Old Chinese lenses - are there any?

Capo Dei Capi said:

I do a lot of business trips in Asia and i was wondering if the Chinese make any old lenses like the soviets did. I see plenty of lenses coming out Russia and Ukraine but are there any worth looking out for in China?

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The Haio-64 was a 58mm f/2 standard lens for the Seagull Df, in Minolta SR mount. Another Biotar clone, perhaps?

Thanks for the info, I'll lookout for one of those on my travels.

Ask your question at this website. You will get more information than you expect.

Capo Dei Capi said:

Hi,

I do a lot of business trips in Asia and i was wondering if the Chinese make any old lenses like the soviets did. I see plenty of lenses coming out Russia and Ukraine but are there any worth looking out for in China?

Thanks

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They were Chinese copies of the Russian copies of the German reparations designs.

Thanks for all the information, i'll post an update if i manage to find any after my next trip.

Capo Dei Capi said:

Thanks for all the information, i'll post an update if i manage to find any after my next trip.

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I will be interested to see the outcome. The Russian camera/lens industry was vast and literally made millions of cameras and lenses. This is why there are so many still about and that they are relatively cheap.

I am not sure just big the Chinese industry was and how many lenses were actually made. Furthermore the country has been in various stages and types of internal turmoil until fairly recent tmes. Just as much as many of the Russian greats of photography preferred to use Leica RF bodies I am not sure just what market bought the Chinese made cameras and lenses.

All that said - it will be another area of interest explored. Some pre-search and investigation of the lens types via internet would be useful.

Here is a good place to start:


For anyone seriously interested in the Chinese camera industry the book "The Camera Industry of the Chinese People's Republic" mentioned here might also be a good read.

There was far more to it than I had imagined and the Seagull company still exists.

Its funny, but these old Chinese companies seemed to make everything, I'm sure the same companies, Shanghai and Seagull are the same companies that used to make watches and most probably other things as well, i know Seagull still makes watches and i think you can buy the Shanghai brand as well.

I'm not expecting amazing quality photos, more just an interest.

Anyway, next trip is late March, so lets see what i can find, I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks for the info..