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Seagull (海鸥 = hǎi ōu = seagull) is the brand name used from 1964 by several camera factories situated in the Shanghai region, simply named Shanghai Camera Factory No.1, No. 2, No. 3, … etc.. In the literature they are collectively referred as Shanghai Camera Factory. Perhaps they are most widely known for their fascinating Shanghai 58 rangefinder camera, based on the Leica IIIa, which evolved with some modifications borrowed from Canon and FED, and more recently the Seagull DF cameras, a manual focus 35mm SLR range. The first ones were simply copies of Minolta SR models since they were the easiest to copy. Later the cameras were produced with licence from Minolta. Some SR mount lenses of Seagull’s own brand Haiou were made too.

The Seagull-4 series of TLR cameras, introduced in 1964 and distributed worldwide, is a continuation of the earlier Shanghai TLR; itself quite possibly produced using outdated Japanese tools and manufacturing equipment. These cameras are usually found with knob wind, but the Seagull 4A has lever wind. There are also a range of Seagull 35mm rangefinder models, as well as a range of Seagull folding roll film cameras typical of the immediate post war European production.

Several Seagull camera accessories are known, for example the electronic flashgun SG-100 and several accessory angle finders for SLRs.

In 1976 three of the Shanghai camera factories moved together into the new factory Shanghai General Camera Factory in Song Jiang County. The 35mm SLR series Seagull DF-… was continued there. The Seagull CL-A light meter was made in the Shanghai No. 2 Photographic Equipment Factory.

In 1999 600.000 units (cameras and lenses) could be produced per year. In 2001 Seagull planned to produce digital cameras for Kodak[1].

A most thorough research on the Chinese camera production was carried out by resident Douglas St Denny. He travelled across the vast country during the second half of the 1980s interviewing people there and collecting information which otherwise soon would have been lost. His book “Cameras of the People’s Republic of China” is invaluable for anyone studying this topic.

Contents [show]

Cameras Edit

FolderEdit

Seagull FCL810-A

Seagull HZX45-IIA

Seagull HZX57-IIAT

Seagull 203 (6×6 + 4.5×6 rangefinder)

Seagull 203-I (6×6 + 4.5×6 rangefinder)

Seagull 203-H (6×6 + 4.5×6 rangefinder)

TLREdit

Seagull 4A

Seagull 4A-103

Seagull 4A-105

Seagull 4A-107

Seagull 4A-109

Seagull 4B

Seagull 4B-1

Seagull 4B-2

Seagull 4C

Seagull 4D

Seagull 4

Seagull WWSC-120

35mm rangefinderEdit

Seagull KJ-1

Seagull KS Automatic Aperture

Seagull 9

Seagull 209

Seagull 208

Seagull 206 (half-frame 35mm)

Seagull 205A

Seagull 205 / Phenix 205

35mm SLREdit

The 35mm camera bodies of Seagull were made with Minolta’s SR-lens-bayonet. In addition to the cameras listed below Seagull produced similar products for other camera companies.

Seagull DF-5000

Seagull DF-2000A

Seagull DF-2000

Seagull DF-41200A

Seagull DF-1000

Seagull DF-500

Seagull DF-400G

Seagull DF-400

Seagull DF-300G

Seagull DF-300E

Seagull DF-300M

Seagull DF-300X

Seagull DF-300A

Seagull DF-300

Seagull DF-200

Seagull DF-100

Seagull DF-99

Seagull DF-98

Seagull DF-3

Seagull DF-2 ETM

Seagull DF-2

Seagull DF-1 ETM

Seagull DF-1

Seagull DF

Beware that the digital Seagull D55 presented in this page is an April fools joke.

large formatEdit

Seagull HZX45-IIA 4×5″ view camera

Seagull 4½x6½ inch” view camera

otherEdit

Seagull 3D 120-III camera

Seagull 501 (35mm viewfinder camera)

Seagull DFAB (finderless laboratory cameras)

Seagull 130 MF panorama camera

Seagull ZQ 6-35 (360 degree swing camera)

via Seagull – Camerapedia.