Which Seagull to choose.. please assist

[saifulbahar]

Hi Seagull users,

I'm intending to get Seagull 4A-1 or 4B-1. Does anyone have any ideas of the two differences and which one I should get?

First time using a Seagull.


Saiful Bahar

 

[singscott]

Try to get the one with four elements in three groups for picture taking lens. It should be model 4A-107 or 4A-109. There are others like 4A-105 and 4B-1 which is three elements in three groups which pictures quality might lose to the four elements ones.

 

[kahheng]

Hi Seagull users,

I'm intending to get Seagull 4A-1 or 4B-1. Does anyone have any ideas of the two differences and which one I should get?

First time using a Seagull.


Saiful Bahar

The 4A-1 is a crank wind model with a Tessar formula lens (4E-3G), the 4B-1 is knob wind with a simpler triplet lens (3E-3G). The lens on the 4A-1 would be better at wider apertures and I think there's less light falloff as well wide open. The lens on the 4B-1 needs to be stopped down to at least f11 to get the corners sharp, and even f22 would be advisable.

FWIW, I prefer the simplicity of the 4B-1 because I doubt the crank on the 4A-1 will last very well. Even crank mechanisms on Mamiya and Rolleiflexes will wear over time needing readjustment. I can't imagine the one on the Seagull as durable. The lens on the 4A-1 is preferred though a simple three element lens could give you much aesthetic possibilities with its characteristic aberrations at the wider stops. (One of my favourite Rolleicords is a III with an uncoated triplet that takes some of the most mellow pictures ever. Horrible wide open but so interesting nonetheless.)

The Seagulls I have owned died of mechanical problems of one type or another.

That said, you shouldn't limit yourself to Seagulls. The only good thing about them is the nice and bright screen. Personally, I'd look out for used Yashicamats and Rolleicords and Meopta Flexarets if you're planning to pay full retail price for your Seagull.

The Flexarets IV and later models (later the better) have superb lenses (Tessar types) and last forever with their simple wind mechanisms. Very dark screens though (get a cheap third party upgrade). They're really cheap if you ask me. They'll outlast a Seagull no matter what vintage.

 

[snowspeeder]

Hi Seagull users,

I'm intending to get Seagull 4A-1 or 4B-1. Does anyone have any ideas of the two differences and which one I should get?

First time using a Seagull.


Saiful Bahar

Where are you planning to get yours? Brand new? I'm using a 2nd hand 4B-1 at the moment. May consider getting the 4A in the future.

 

[Manfred Ng]

I own two 4B-1. One got lost and the other broke down on me last year. Just brought a Rolleicord V recently and like it very much. i would think if you want to get a TLR, stay away from Seagull, on a long run, a rolleicord will last longer. The lense quality is better also.

But if you really want to choose between the 4A and the 4B, go for the 4B-1 the crank in 4A is really crap, a lot of my friends who used it had theirs gone cranky.

 

[saifulbahar]

Hello All,

Thanks for the valuable inputs... actually got me confused even more... ha ha ha... I'll be paying between 80-90 dollars each for a new but 2nd hand camera (owner bought but decided not to playwith it). I don't think I can afford other cameras unless I'm wrong about retail pricings...

Since my wife is going to Beijing next week and I decide to ask her to buy one for me, which china made medium format should I consider in asking her to look out for? And how much roughly would the cost be if bought in Singapore?

Thanks guys...

By the way, I'm using it only for its imperfection, I'm also a holga user and love the flaws of each photo... that what makes it so good.


Saiful Bahar

 

[Keltzar]

When I sent my wife to beijing in 2001 to buy me a seagull ... she got laughed out of half the shops there.... the locals won't touch it.... one suggested she go to Shanghai.

So I bought a new 4B-1 in Singapore at that time for $90.

I'm not even sure where you can find a seagull in Beijing anymore... they all lust after Japanese cameras and Leicas these days.

