Seagull 203

[ARCHIVIST]

I am considering a SEAGULL 203. Do any of you have experience / knowledge of this type that they could share with me. I have been looking on eBay but to date the only ones I have found come out of China. Do any of you know of any that are a little more 'local' as I have had an issue or two with previous purchases out of China.
What appeals about the 203 is it's lever action wind-on.

Regards
Peter

 

[wlewisiii]

I've considered one occasionally, but the concensus is that it's not worth the cost to recycle it. The lens isn't terribly good, the lever isn't any better and the shutter is extreamly fragile - to the point that simply cocking it has been known to break parts in the camera. You'll be much better served by an Iskra, Moskva, Agfa or Ansco folder for lower cost and good performance.

William

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thanks William.
This seems to be the story I get from others - pity though as it looks the part.

Peter

 

[wlewisiii]

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I'll just have to wait till a Fuji GS645 with a decent bellows shows up when I have that much to spare for a folder with an advance lever.

William

 

[shaaktiman]

I have never heard anything about Seagull cameras other than that they are horribly awful.

 

[wlewisiii]

Some of the earlier TLR's aren't bad - about equal to a Yashica D with Yashikor triplets, but almost all of the rest make FSU production look like Leica.

William