synyan

<p>Dear Gary,</p>

<p>I think the divergence came from the unintentional ignored carelessness that might indicate and intimate the link between perfectly serviceable metal and glass with Japan, and plastic won't work with China. It is not fair. That is why I wanted to contest, gave proofs, and tried to correct. For other parts I am on your side.</p>

<p>Sincerely</p>

<p>Dear <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=569570">Gary Wright</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"></a>, </p>

<p>I agree with most of your words, except for this:</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>I can't justify retiring my perfectly serviceable Japanese metal and glass, and going into debt for Chinese plastic that won't take any better pictures than what I'm getting now - with equipment that was paid for long ago.</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>It is Nikon or Canon who has invested into China (also Vietnam and Indonesia) and built up digital camera / lens lines, not Chinese camera makers. Chinese lens makers (such as Phenix) used to manufacture fine lens which can be comparable against (some type of) Karl Zeiss lens, but were crushed by Japanese giants in 1980s because of its relatively small scale. Remember, it is Japanese giants who brought these cheap plastic into China then pushed all over the world, not Chinese. </p>

<p>The Chinese all know Kodak, Leica or Zeiss history, so please read some history of China film industry before you post any words like above. No offence.</p>

<p>Photo: Japanese-USA hot baby Leah Dizon used a Chinese made Seagull Twin-lens reflex in Africa</p>

<p><img src="https://zuwdaa.blu.livefilestore.com/y1msRhQOWs69vFxHx6J0Q0xMdi_Wsn42e7w-Jm0gEo8RvYcRFwNGJbLiD2p9bAR_agMZWW-fUwFsn39nCJHbTftnGHaVTFloMrmQRbxiHOzM36vyUGkYVk1X5ylL3AgVrO-LO8rB3kBpwzXpiCjK_UGYw/%E8%8E%89%E4%BA%9A%E8%BF%AA%E6%A1%91%E5%92%8C%E6%B5%B7%E9%B8%A5%E7%9B%B8%E6%9C%BA_thumb.jpg" alt="" width="660" height="750" /></p>

<p>RE <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=829026">Larry Dressler</a>:<br>

The answer is: YES!</p>

<p>There are still two major film makers, naming: Lucky and Gongyuan (Era). Lucky is much bigger, while in my personal opinion Gongyuan's B&W (and the only product of it) is more beautiful (they imported Fuji technique in 1980s and mixed with domestic techniques) </p>

<p>Lucky films (colour):<br>

<img src="http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1000/20080926/001ec949ffcb0a46ba530b.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /><br>

B&W:<br>

<img src="http://61.129.34.106/zhjp/tuwen/A_013/IMG_9888.jpg" alt="" width="602" height="402" /><br>

Gongyuan (Era) films<br>

<img src="http://img02.taobaocdn.com/bao/uploaded/i2/T1y1VXXeFsXXbcCOg7_065109.jpg_160x160.jpg" alt="" width="160" height="141" /></p>

<p>Price is still very cheap: $1 - $1.2 per roll.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, even Kodak and Fuji film cannot fight against the digitalization of all photography industry from kids camera toys to professional top-end makers such as Nikon and even Leica. For this reason, the two Chinese big film makers have stepped near an edge of bankruptcy only because government wants to save it could it survive. It is a "lucky" for all Chinese though, that we still have our "own" film industry which is very important. </p>

<p>Fujifilm also has a redistribution centre in South West China who is dedicated to produce Superia 100 and 200 film, but we also could see films from Vietnam recently. </p>

<p>Generally speaking all kinds of films are much hard to find. In medium cities there are hardly any shops who are selling them, and to print them out in a fine quality level is also proved very hard. Ppls have to use ebay (or ebay's powerful Chinese competitor whose name is Taobao) to purchase from Shanghai or Beijing bigger shop, and mail them back for a developing, and then waiting for another mailing back of one scanned DVD plus slides. Cheaper way would be purchasing a no-cheap film-scanner and scan by himself after developing (such as me)</p>

<p>Though, there are still a few very famous shops in Shanghai who has proved themselves very successful when whole film industry is dying. Name: Shanghai Elite, Shanghai Green, Beijing Xiangshenghang. etc. I've seen so many foreigners who brought their lomo cameras into these shops. </p>

<p>Once again, as a courtesy to all friends and masters of films here, A film-photo is presented below (A salute when we post or reply one thread in Chinese photography forum)</p>

<p><strong>（Vanta G-5 + Luxitar 28-70mm/f3.5-4.5 + Lucky 100 + CanoScan 8800F）</strong></p>

An old carpenter is hired for a major renovation of ancient Huishan town in Wuxi city before applying for Unisco World Heritage

<p><img src="https://bpwlzw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1m_6V8MlU4FRxdHJ6m9Y83JVC6ajDVRO0i_YijFe7N6Hv6dOpap15MVUE_wkrWw5cGhVCveKtYX30MxnxfEszq3qtb3NrqWeFihCD_98P59SRj5-8IjaaCFb2POdnRmn4Lic9VA9yT8IdcBb6geHhcdQ/%E6%9C%AA%E6%A0%87%E9%A2%98-9_1600[12].jpg" alt="" width="600" height="418" /></p>

<p>I am from China and through one of the largest forum I found this thread. I used to have several digital small cameras (such as LX-3, Canon A70, Canon Pro-1 and so on) and DSLRs (such as Nikon D80). I have to admit that the digital cameras are very convenient, especially for us who do not have enough time in going to the photo shops. However recently I picked up one Chinese made very old SLR. It is primitive compare to modern cameras, but I enjoyed so much. Now I have found that more and more China's 80s and 90s had already left digital cameras aside and bought second hand cameras, such as M3, M6, Mamiya, Phenix series, Seagull DF, Agfa super Sillette, Contax T2, etc etc.... By using these cameras they've created magnificent and although may not be perfect but unique photos that modern light-medium DSLR could not compare. Moreover, the price of shooting with slides and old SLR is still cheaper compare to the body of such as 5D Mark II and lenses such as Nikkor 24-70/2.8G...But the effect is the same or even better. <br>

<br /> Thank you all guys for reading my craps and enjoy your life with your most handy camera (which's the essence of the photography :-) )<br>

<br /> <strong>Seagull DF-2000A + 24-70mm/3.5-4.5 + Fuji Superia 200 + Fuji Frontier 570</strong><br /> <img src="https://bpwlzw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1mrsZ4mMS1ieH1J_cPRdcUCsFZ8xJUNiHgnoxsho2WgpsTB5U49bfJyKSobamIKme6Q3Mf0XzrtW0L2YF0zZ9uZQ6bptd5bhb1WFAN_oN041vcKvrT94qppPBcHVUzlpbq6OSVWUMyBd_fQQNjiYbq4A/000042_1024_thumb[3].png" alt="" width="600" height="403" /></p>