Anyone still play with Seagull?

[Nikkornos]

Hi

Looks like I have not seen anyone playing with the Seagull for a long while.

Recently I have some experiences using the Seagulls bought in Shanghai.
Note that Seagull is not making TLR anymore. Grab one while you can.
Here are some notes:


Seagull 4A-109, RED with gold plates, copy of Rolleiflex MX layout
3G 4Element taking lens , copy of Tessar
(avoid local market versions, gear made of plastic and prone to break easily)

Seagull 4A-109, Export model, hard to find now. Copy of Rolleiflex MX layout. Plasticky but works.
3G 4Element taking lens, copy of Tessar

Seagull 4A-107, RED with gold plates. Same as standard 107.
3G 4Element taking lens, copy of Tessar

Seagull 4A-107, reliable work horse(toy). Look for WWSC models.
Those produced between 1999 - 2005 for export may be better in quality.
3G 4Element taking lens, copy of Tessar
(still available from Seng Cheong)

Seagull 4A-105
3G 3 Element taking lens, copy of 3 element Triotar. Signature swirl mark on background.
A F8 lens. But usable at F5.6 .

Seagull 4B-1
Manual advance of roll film thru red window. 645 or 6X6
3G 3 Element taking lens, copy of 3 element Triotar. Signature swirl mark on background.
A F8 lens. But usable at F5.6 , a great option for Lomo or even serious 6X6 work.
(still available from Seng Cheong)


Seagulls with Chinese word badges
For collection. Mostly not reliable and overpriced.

 

[fullwater]

Seagulls with Chinese word badges
For collection. Mostly not reliable and overpriced.

The chinese badged seagulls are gems. The ancient chinese seagulls were solidly built of metal whereas the later seagulls had lots of plastics. I gave away my english badged collection of seagulls to friends and kept the old chinese badged one. I regularly maintain my own 50 year old TLR seagull, the lens is sweet and spotless and the camera is working without any mechanical fault.

 

[Shadowleong]

Its not that nobody plays with them anymore, its just expensive and hard to find. Students like me prefer to get a yashica 124 just because its more readily available and slightly cheaper.

 

[Nikkornos]

The chinese badged seagulls are gems. The ancient chinese seagulls were solidly built of metal whereas the later seagulls had lots of plastics. I gave away my english badged collection of seagulls to friends and kept the old chinese badged one. I regularly maintain my own 50 year old TLR seagull, the lens is sweet and spotless and the camera is working without any mechanical fault.

You are right if you have already bought them many years ago. I still keep 2 sets of 4A (white and black face) and 2 sets of 4B. All made of metal.
However, they are hard to find now in good conditions. Visit www.sy916.com and there are still some user sets for sale.

 

[Nikkornos]

Its not that nobody plays with them anymore, its just expensive and hard to find. Students like me prefer to get a yashica 124 just because its more readily available and slightly cheaper.

Well, not true. Most 124G need CLA because they are old. And they are not cheap for sure.

 

[pinholecam]

Its not that nobody plays with them anymore, its just expensive and hard to find. Students like me prefer to get a yashica 124 just because its more readily available and slightly cheaper.

The thing with the Mats are that they are pretty old and cheap ones tend to be rather dicey in terms of condition.
Oil on lens, separated elements, winding and shutter mechanism issues being the usual problems.
In the end they may need a CLA that probably adds another $150 to the cost if possible at all.
I do agree that the many options out there make ppl less inclined to get a Seagull.
Ricoh Diacord; Minolta Autocords; Flexarette; Mats, etc are all decent (though a gamble)

Then again a Mamiya/Bronica systems can be about the same price as a new Seagull (S'pore type pricing); so options really abound for the photographer looking at MF options.


One more thing to add. Money makes the world go round.
Now that the China Chinese have the money, I see a future where they will pump money to obtain these old Seagulls, causing their prices to go up further.
My guess anyway....

 

[evilorgi]

I still have a set of Seagull, what model i am not really sure... Recently just sent it into camerahospital to refurbrished as i just retrieved it from the storeroom... belongs to my late grandfather thou... it's really fun to use, unlike any digital SLRs nowadays... everything is in full manual!!!

it's rather heavy too, as it's full metal body...

 

[Nikkornos]

Now that the China Chinese have the money, I see a future where they will pump money to obtain these old Seagulls, causing their prices to go up further.
My guess anyway....

Hello Buddy

You are right. I saw some old worn out Seagull asking for RMB 1000-2000 now. The better ones are asking for RMB 4000.
I was in Shanghai and the shops told me many Chinese do not want to carry cheap camera, make them 'loose face'.
I attended a local Shanghai camera club meeting, indeed everyone was carrying a Rolleiflex, Hassy or Leica.

Seagull 4B-1 can be purchased at less than $220 locally. Its still a viable option.
There were many UK magazine photographers using 4B-1, and visually many could not tell the diff from a Pentax 645. Serious.
Not saying Pentax 645 is no good, but at F11 with good slide film, there isn't much diff really.

