Shanghai No. 2 Camera Factory

Shanghai No. 2 Camera Factory (上海第二照相机厂) was a state-owned photographic equipment manufacturer based in Shanghai, China. While the factory produced various domestic consumer cameras over its operational lifetime, it is globally renowned in the photographic and collector community for manufacturing the Shanghai Red Flag 20 (Hongqi 20 / 红旗 20). Conceived as a geopolitical prestige project during the Cultural Revolution, the Red Flag 20 is the most ambitious and sophisticated Chinese camera ever built and remains the ultimate "holy grail" for collectors of Chinese optics and Leica M Mount systems.

Unlike the mass-produced Soviet rangefinders of the era that copied the older Leica screw mount, the Shanghai No. 2 Camera Factory successfully reverse-engineered the highly complex Leica M bayonet mount and the mechanical systems of the Leica M4 and M5.

History

The creation of the Red Flag 20 is deeply tied to the political climate of 1970s China.

The Prestige Project (1970s) The development of the Hongqi 20 was initiated under the direct orders of Jiang Qing, the fourth wife of Chairman Mao Zedong. During the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese government sought to demonstrate to the world that its domestic industry was capable of producing precision optical and mechanical instruments that rivaled or exceeded Western standards. The target chosen for this demonstration was the Leica M4, which was considered the pinnacle of 35mm camera technology at the time.

Extremely Limited Production Manufactured between approximately 1971 and 1976, the Red Flag 20 was never intended for commercial sale. The cameras were painstakingly assembled by hand by the factory's top engineers and craftsmen. Most historical sources and auction records indicate that fewer than 200 units (some estimates say up to 271) were ever completed. These units were strictly reserved for government institutions, the official press, and high-level presentations. The iconic red flag engraved on the camera's top plate was modeled after the personal calligraphy of Chairman Mao Zedong.

The Red Flag 20 and the Leica M Mount

For inclusion in a dedicated Leica Lens List, the Red Flag 20 is highly significant because it natively adopted the Leica M Mount. This was not a simple adaptation, the factory managed to replicate the complex frame-line coupling mechanisms of the M system.

The factory produced an "outfit" consisting of three specific lenses, all of which are exceptionally rare and feature the M bayonet mount. These lenses were direct optical and mechanical clones of contemporary Wetzlar designs.

1. Red Flag 20 35mm f/1.4

• Inspiration: An exact copy of the Leitz 35mm Summilux f/1.4.
• Details: This wide-angle lens replicated the complex optical formula required to achieve the f/1.4 speed in a compact M-mount body. It was supplied with a dedicated rectangular lens hood.

2. Red Flag 20 50mm f/1.4

• Inspiration: A copy of the Leitz 50mm Summilux f/1.4.
• Details: Serving as the standard lens for the camera, this optic matched the speed and general rendering of its German counterpart. Like the original, it featured a black paint finish and scallop-style focusing rings.

3. Red Flag 20 90mm f/2

• Inspiration: A faithful reproduction of the Leitz 90mm Summicron f/2.
• Details: This telephoto lens completed the classic rangefinder trinity, fully coupling with the camera's rangefinder patch for accurate focusing at wide apertures.

Technical Snapshot

Feature	Description
Camera Model	Red Flag 20 (Hongqi 20 / 红旗 20)
Manufacturer	Shanghai No. 2 Camera Factory
Native Mount	Leica M Mount
Production Run	Circa 1971 to 1976 (Fewer than 200 to 271 units)
Design Basis	Leica M4 mechanics with a body profile resembling the M5
Lenses Produced	35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, 90mm f/2

Market Collectability

Today, the Red Flag 20 outfit is one of the most valuable and sought-after camera sets in the world. Because none were sold to the public and many were lost or destroyed over time, complete sets (the camera body matched with the three M-mount lenses) routinely command prices between $40,000 and $60,000 at international auctions, occasionally making them more expensive than the original Leica cameras they were designed to imitate.

Sources

• Leitz Photographica Auction (Red Flag 20 Outfit): https://www.leitz-auction.com
• GMP Photo (History of Chinese Leicas): https://gmpphoto.blogspot.com
• Global Times (Snapshot of History): https://www.globaltimes.cn