Sharp performance for a budget medium format camera.

The body of the Seagull 4A-109 is sturdy and well constructed. Fit and finish is good but not at the level of its German TLR counter-parts. The camera is easily held and balanced; the shutter and aperature dials are easily accessible (the shutter dial is somewhat stiff and you must remember that it cannot be changed after the film has been advanced). Loading film is easy once you realize you must take your time and use precise movements. With practice film can be loaded in 30-45 seconds.

I like the other basic features such as the shutter lock, PC socket, and the hot shoe. The timer on this model has worked without problem; this was a flaw in earlier models so I read.

The four element "Tessar" style lens is very sharp and renders highly resolved negatives. The viewfinder is bright and focusing is not difficult at all.

I like using this camera because it allows me to slow down and relax and really compose my shots. It also feels good to get away from 'auto this' and 'auto that' for awhile.