You are right about the Yashica 124G, 635 and D series. The money I spent maintaining them is more than what they cost me.
I like the word you used, "gamble", its a right description. 124G can give very nice picture quality, but I still prefer the brighter screen on Seagull.

I am glad there are still many playing with Seagull.

 

[pairdes]

I still have a set of Seagull, what model i am not really sure...

You can refer to this link: http://niteprojekts.blogspot.com/2006/06/history-of-seagull-tlr-camera.html

Was given 1 from my aunt, 1st generation badged as "Shanghai TLR".
Solid build, and nice lens. Quite surprised at the IQ produced by its lens.

And yeah the weight can be a problem too....

 

[pinholecam]

Hello Buddy

You are right. I saw some old worn out Seagull asking for RMB 1000-2000 now. The better ones are asking for RMB 4000.
I was in Shanghai and the shops told me many Chinese do not want to carry cheap camera, make them 'loose face'.
I attended a local Shanghai camera club meeting, indeed everyone was carrying a Rolleiflex, Hassy or Leica.

Seagull 4B-1 can be purchased at less than $220 locally. Its still a viable option.
There were many UK magazine photographers using 4B-1, and visually many could not tell the diff from a Pentax 645. Serious.
Not saying Pentax 645 is no good, but at F11 with good slide film, there isn't much diff really.

You are right about the Yashica 124G, 635 and D series. The money I spent maintaining them is more than what they cost me.
I like the word you used, "gamble", its a right description. 124G can give very nice picture quality, but I still prefer the brighter screen on Seagull.

I am glad there are still many playing with Seagull.

Seagull 4B-1 .... hmm..... very tempting.... they sure look beautiful for $220 (Seng Cheong??)

 

[juelix]

i own a 4A-103 which was from my dad but i seldom bring it out as it's quite heavy. :sweat:

 

[Nikkornos]

Hello Pinholecam mate, yes its around there. Get it before they are all gone

 

[Nikkornos]

i own a 4A-103 which was from my dad but i seldom bring it out as it's quite heavy. :sweat:

Well..... its about the lightest really. Try the Rolleiflex 2.8F or Mamiya C220. That I would call heavy.

 

[juelix]

just wondering if there are shops selling lens shade and filters for seagull TLR in singapore?

 

[Royale With Cheese]

lol!

I think the heaviest stuff I have seen around is Pentax 67

 

[Nikkornos]

just wondering if there are shops selling lens shade and filters for seagull TLR in singapore?

Hi there

Seagull uses 34mm filters. It is now more popular as the small digital cam and video uses this filter size.

A better way is to buy the 34 -> 46mm adapter from Ebay. There are many sellers, and the ones from UK are ok.
I used to be able to buy BOWER adapters here. But not anymore. Prices from US are crazy.

When you get the 46mm adapter, you can use the 46mm metal hood. There are many from Ebay.
Panasonic GF1 some lenses uses this hood also.

You can always buy filters from Seng Cheong Singapore.
Before you go, call them first.

I use a 34mm UV for the top lens, and a 46mm skylight for the bottom.
46mm offer more choices such as Yellow, Orange and even IR filter.

Seng Cheong Co.,LTD
Room #04-01,ICB Interprise House,
116 Middle Road,Singapore 188972
Tel:65-6336-3244

 

[juelix]

Seng Cheong Co.,LTD
Room #04-01,ICB Interprise House,
116 Middle Road,Singapore 188972
Tel:65-6336-3244

cool! thanks for the information.

 

[Allthetime]

Hi! I have a Seagull TLR which I bought in Shanghai over 10 years ago in a secondhand camera shop. The serial number is 4A-20813191. Would anyone know what model this is? e.g. 4A-103? About how old would it be?


It functions perfectly well though there is a bit of fungus on the lens. Would it cost a lot to clean up the lens in Singapore?

 

[Nikkornos]

The serial number is 4A-20813191. Would anyone know what model this is? e.g. 4A-103? About how old would it be?

Hello, it is a 4A model. Does it have Chinese words? If so, its more than ten years.
Top lens F2.8 bottom lens 3G-4E is 107
Top lens F2.8 bottom lens 3G-3E is 105
Top lens F3.5 bottom lens 3G-3E is 103
Most 4A would be having a 3G-3E Cooke lens triplet design, not the Tessar copy.
The newer WWSC with English Seagull would have the 3G-4E tessar copy lens.
Tessar or Cooke copy, by F8 cannot tell much difference.
Cooke triplet has a marvelous swirl background effect.

Most TLR top lens (viewing) would develop fungus/haze over time. Its the damn weather here.
Appears on Yashicamat, Rolliecord, Seagull, etc. Can be cleaned but depends on how bad the fungus is.

The bottom lens can be swapped to 3G4E type tessar lens, if you can find it from China. Someone was selling it in Clubsnap.

 

[Allthetime]

Thank you!