When I finally made the trip, the only antiques I found were at the sunday flea market. I bought a "Greal Wall DF-1" , which I still have ... but hardly ever use. I also got two folders ... one of which I sold to Parlin and the other I can't recall.

Besides seagull, you can also look for "Pearl River".

If you like oldy cheapie cameras for playing with, go look up Farouk on the overhead to Clifford Pier.
He still has some russian and chinese cameras left.

 

[kahheng]

I own two 4B-1. One got lost and the other broke down on me last year. Just brought a Rolleicord V recently and like it very much. i would think if you want to get a TLR, stay away from Seagull, on a long run, a rolleicord will last longer. The lense quality is better also.

But if you really want to choose between the 4A and the 4B, go for the 4B-1 the crank in 4A is really crap, a lot of my friends who used it had theirs gone cranky.

Ask your friend for his dead 4A. Unscrew the taking lens. Replace the lens on the 4B with the superior one! The threads and spacing are the same.

 

[saifulbahar]

When I sent my wife to beijing in 2001 to buy me a seagull ... she got laughed out of half the shops there.... the locals won't touch it.... one suggested she go to Shanghai.

Think I change my mind about asking my wife to look for one there, don't want her to feel that I'm sending her into a laughing twilight zone.... he he he...

I'll just tell her to ask for the price if she "happens to bump" into a shop that sells one.

 

[Manfred Ng]

Ask your friend for his dead 4A. Unscrew the taking lens. Replace the lens on the 4B with the superior one! The threads and spacing are the same.

Thx for the tip, but mine cannot crank and the shutter cannot release. The lense are perfectly alright and new. Only roll like 4 rolls of films through this camera and it went kaput!

No more Seagull for me unless someone here can tell me where can i get it repaired or any books that can lead me through the assembling procedure of this camera. i might take it apart one of this days for experimenting.

 

[Mezzotint]

Thx for the tip, but mine cannot crank and the shutter cannot release. The lense are perfectly alright and new. Only roll like 4 rolls of films through this camera and it went kaput!

No more Seagull for me unless someone here can tell me where can i get it repaired or any books that can lead me through the assembling procedure of this camera. i might take it apart one of this days for experimenting.

You can visit Camera Hospital located at Sunshine Plaza, Prinsep Street/Middle Road. They repair old cameras. Here's the address:

Sunshine Plaza, #01-67
Tel: 92373212

Or you can choose to visit this Chinese website - www.sy916.net
Everythnig is in Chinese words and they have articles on technical aspects on fixing old cameras like Seagull 4 series TLRs, etc. Pretty much DIY.

Here's one on changing the focus screen in the view finder. Hope it helps.
http://www.china-c-w.com/forum/bbs_show.php?textID=427a451ce9ff2

 

[Manfred Ng]

You can visit Camera Hospital located at Sunshine Plaza, Prinsep Street/Middle Road. They repair old cameras. Here's the address:

Sunshine Plaza, #01-67
Tel: 92373212

Or you can choose to visit this Chinese website - www.sy916.net
Everythnig is in Chinese words and they have articles on technical aspects on fixing old cameras like Seagull 4 series TLRs, etc. Pretty much DIY.

Here's one on changing the focus screen in the view finder. Hope it helps.
http://www.china-c-w.com/forum/bbs_show.php?textID=427a451ce9ff2

Thx a lot, that is a very interesting link. i think i am going to dismantle my 4B-1 and do the repair myself. Don't sound too difficult after reading the article on shutter repair.

It is hard to find ppl doing such a thing in singapore. Most of us takes things for granted and just pass off to local repair shop. Good to discover this website.

 

[maxonline]

Thx a lot, that is a very interesting link. i think i am going to dismantle my 4B-1 and do the repair myself. Don't sound too difficult after reading the article on shutter repair.

It is hard to find ppl doing such a thing in singapore. Most of us takes things for granted and just pass off to local repair shop. Good to discover this website.

Hi u may wana try Cam-X. The service is pretty good and honest

Shutter jam is pretty common in Seagull