Chinese Red Flag 20 and lenses

[Will]

Not the two old man on trollies, I don't deal with him either because of their detatchment from reality, this guy I mantioned wears glasses and cap and looks to be in his 50s. Nice chap. He also had quite a few modded items, but he doesn't put it on the table so you will have to ask. BTW What is that monster in your last foto?

Better try my luck in Guangzhou for any modifications or special items.

Custom hood for canon 50/0.95, the lens, a canon 7s.

Show me your toys!!! 😀

 

[zhang xk]

Thanks Zhang, any idea how much they cost? Are they still in production? I do a lot of hacking with spotmatics and I am sure they are up to snuff for a lot of my projects. I know someone in HK who turned a spotmatic into a M mount camera without RF in the manner of Leica A.

If you can find a new Mingca MCK-1000, it would cost about RMB700 with the normal lens. A new Pearl River S-207 is hard to find. Used ones would cost about RMB 500. Used Spotmatic cost about the same.

Could a Zorki 6 or 4k be modefied to a M mount camera? Camera is only a dark box, the optics decides.

 

[zhang xk]

Zhang,

thanks for the info, about how much thickness is the washers?

I already have a M42 to LTM adapter, now just need the washer.

How do you hold the lens? Masking tape?

Zhang, is mid June good for going to BJ?

I might move to Guangdong - dongguang ( 廣東 - 東莞 ) again in early June, then I will take a holiday or something...




Will

I think you will have to try with each individual adaptor and lens. For my 50/1.3, it is about 1mm. Now I put a piece of tape on the mount of the lens and force it into the adaptor. It is quite tight. But I may make a dedicated adaptor with a screw on the side to tighten the lens.

Mid June will be very hot in Beijing. Do you also have some Arri standard mount cine optics? I would guess Zeiss 35mm primes could produce some very good results on a RD-1. Someone already sell some cine optics for this application on the big site.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Will]

I think you will have to try with each individual adaptor and lens. For my 50/1.3, it is about 1mm. Now I put a piece of tape on the mount of the lens and force it into the adaptor. It is quite tight. But I may make a dedicated adaptor with a screw on the side to tighten the lens.

Mid June will be very hot in Beijing. Do you also have some Arri standard mount cine optics? I would guess Zeiss 35mm primes could produce some very good results on a RD-1. Someone already sell some cine optics for this application on the big site.

Cheers,

Zhang

Zhang,

No, but Arri mount lens in HK is not too expensive the last time I check (2 years ago).

Zhang, try this for your next lens,

http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/36...egoryZ28272QQitemZ6625312156QQrdZ1#la-image-4

 

[zhang xk]

Mudan MD-1D LED TLR

Mudan MD-1D LED TLR

This is another rare Chinese TLR with a build-in light meter. Mudan (peony) is a popular brand TLR, but this model is one of the few Chinese TLRs that has a light meter.

 

[zhang xk]

Zhang,

No, but Arri mount lens in HK is not too expensive the last time I check (2 years ago).

Zhang, try this for your next lens,

Will.

Thanks for the reminder. I already have something similar in mind. Here is a pair of 35/2.8 35mm cine lenses that were made for a prototype stereo lens by Nr,608 factory, but the prototype was not completed. With a little machining, these can be fitted into a Kiev lens mount or a LTM lens mount.

I aslo have some special microscope objectives that could also be used as photographic lenses with a proper adaptor.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[Hamster]

Thanks fot the info Zhang, that mans i can probably buy part from local camer repair people, which would safe me money from having to buy parts camera.

As for Zorki 6/M mount, I really have no idea as I have not looked into either, but be aware that M mount have a release button to the left, might possible interfere with the curtain rollers, and adapting that is quite a lot of work, probably means you will need some CNC equipment to do "neat" work. Also M mount flange-to-film distance is 1-2mm shorter than LTM, so doing a recessed mount within tolerances and keeping those tolerances would be a bit of a challenge.

And will, my toys are rather unspecial, I try to keep as much part commanality between my gear as possible, so I can do "field repairs" when i am working aboard. My inventory were just a few very poorly looking kievs and a few spotmatics. I tried to make sure any film equipment I own I am able to repair myself, so most of my stuff is rather boring. One of my potential project is adapting a J-9 to a no-name M42 lens barrel, if this works out I'll definately post some photos. BTW, do you know a good machinist in HK or GZ? I know some guy in HK is selling Contax to LTM adaptors, no idea who he is, but really would like to get hold of an "engineering sample".

 

[zhang xk]

A Chinese GFL polarizing microscope

A Chinese GFL polarizing microscope

Microscopes could also be considred as photographic equipment ,although few hobbyist actually owns one. But with such a device, one can find many unusual and interesting subjects.

This is a well made screw for screw Zeiss GFL copy made in 1962 by Shanghai Optical Instrument Factory. Even those special polarizing objectives were also made in China. I suspect that these are actually Zeiss parts assembled in China in these early years. Who knows?

 

[Will]

BTW, do you know a good machinist in HK or GZ? I know some guy in HK is selling Contax to LTM adaptors, no idea who he is, but really would like to get hold of an "engineering sample".

I only know some bad machinest in GZ, not up to commerical quality (ie, I don't sell the stuff they machined).

I have a Contax to M adapters, with a locally machined back mount (ie, the M mount). The originally contax helicard don't have enough materials to machine the LTM RF roller (way smaller then the M and the contax, after the contax/kiev's roller was machined, there just isn't enough materials).
I know I shop with a japanese one, they just won't sell...

