North Korean Film Camera at Philharmonic Concert

[M. Valdemar]

The Wall Street Journal reported that the TV crews from the North Korean media were still using film movie cameras.

Film movie cameras are almost completely dead in Western news organizations.

Can anyone identify the camera? Russian?

I wonder what film they use?

 

[naos]

South Korean Media was reporting the same thing. It makes me wonder if they produce their own film or are using old Soviet stock.

 

[bmattock]

Actually, I had read that North Korea does have at least one film manufacturing plant.

 

[bmattock]

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/08092007/shipping03.html

Here's a news photo of North Korean news photographers taking footage in 2002 with what appear to be standard (for the time) video cameras.

Wonder what happened to make them go back to film?

 

[parsec1]

There not stupid. After WW3 they know all the transistors on the wests magic picture boxes will have blown and North Korea will have the world monopoly on news pictures.
(Apart from Film leica users of course)

Be afraid be very afraid...........

 

[naos]

Can you imagine if NK became the world's producer and supplier of film?

 

[PhotoJim]

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/08092007/shipping03.html

Here's a news photo of North Korean news photographers taking footage in 2002 with what appear to be standard (for the time) video cameras.

Wonder what happened to make them go back to film?

North Korea is a controlled economy. It's entirely possible that some people use newer technologies while others persist with older ones.

 

[M. Valdemar]

Maybe it's some model of Konvas?

http://www.geocities.com/kinor35/konvas-2m/k-2m.htm

 

[LynnL]

It's an ARRI BL, 35mm, appears to be a the original model, the lug bosses under the lens mounted a blimp for prime lenses. It dates back at least to the early 80's.

 

[Tuolumne]

The film cameras are empty. Makes it easier to control the news.

/T

 

[naos]

Must hand it to them for having the best dressed and fittest looking photographers. A far cry from the free world of obese photogs wearing baggy stone-washed jeans and pizza-stained t-shirts, with mis-matched socks.

He probably doubles as a security guard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jM9Qzs9isY

 

[chikne]

I guess they want to be sure their propaganda is archival. 😉

Yeah unlike US propaganda, where they make sure the opposite is true.

 

[Ororaro]

oh man! what a video!

 

[Ororaro]

The film cameras are empty. Makes it easier to control the news.

/T

LOL! Good one!

 

[David Murphy]

Well you know high quality features for TV here are often done in film -- it sure ain't dead here or there, it's what you look to for 1st rate quality. I'd say the North Koreans were pretty serious about documenting a historic event.

 

[breathstealer]

I wonder what their still photogs were using.

 

[Luddite Frank]

I wonder what their still photogs were using.

camera obscura ?

 

[M. Valdemar]

Here's a pm I received from someone who wishes to remain nameless:

In another life I am an active observer of DPRK affairs and - I believe - the only person to have made an academic study of photography in the homeland of Juche.

Although I cannot identify the specific model, which is outside my field of interest, It is not unlikely that the camera is Chinese, possibly a Qinhuangdao - similar models remain in production.

Generally DPKR movies were shot on Fuji stock. The DPKR film industry is well-developed, with KJI famously taking considerable personal interest in its workings and personnel. The use of film stock is deliberate when filming "controversial" subjects as it provides a definable object which can be physically edited or destroyed and is harder to copy (hence more easily controlled) than video tapes. In recent years second-hand Chinese VCRs and cameras have flooded the DPRK and caused enormous concern to the regime: A huge black market in South Korean soap operas has blossomed and here have also been a trickle of dissident tapes, exposing conditions within the country.

On the still photography front, in 2005 Andre Lankov, the only person in any real position to know, estimated 1 in 5 families owned a camera, the enormous majority being of Soviet origin, although propaganda persists in showing 5 year-olds toting Nikon SLRs. I have always thought Lankov's estimate rather high - but it is probably true for Pyongyang. The only camera I have ever seen in private ownership was a solitary FED 2.

 

[pachuco]

The film cameras are empty. Makes it easier to control the news.

/T

LOL!!! 😀

That is funny!

 

[erkanumut]

The Wall Street Journal reported that the TV crews from the North Korean media were still using film movie cameras.

Film movie cameras are almost completely dead in Western news organizations.

Can anyone identify the camera? Russian?

I wonder what film they use?

No, this is a German Arriflex 35BL (first model aka I) 35mm camera. I have witnessed the same in 90's in Kyrgyzstan.