The Huashan is a small 35mm camera made of black thermoplastic material, manufactured since 1960 in Sichuan by Xibei Optical Technical Factory.

Huashan means 'Shining Mountains' in Chinese.

This camera is said to have been manufactured under license from GOMZ / MMZ Smena (USSR), so it is not an illicit copy, but rather an agreement between sister economies. It bears a Chinese name that does not refer to the first Smena 1 or 2 models from which it originated, produced in the USSR from 1955.

In fact, other workshops had already produced a similar model called Yangtze River in Chongqing shortly before. It is unclear whether both productions were carried out simultaneously or if the Huashan succeeded the Yangtze River with a transfer of machinery and tools.

The lens (a simple 40mm triplet with an aperture of f/4.5) is basic but coated, as indicated by the Cyrillic character representing such treatment on Soviet cameras. The shutter needs to be manually cocked, and the shutter release is on the lens. A threaded socket can accommodate a cable release. This camera requires a film cartridge to be inserted under the knob since it lacks a rewinding mechanism. Standard 135 film cartridges fit into the camera.

The camera features an accessory shoe but no flash contacts. The frame counter is placed under glass on the top cover, on a metal piece secured by four screws. A button allows manual resetting of the counter (the maximum number indicated is 35 frames).

The back is attached by a hinge that is not part of the camera body (a separate screwed-on piece) and, on the opposite side, by a sliding latch. Once opened, the back separates from the camera body. It includes a metal film pressure plate. Molded in the center of the back is the stylized name of the camera against a backdrop of mountains and clouds.

Lastly, this camera, purchased in Xi'an, comes with a ever-ready leather case adorned with the logo and an inscription in Latin characters: Huashan.

Partial Source: Juhani Halmeenmaki, specialist in Soviet cameras and their variations.