Large Format in China - Wow!

[Colin Corneau]

There is an outlet, in the amazing Wukesong camera mall in Beijing, for Ilford products (as well as many others). IIRC, they advertise in View Camera magazine.

I bought my Shen Hao 4x5 in that mall so there definitely is a place to go for this stuff.

Not sure what Shanghai, Era or other Chinese manufacturers offer for the more unusual film offerings -- be very curious to know for anyone who can post that info?

[David A. Goldfarb]

When I've glanced at the xitek list, there seems to be a fair amount of interest in color, and there are surely some people in that crowd with the budget to special order from Fuji or Kodak.

[Colin Corneau]

Beijing is a first-world, hyper-modern and wealthy city (for the benefit of those who don't know as much about China, perhaps). One look at that photo will show you those guys came to play.

[colrehogan]

What's with the Schneider-Kreuznach sign in the photo?

[Rob Skeoch]

I was in the photo mall in Shanghai this June. About six floors. As you go up the smaller players start to show up. You could find the latest new LF gear at a few of the stores and Shen-Hao has their store there as well.

As Colin mentioned these are supper modern city's... I thought Shanghai was very similar to New York in a lot of ways.

-rob

[Ken N]

Yup. Film is dead.

I'm drooling over no less than 52 of the cameras, tripods and lenses in that picture. And what we can't quite make out are the Leicas around most of the necks. I'm impressed.

Also, worth noting, is that I've seen the work of some of these photographers. They have the chops to back it up.

[TheFlyingCamera]

I'm guessing Schneider is a corporate sponsor of their event.

[Shan Ren]

I know some of the people in the photo. Some are very good indeed.

China has undergone huge physical change, mainly in the major cities, in the last 20 years. I was at 798 in Beijing recently (which used to be an artist commune with studios and galleries, but is now becoming an upscale tourist destination sadly) and there was a sign advertising the Leica S2. And I am sure they sell a few.

[Colin Corneau]

Shan Ren, I was at 798 briefly this summer also...shame I didn't see it back when it was more an artists' commune but I did like the easy walking to various studios. I only wish I could have spent more time, but it was not to be this time.

[wildtypitch]

Found group here operating out of xi'an university, They make processors as seenhere (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photofans.cn%2Farticle%2Farticl e.php%2F3625&anno=2) and here (http://www2.xitek.com/exchange/showexchange.php?ex_threadid=116284) and here (http://www2.xitek.com/exchange/showexchange.php?ex_threadid=116282) and here (http://www2.xitek.com/exchange/showexchange.php?ex_threadid=109984). Prices and stats are given from 9200rmb for the big one (heating and cooling) 880rmb for the small black and white one. And 4800rmb for the medium one without cooling ability.
They all seem to run using a magnet drive, may be a nuisance to change chemicals with lids coming off etc. I guess they are a bunch of electrical engineers not mechanical ones. If people are interested maybe I can investigate more.http://image.xitek.com//forum/200604/2501/250167/250167_1146384187.jpg

[Diapositivo]

Yes, this Chinese clone of the Jobo would be a Godsend for many of us who worry about the future reliability of their Jobo processor, and the spare parts for them.

Maybe this group might be talked to in order to have a lift-compatible version, and to see if they can publish the technical details, the parts used etc.