View source for Tian Chi

The '''Tian Chi''' is a Chinese near-copy of the [[Contax S|Contax F]] that was developed by the Chang Chun Optical Research Institute in 1959.<REF> "Tian Chi" means "Heavenly Pond" according to St Denny. It is also the name of a lake in China (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianchi the corresponding Wikipedia page]), situated in the province of Jilin like the Chang Chun Optical Research Institute. It is likely that the name of the camera comes from the name of the lake (天池; i.e. "heavenly pond").</REF> Only ten cameras were made, and two of them are thought to have survived.

The Tian Chi has a special breech lock mount and a 56mm f:1.9 lens<REF> St Denny says that the lens is focused from 6m to infinity. Either it is a typo, or the lens barrel is experimental only. </REF> with automatic diaphragm. In addition to the lens mount, it differs externally from the Contax F mainly by the shape of the top housing above the prism, which is engraved with a triangular logo.

== Notes ==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* St Denny, Douglas. ''Cameras of the People's Republic of China.'' Leicester, UK: Jessop Specialist Publishing, 1989. <nowiki>ISBN 0-9514392-0-0</nowiki>.

[[Category: Chinese 35mm SLR]]
[[Category: Contax]]
[[Category: T]]
[[Category: Topography]]