It would be easier to CNC a new one. ($10k RMB sample fee, with CAD drawings etc? hahahaha )

Do you know the formula for the 51.6mm helicord? ie, how much the 50mm lens move out from foucing 1m to infinity? If we have the rate, then we can build one.

Also, you need to find out what's the mount register distance for the "internal mount".

Better reverse engineer the japense adapter, instead of the HK one.
General camera in HK tried to rverse engineer the switar adapter and came to nothing.

I think those non-chinese RFF members will think we are mad, but in some way we are!

 

[Will]

Zhang,

No, but Arri mount lens in HK is not too expensive the last time I check (2 years ago).

Zhang, try this for your next lens,

Will.

Thanks for the reminder. I already have something similar in mind. Here is a pair of 35/2.8 35mm cine lenses that were made for a prototype stereo lens by Nr,608 factory, but the prototype was not completed. With a little machining, these can be fitted into a Kiev lens mount or a LTM lens mount.

I aslo have some special microscope objectives that could also be used as photographic lenses with a proper adaptor.

Cheers,

Zhang

Zhang,

The 35mm lens and the RF roller move in a different rate. Can't just drop one in.

Leica Elmar have one helicord with the RF roller (one rate), and E.F.L is 51.6mm
Contax internal mount helicord should be build for lens with E.F.L of 52.3mm

So I guess if you just drop any 50mm lens, you have to shop-down to compensate foucs error. <== but we are playing with adapters/modification, this is expected!

 

[Will]

Zhang,

Does those Army Optics Factory still operate with design capability?

If so, can we pull a project together?

1.50mm f/1

2. open/fix aparture

3. single helicord

4. M mount

5. Major RF Hood and ND filters with the package.

I can get the packaging and the metal CNC done, but the optics are harder... LOL

 

[zhang xk]

Seagull 130 MF panorama camera

Seagull 130 MF panorama camera

This is another rare camera. Perhaps only a few prototypes were made. Mr. Zhao Junyi provided this photo.

I bought my copy of "Cameras of China" from him many years ago. He is a well known Chinese cameras collector.

 

[zhang xk]

Zhang,

Does those Army Optics Factory still operate with design capability?

If so, can we pull a project together?

1.50mm f/1

2. open/fix aparture

3. single helicord

4. M mount

5. Major RF Hood and ND filters with the package.

I can get the packaging and the metal CNC done, but the optics are harder... LOL

Will,

This factory is closed. What a pity! I bought a few items from a retired employee of this factory. Their fast cine optics are of very high quality, but not cheap.

All those wide angle fast primes cost RMB 3,000-4,000 each some years ago. I espcially like the 20mm F2 and the 35mm F1.28. These are still much cheaper than similar Zeiss optics.

I know there are some very good machinists in Hong Kong who can hack almost everything. 😛 If I can find that 50/0.8 lens, I may wish to convert it to fit a Fed-2. 😀

 

[wlewisiii]

Zhang,

I find that Mudan TLR quite interesting. Can you provide any further information about it? Here in the middle of the US you'll occassionally see a Seagull TLR in a photoshop - how do the two compare? What is the cost like?

Thank you,

William

 

[zhang xk]

Zhujiang 4S and Huaying TLRs

Zhujiang 4S and Huaying TLRs

Zhujiang 4S (Pearl River 4s) was the last model TLR made by Guangzhou Camera Factory. Very small number of cameras were sold on the market. It added a cold shoe and a new 1/300 top speed shutter with slow speeds to the common Pearl River 4.

Huaying TLR was mentioned in St Denny's book. But now a new-in-box camera is not easy to find.

 

[zhang xk]

Zhang,

I find that Mudan TLR quite interesting. Can you provide any further information about it? Here in the middle of the US you'll occassionally see a Seagull TLR in a photoshop - how do the two compare? What is the cost like?

Thank you,

William

Hi William,

That Mudan MD-1D is the same camera as a Seagull 4B, but with a build-in light meter. This is a very uncommon Chinese TLR so that it became a collector's item. It cost about 5-6 times of a Seagull 4B or 4B-1 here in Beijing if you can find one(about US$100+).

If you want to take pictures, an earlier Seagull 4B dual format TLR is the best value for the money. I find optical quality on those earlier cameras is somewhat better than later ones. I will post an image of an early Seagull 4 or 4B FYI.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[wlewisiii]

Great information! I would be looking for a shooter, so I'll have to see if I can track down a 4B.

Thank you,

William

 

[zhang xk]

Great information! I would be looking for a shooter, so I'll have to see if I can track down a 4B.

Thank you,

William

William,

Here is an image FYI. On the left is the 4B dual format with red window frame counting and the Seagull 4 has an automatic frame counter, and is a single format camera. Both are earlier types with white faces and black numbers. These earlier TLRs could perform as well as those new Seagull TLRs that could cost $300+.

But you must check for a sticky shutter and selftimer on these old cameras.

Cheers,

Zhang

 

[wlewisiii]

Zhang,

Thank you again. I have saved the image so that when I'm poking around the various auction sites I can recall which ones I'm really looking for.

On the dual format, that is 6x6 & 6x4.5 I imagine?

William

 

[zhang xk]

Zhang,

Thank you again. I have saved the image so that when I'm poking around the various auction sites I can recall which ones I'm really looking for.

On the dual format, that is 6x6 & 6x4.5 I imagine?

William

Ah, Yes. You can take 16 frames with a Seagull 4. The Seagull 4C is a 3 format camera including 135mm. 😛