Light Lens Lab is upgrading Seagull TLRs!

Huss · Feb 9, 2023

Very cool.

Light Lens Lab Seagull TLR Upgrade Project

Hello everyone! As the oldest camera manufacturer in China, Shanghai Seagull Camera has been synonymous with Chinese photographic history and pride. We excitedly announce the development of the Seagull Twin-Lens-Reflex camera upgrade program. The seagull upgrade project will apply to Seagull 4...

lightlenslab.myshopify.com

Dan Daniel · Feb 9, 2023

Planar lens? What does this mean, anyone know? A 5/6 element copy? Or is Planar more generic in their usage?

Interesting, seems to imply that the old machining is still around. Which also means that some upgrading to tighter tolerances, etc. might be very possible.

Thanks for the link!

Rayt · Feb 9, 2023

I will wager this project is mainly for domestic China Seagull users where the brand was widely distributed and affordable. Upgrading the lens to a reproduction Planar should be interesting. The failure of the Seagull TLR was due to the bad quality control and addressing that will make it functional. I had one from B&H back in the 90’s and it disassembled itself pretty quickly else the Tessar wasn’t bad at all.

Donald Qualls · Feb 9, 2023

That has the potential to be really good. I've heard good things about Light Labs lenses, and if they can fix all the QC issues the Seagull cameras were known for while they do this, you'll get a camera that produces images comparable against those from a similar Rolleiflex. I'd be surprised if it cost much less than a Rolleiflex, though, even with Chinese labor rates.

xkaes · Feb 9, 2023

I can't image it being as inexpensive as a "Seagull TLR", so I can't image a big Chinese interest -- or anywhere else either.

Huss · Feb 9, 2023

I can - they are providing a serviced and improved camera with superb optics, plus a cool new finish to it.

reddesert · Feb 9, 2023

In one or two places I may have mentioned visiting the Shanghai Camera Museum, see links at https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/last-manual-35mm-slr.171723/post-2235524 eg
https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/shanghai/shanghai-camera-history-museum-91434
https://www.shine.cn/feature/travel/1812287385/

If you happen to be in Shanghai (which I know hasn't been so easy the last few years), and find film cameras interesting especially Chinese cameras, they have a very large selection well displayed. They also had some parts, workbenches, etc from the Seagull factory, photos of workers at the bench, etc - it was my impression that the factory was decommissioned but that they had salvaged some of the equipment for display.

I would guess that this is aimed more at export than at domestic, I don't know if there is the same kind of film-revival constituency / nostalgia inside China that currently exists in the west (there is a societal pressure to more forward and not look too closely at the past), but China is a big place so there might be some domestic interest.

I have a Seagull TLR, and IIRC the main issue I found was that the viewing lens barrel was in a threaded mount and held in place by a setscrew that had come loose, so without re-adjusting it right and locking it down, it would be out of focus. I have a pet theory that a lot of "lens quality" issues are really focus errors, more general than just Seagull.

blee1996 · Feb 9, 2023

This will be cool, if it is somewhat affordable.

ic-racer · Feb 9, 2023

When I got my Shen-Hao twelve years ago I was very excited for China making film cameras. I thought it was great! Now, after COVID an air balloons, I'm not so fond of anything they do anymore.

Huss · Feb 9, 2023

ic-racer said:
When I got my Shen-Hao twelve years ago I was very excited for China making film cameras. I thought it was great! Now, after COVID an air balloons, I'm not so fond of anything they do anymore.

I don’t blame you. Those lotto numbers in my fortune cookies have always been BS.
You should toss out everything you have that is made in China. But if you bought an Iphone 14, I’ll take it.

As for Light Lens Lab, I‘m really looking forward to their upcoming Super Panchro Cooke 50mm f2 lens.

ic-racer · Feb 10, 2023

Huss said:
I don’t blame you. Those lotto numbers in my fortune cookies have always been BS.
You should toss out everything you have that is made in China. But if you bought an Iphone 14, I’ll take it.

As for Light Lens Lab, I‘m really looking forward to their upcoming Super Panchro Cooke 50mm f2 lens.

Well, I'm no longer celebrating Chinese New year and I'm no longer embracing my birth-year rooster

xkaes · Feb 10, 2023

blee1996 said:
This will be cool, if it is somewhat affordable.

