
Review Summary
2009-12-28T19:00:00
I use the camera as my main piece of shooting equipment. I love medium format photography and this camera is great. I love the pop up view finder and the pop up focusing mechanism inside the view finder. It's a very flexible camera. The only downside I could think of is focusing in low-light conditions. I, personally, always pre-focus before shooting at night, or in low light. For quick shooting it's a good thing to do.
rolleyeflex
2009-09-07T21:00:00
I have 3 Seagull TLR's. They're proven great for weddings and casual shooting. Having just one focal length lens really helps you become a better photographer. And since you're not "staring" at your subjects, they tend feel more comfortable.
Louie G.
2009-02-20T19:00:00
The hot shoe is located on the side of the camera so I had to purchase an additional bracket to get it where I needed it.
El H.
2008-10-24T21:00:00
I bought this camera from the factory (through a local photo store) in 2001 while in Shanghai, China and have had absolutely no problems with it. It was and continues to be a joy to use for landscapes and the occasional portrait (small flash and studio lights). It is light and very compact so that makes it a plus for travel when you want medium format on the road. The taking lens is sharp, the shutter quiet and accurate and the film transport flawless. Apparently some have had problems with the reliability of the mechanical aspects of the camera, but I have not. For me it has been exactly as represented - a simple, inexpensive camera - that has impressed me with the quality of the lens and mechanism. It yields beautiful photographs.
Donald K.
2008-08-13T21:00:00
I was doing only digital when I picked up this inexpensive medium-format jobby. I'm currently using it more than my Canon 40D. Going back to film is fun. This camera doesn't have a ton of controls, but it brings you back to the basics of photography, perhaps helping you to appreciate the art form and process a bit more. It's solidly built, except for the threaded feet on the bottom, which tend to fall out, throwing light onto the film inside. An easily-solved problem with epoxy or tape. Compatible with filters and flashes (both hotshoe and remote), the Seagull 4A-109 is a good second camera to have in your arsenal. For medium-format, it's a lot less expensive than a Mamiya or a Hasselblad.
slrprophoto
2008-05-20T21:00:00
This is the worst camera I ever bought. Perhaps this one is the exception to the rule. Images are not sharp and the camera has major issues.The synchronizer contact did not work and in fact was not even connected to anything. The depth of field scale on the focus knob was put on backwards and the camera on loading film would often blow by the first frame and thus ruin a roll of film. I get a headache just thinking of the horrible camera.
rangefinder
A pleasant surprise
By Donald K.
I bought this camera from the factory (through a local photo store) in 2001 while in Shanghai, China and have had absolutely no problems with it. It was and continues to be a joy to use for landscapes and the occasional portrait (small flash and studio lights). It is light and very compact so that makes it a plus for travel when you want medium format on the road. The taking lens is sharp, the shutter quiet and accurate and the film transport flawless. Apparently some have had problems with ...
View full Review
Great Camera
By rolleyeflex
I use the camera as my main piece of shooting equipment. I love medium format photography and this camera is great. I love the pop up view finder and the pop up focusing mechanism inside the view finder. It's a very flexible camera. The only downside I could think of is focusing in low-light conditions. I, personally, always pre-focus before shooting at night, or in low light. For quick shooting it's a good thing to do.
This camera is a step up from the 4A-107. For the first time in Seagull's history of Twin Lens Reflex Cameras, the photographer doesn't have to look away from his or her subject in order to adjust the aperture or the shutter speed on the camera. On the other models, you have to turn the camera towards you and change the speeds or aperture by looking at the front taking lens. This is where the controls are. On the 4A-109 camera, there are 2 knobs; one for the shutter speed and one for the aperture, these are located so that you can turn them as you are looking through the viewfinder. There is a small window directly in front of the viewfinder that allows you to view these settings so that you can see the changes as you turn the knobs. This a major improvement which every photographer will enjoy.
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