cine optics. How do they perform? There are many Chinese from main land, Taiwan, and Hong Kong who are now crazy with these lenses.

I haven't found another Huaguang LF lens yet. I will let you know if one day I wish to sell one of the Fed-1,2s. Not interested in a Fed 5C, 5B?

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Will]

Hi Zhang,

Nice to see you stick around till now.

Took a break from photography since March, and got into Tubes Hi Fi.

Got any spare "working" FED 1 or 2s laying around wanting to pass them on?

Cheers



Hi Will,

Nice to see you again! I saw that you use some adapted cine optics. How do they perform? There are many Chinese from main land, Taiwan, and Hong Kong who are now crazy with these lenses.

I haven't found another Huaguang LF lens yet. I will let you know if one day I wish to sell one of the Fed-1,2s. Not interested in a Fed 5C, 5B?

Cheers,

Zhang

Hello Zhang,

Oh, that Kern lens, is for Alpa SLR.

Zorki 5 would be good, going for either small (FED 1) or long base RF (Fed 2, Zorki 5, 6), as a everyday camera (something I wanted to do but hold off for a long time).

Got into tubes audio resently, got a Single Ended EL34 amp, an preamp had been ordered, not arrive yet, but already brought some 1960s Sylvania 6SN7 for them (crome tops).

Zhang, you started shooting from that 16000mm mirror lens yet?







Will

 

[zhang xk]

Will,

That missle tracking lens is too heavy, and I believe it is a 2000mm F7 lens. I may be the only Chinese hobbist who owns such a monster. And no one has shown another Hassyblad mount 1000mm F6.7 lens yet. I have managed to find quite a few very rare Chinese lenses.

Zorki 5 is a very nice camera with a lever wind and a very bright finder. Only Zorki 5 and Leningrad has a red logo.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Will]

Will,

That missle tracking lens is too heavy, and I believe it is a 2000mm F7 lens. I may be the only Chinese hobbist who owns such a monster. And no one has shown another Hassyblad mount 1000mm F6.7 lens yet. I have managed to find quite a few very rare Chinese lenses.

Zorki 5 is a very nice camera with a lever wind and a very bright finder. Only Zorki 5 and Leningrad has a red logo.

Cheers,

Zhang

Zhang, when you get that mount on the lense, you can sell it like $10k RMB in BJ or SH, or GZ or SZ, or even HK

Someone will buy it

Hey, there is a Nikon 300mm/2.0 in Gernal camera in HK. going at $80k HKD, I think you can offer 70%~80% and get that bad boy home.

Still haven't found any Zorki locally, but no rush.

 

[zhang xk]

Zhang, when you get that mount on the lense, you can sell it like $10k RMB in BJ or SH, or GZ or SZ, or even HK

Someone will buy it

Hey, there is a Nikon 300mm/2.0 in Gernal camera in HK. going at $80k HKD, I think you can offer 70%~80% and get that bad boy home.

Still haven't found any Zorki locally, but no rush.

Will,

I feel that missle lens could sell much more to the ones who need it to track a missle, not a bird. Maybe someone in middle east would be interested?

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Will]

Will,

I feel that missle lens could sell much more to the ones who need it to track a missle, not a bird. Maybe someone in middle east would be interested?

Cheers,

Zhang

Zhang,

We need an asian investor, then a middle east buyer

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

Here is another Zeiss copy, a 28/2 cine prime. It was made by Guanguang for the Heping 35 35mm movie cameras. Heping 35 is a copy of Arriflex 35II. Some Chinese motion pictures were shot with this camera.

This lens has a very large image circle that can almost cover full 135mm frame, so that it could be used on a Zorki or Leica with an adaptor. It certainly cover the sensor area of Leica M8 and Epson RD-1s. I wish this lens was made in Leica M mount. It could sell well. I also saw some 85/2, 75/2,150/2.8 cine optics, but I passed them. A Jupiter-9 and Jupiter 11 could do just ifne.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Hi,

Here is another Zeiss copy, a 28/2 cine prime. It was made by Guanguang for the Heping 35 35mm movie cameras. Heping 35 is a copy of Arriflex 35II. Some Chinese motion pictures were shot with this camera.

This lens has a very large image circle that can almost cover full 135mm frame, so that it could be used on a Zorki or Leica with an adaptor. It certainly cover the sensor area of Leica M8 and Epson RD-1s. I wish this lens was made in Leica M mount. It could sell well. I also saw some 85/2, 75/2,150/2.8 cine optics, but I passed them. A Jupiter-9 and Jupiter 11 could do just ifne.

Cheers,

Zhang

Here are a couple of images shot with 28/2, 40/2 35mm movie lenses plus a Chinese 2x cine teleconverter at F4. The image is only re-sized, and no PS. Both lenses are high quality optics. With a 2x converter, these lens could cover full 135 frames, and the image quality is still very good. I also tested a Zeiss 50/1.4 Biotar and a Carl Zeiss Jena Tevidon 70/2.8 HD cine lenses. The image quality are about the same. These can only be used as a macro lens on a 135 SLR, but will be good for a digital rangefinder with an APS size sensor.
The 3rd image is a 100% crop of the 40/2 lens without PS.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[zhang xk]

Changcheng 20/2 +2x

Changcheng 20/2 +2x

Here is an image shot with Beijing 608 factory's Changcheng 20/2 35mm cine prime plus a Changcheng cine 2x teleconverer made in 1970's. The image of the seashell is only re-sized without sharpening. The other image is a 100% crop without sharpening. What would a Leitz and Zeiss 20mm F2 lens cost? 608 factory should continue making these lenses for digital rangefinder cameras. This 1976 20/2 cine prime is small and light, and it focuses down to 0.3m. This lens has brass helical thread so that it focus silk smooth.

Thanks for viewing.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Will]

Hi Zhang,

Ever heard of the art promoter called 中艺联（北京）文化发展中心 ?

Will be dealing with them on representation on a certain Hong Kong artist.

Do you know any other Art Promoter/Gallery/Dealer in BJ?

Cheers



Will