That's the key. My guess -- judging form other prices on the website (above) -- is that the price will be 3 or 4 times the cost of a "Seagull TLR". Way passed the price most Chinese can afford, and a big deterrent to foreign sales too -- but we will see.

Nowadays, when just about any camera or lens "goes bad", it's typically cheaper to buy a working replacement than a repair.

xkaes · Feb 10, 2023

ic-racer said:
Now, after COVID an air balloons, I'm not so fond of anything they do anymore.

I suspect that many people blame China for SARS, MERS, ZIKA, EBOLA, SPANISH FLU, SWINE FLU, and every other epidemic/pandemic, as well.

Patrick Robert James · Feb 10, 2023

How much is that Speed Panchro going to be?

I never paid much attention to the Chinese lenses. Then about a year or so ago I found out that the "chinacron" from 7Artisans was a Sonnar. A used one was so cheap I was like, why not? I loved it. Now my Zeiss Biogon never sees the light of day. The chinacron isn't perfect of course but Sonnars aren't supposed to be. Then based on the 35mm I picked up a 50mm 1.1 from 7Artisans just a couple months back. Again, why not? A modern f/1.1 coated Sonnar? I love Sonnars. The Speed Panchro looks interesting as well, though I doubt I'll be able to get one for $150. Lol.

I wouldn't mind changing the lens on my Ikoflex to this Chinese Planar if it would fit. The Tessar on my Ikoflex is kinda meh...

JPD · Feb 10, 2023

I'm not buying one, but the reviews will be interesting.

JPD · Feb 10, 2023

Patrick Robert James said:
I wouldn't mind changing the lens on my Ikoflex to this Chinese Planar if it would fit. The Tessar on my Ikoflex is kinda meh...

Is it a pre-war Ikoflex?

hap · Feb 10, 2023

Patrick Robert James said:
How much is that Speed Panchro going to be?

I never paid much attention to the Chinese lenses. Then about a year or so ago I found out that the "chinacron" from 7Artisans was a Sonnar. A used one was so cheap I was like, why not? I loved it. Now my Zeiss Biogon never sees the light of day. The chinacron isn't perfect of course but Sonnars aren't supposed to be. Then based on the 35mm I picked up a 50mm 1.1 from 7Artisans just a couple months back. Again, why not? A modern f/1.1 coated Sonnar? I love Sonnars. The Speed Panchro looks interesting as well, though I doubt I'll be able to get one for $150. Lol.

I wouldn't mind changing the lens on my Ikoflex to this Chinese Planar if it would fit. The Tessar on my Ikoflex is kinda meh...

I bought a "modern" fast Sonnar from MS optics. It wasn't cheap.

Patrick Robert James · Feb 10, 2023

JPD said:
Is it a pre-war Ikoflex?

No, just a standard IIa I think it is. Why do you ask?

Patrick Robert James · Feb 10, 2023

hap said:
I bought a "modern" fast Sonnar from MS optics. It wasn't cheap.

I paid $150 for the 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1. Used of course. I think they were only like 3 something new.

I've been interested in what MS Optics has done, but the ergonomics of his lenses just seem terrible to me.

mshchem · Feb 10, 2023

If these folks can make focusing screens that are close to equivalent of the Acute mat screens for other cameras that would be great.

MattKing · Feb 10, 2023

"Whoa" on the political comments folks.

hap · Feb 10, 2023

Political comments were just trial balloons.

hap · Feb 10, 2023

Huss said:
I can - they are providing a serviced and improved camera with superb optics, plus a cool new finish to it.

The lens hood Leica copy for my summicron is beautifully made and fits at least one other of my lenses. However, the 35mm VF Leica copy is beautifully made....but the frame lines do not project properly. that's a problem.

JPD · Feb 10, 2023

Patrick Robert James said:
No, just a standard IIa I think it is. Why do you ask?

The sample variation seems to be greater with pre-war Tessars. From razor-sharp to soft at all apertures.

hap · Feb 10, 2023

Maybe this is just internet noise. However, most commentaries and reviews of the Zeiss lens on the Ikoflex get high marks. Maybe yours is not collimated or adjusted correctly?

Light Lens Lab is upgrading Seagull TLRs!

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