Chinese RF Named Anzio

[Harlee]

At the camera store today I noticed a 35mm RF camera in the showcase named something like "Anzio." That may not be correct but it's something like that. It was brand new, with case for $49.00. It has a split screen focusing, and appears to be an aperature preferred exposure system. It can also be used in a program mode. A button on the front of the camera activates a three diod system in the viewfinder for correct exposure. It's made of plastic and appears to be rather rather sparse in appearance.

I focused it in the camera shop and the exposure diods read green at F2.8. Not sure of what shutter speed it was selecting and I'm not sure how it knows what film speed you're using since there aren't any contacts in the film chamber. I'm wondering if anyone has seen or used one and what's their opinion of it. Is it a toy camera similar to a Diana? I restrained myself from buying it but I think it would be an interesting "toy" to play with.

 

[farlymac]

You'll never know till you run some film through it. When you say 'brand new', is that as in 'recently manufactured', or 'new/old stock'?

PF

 

[Harlee]

I didn't ask, but I was told that the store bought several of them which surprised me. It would be great if it were newly manufactured cause that would give some indication that the 35mm film camera industry isn't dead; well, at least in China!!! As I think about it, though I looked at the lens, I didn't look to see if the film ISO could be adjusted on the lens. I usually catch things like that but somehow I missed it. I'm going back to take another look at it and possibly get a digpic of it.

 

[farlymac]

Will be waiting for your full and comprehensive report.

PF

 

[xwhatsit]

It didn't look like this, did it?

This is the Phenix JG-50 (yes, Phenix, not Phoenix, heh). It's a Chinese rebrand of the Yasuhara T981 (http://www.cameraquest.com/yasu2.htm). I would love to try one of these! Look fairly "homely" though 😛

The JG-50 was a limited edition (50 years of the People's Republic), but I think Phenix made plenty of normal ones too.

 

[Harlee]

No, it doesn't look like the Phenix JG-50. The one I'm talking about was similar to one of the black plastic fixed focus give away cameras similar to one that advertises "TIME" or something similar, except it has split image focusing and adjustable F Stops with diods in the viewfinder. Is the Phenix still mfg. in China?

 

[pinkarmy]

yes, Phenix still mfg. in China.
check this:
http://www.lomouno.cn/wiki/2007-11-22/359.html

according to this site, Phenix "still maintain the current annual sales of 10 million units of the Phoenix 205 series camera".

 

[xwhatsit]

yes, Phenix still mfg. in China.
check this:
http://www.lomouno.cn/wiki/2007-11-22/359.html

according to this site, Phenix "still maintain the current annual sales of 10 million units of the Phoenix 205 series camera".

10 million a year! Not 10,000? Even 10,000 a year is pretty impressive for a 1960s-style fixed lens rangefinder. Neat!

EDIT: I see the article does in fact say 10 million. What the!

 

[varjag]

Funny how their removed the metering diode on lens besel in the commemorative version - renders the camera non-functional.

 

[pinkarmy]

10 million a year! Not 10,000? Even 10,000 a year is pretty impressive for a 1960s-style fixed lens rangefinder. Neat!

EDIT: I see the article does in fact say 10 million. What the!

"10 million" is a typical Google Translate mistake/joke. The original Chinese text said "100,000 Plus"----that is still impressive/crazy...but, afterall, China is stranger than fiction...

 

[laoyou]

It is not 10 million. It is ~100,000 (10万余台).

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Odd choice, the name Anzio. Must sound cool to the Chinese.
Naming and marketing is questionable, but good for a laugh.

Sharing the name of the site of a major WWII battle potential buyers
won't find this camera on the first page of a Google search, if at all...

Chris