Historic photos from the Seagull factory show workers assembling the much sought-after cameras. Photo provided to Shanghai Star

Saving the jia

Photographer captures heavenly locales

"Photos taken under baby mode will have no flash; taking into account their active nature, kids mode will focus on capturing their fast movements; and the family mode will try to seize the moment when everybody has a smiling face," says Qu.

Thanks to the huge nostalgia for the brand, dozens of the new camera models have been ordered only a few days after becoming available on Tmall.

Another double-lens digital camera (one for photo taking, and the other as a projection) with a double function of a projector is expected to be launched at the end of October, paying tribute to the classic double lens camera that was sold for 40 years.

"The classic modes are tested by time, and that's why we choose to develop our new models on the basis of those classic ones," says Qu.

More efforts will be made to develop professional digital cameras as well as side products in the coming years.

Qu says the reemergence of Seagull will rely on two groups of customers, people nostalgic for the brand and younger people who are drawn to the functional products.