RE: Seagull TLRs

["Steve Puckett" <spuckett@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following is copied from the IDCC maillist where there
is a thread about the Seagull TLR.  There is more but I
thought this covered most of it.  Hope this helps.  - Steve

----- Original Message -----
>As far as I know, there are several factories in China produce
>similar TLRs. "Seagull" was previously branded as "Shanghai".
>Another relatively popular brand is "Eastern", which use Seiko
>shutter.

                    As you all know I collect these Chinese cameras, I
currently have some 19 different TLR's, all based on the Seagull
design, although there is one range based on the Yashica. There
is even one, the Mudan MD-1D that has a built in Cds light
meter.
                    There are as far as I know 23 different brands of
TLR's produced in China. Makes a collection all by itself!!!
                    The optical quality of the cameras produced does
vary widely. There were certainly the cameras that were produced
for the upper end of the market and export sales. These cameras
required not only cash to change hands, but also a government
issued sales voucher, similar to the ration vouchers used in the
50's in Australia and England.
                    The next level of quality usually had a red dot
either before or after the serial number. These cameras were
naturally cheaper, but also did not require the ration voucher.
The optics on these cheaper cameras were only 75% (as
measured in the factory) of the 1st quality gear.
                    There were many more of the 2nd quality cameras
made than the 1st. If you can get them, the proffessional quality
cameras perform optically as good as any that the Germans
ever put out. (IMO)
                    The Russians and Eastern Block countries sent
technitians and advisors to China to help their "Little Brother" to
develop a camera industry. A lot of the lenses that were used in
Chinese brand cameras were actually either Russian or Eastern
Block. A lot show the upside down "U" on the lens to denote
a coated lens.
                    If you get a good one, it will be very good, but
they are relatively cheap, and always elicit comments from
observers.

Mike McCaw  -  Australia

Collector of Chinese Cameras