Post by nikkortorokkor on Jun 10, 2010 18:41:20 GMT -5
The 紫金山 Z-135-1 (Purple Mountain Z-135-1) is my new Holy Grail - China's 1st SLR, prototype produced in 1958 and production beginning in March 1959 at the Nanjing Camera Plant.
From what I understand, less than a thousand were made, production ceasing in 1960.
Any similarity
to the Zenit C
is entirely un-coincidental!
The camera's designer, Feng Yunxiang, a 1951 graduate of the University of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shanxi, looked closely at East German Pentacons and Soviet Union Zenits before penning the Z-135-1. In the end, it was the Zenit C's rugged construction which Mr Feng sought to emulate. Moreover, Soviet Union optical engineers had provided technical expertise during the set-up of the Nanjing Camera Plant. The most challenging aspect of the project was, according to Mr Feng, construction of the shutter.
Unfortunately, the Z-135-1's design and release coincided with the terrible consequences of Mao's Great Leap Forward. In the "Three Bitter Years" (1959-1962) of famine and death, it was decreed that luxury products such as the Z-135-1, which cost a then-massive 150 Chinese Yuan were ideologically unpalatable (even in the 21st Century, many ordinary Chinese workers earn about 10CNY per day). Feng Yunxiang was reassigned to new, more ideologically sound, projects and development of MkII and MkIII versions of the camera ceased.
Some technical specs are as follows:
Film: 135 (35mm)
Body: cast aluminium
Shutter: horizontal focal plane cloth shutter, 1/25sec-1/500sec + B
Mirror must be manually lifted via the self-timer-like lever on the body's front before releasing shutter(!)
There is no hot shoe/accessory shoe or flash sync
Lens: M39 screw mount, uncoated, f3.5, 50mm Tessar type (4 elements in 3 groups), externally similar to the Industar 22 found on the Zenit C.
legend has it that a 50/f2.8 was also produced, but none have ever been found!
Although the Z-135-1 is reputedly pleasant to hold thanks to solid construction, rounded body and good leatherette, its severely limited technical specs and especially the non-auto mirror reportedly make it a chore to use. Proper framing without using a tripod is understandably difficult. Despite this, China's 1st SLR is keenly sought by Chinese camera collectors hoping to recapture the 1950s glory days of Chinese camera production. So I'd say my chances of ever getting one are slim.
No doubt the MkII & III would have addressed the some of the Z-135-1s severe technical shortcomings, but that is a story we'll never read.
From what I understand, less than a thousand were made, production ceasing in 1960.
Any similarity
to the Zenit C
is entirely un-coincidental!
The camera's designer, Feng Yunxiang, a 1951 graduate of the University of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shanxi, looked closely at East German Pentacons and Soviet Union Zenits before penning the Z-135-1. In the end, it was the Zenit C's rugged construction which Mr Feng sought to emulate. Moreover, Soviet Union optical engineers had provided technical expertise during the set-up of the Nanjing Camera Plant. The most challenging aspect of the project was, according to Mr Feng, construction of the shutter.
Unfortunately, the Z-135-1's design and release coincided with the terrible consequences of Mao's Great Leap Forward. In the "Three Bitter Years" (1959-1962) of famine and death, it was decreed that luxury products such as the Z-135-1, which cost a then-massive 150 Chinese Yuan were ideologically unpalatable (even in the 21st Century, many ordinary Chinese workers earn about 10CNY per day). Feng Yunxiang was reassigned to new, more ideologically sound, projects and development of MkII and MkIII versions of the camera ceased.
Some technical specs are as follows:
Film: 135 (35mm)
Body: cast aluminium
Shutter: horizontal focal plane cloth shutter, 1/25sec-1/500sec + B
Mirror must be manually lifted via the self-timer-like lever on the body's front before releasing shutter(!)
There is no hot shoe/accessory shoe or flash sync
Lens: M39 screw mount, uncoated, f3.5, 50mm Tessar type (4 elements in 3 groups), externally similar to the Industar 22 found on the Zenit C.
legend has it that a 50/f2.8 was also produced, but none have ever been found!
Although the Z-135-1 is reputedly pleasant to hold thanks to solid construction, rounded body and good leatherette, its severely limited technical specs and especially the non-auto mirror reportedly make it a chore to use. Proper framing without using a tripod is understandably difficult. Despite this, China's 1st SLR is keenly sought by Chinese camera collectors hoping to recapture the 1950s glory days of Chinese camera production. So I'd say my chances of ever getting one are slim.
No doubt the MkII & III would have addressed the some of the Z-135-1s severe technical shortcomings, but that is a story we'll never read.
. My first thought was also something like a Zentit-S clone. Thanks for showing and telling its story. BTW i am very impressed by your chinese letters, i have none at my keyboard 
.
