Sinpo PQ-3 Point and Shoot Film Camera

 

Carrying on with film cameras, this post will be looking at the Sinpo PQ-3, a simple point and shoot camera that takes film. It is a simple design and is small enough to take anywhere.

        

      

But this does bring up an important question, why still use film or if you use film why use this camera and not a “real” camera? And to that, I say: one, this is a real camera, second is that this camera, like the Sounex YN9000 (see post for more information), is a good start to help understand how film work, after all it is better to crawl before you can learn how to run. Lastly is that as mentioned in the last post (Olympus OM30 Film Camera) film cameras, “unmistakable quality to them that digital cameras just can’t replicate.” (Mayhigh Films 2023)

But film is also important because as Megan G Photography (2024) points out, film photography teaches the photographer to make every picture they take intentional. With a limited amount of pictures that a film camera can take, “Every photo that we take has more meaning behind it for that reason.”

Now I am not bashing digital cameras because it is my preferred choice and is better in the long run and gives the editor more control and ability to make the image look the way they want it to. It is also faster to distribute digital, through email and instant printing, then it is to buy film, develop it and either having to send it through the post or painstakingly scan each photo individually then compile it into a file, rename and then send it to people.

But it is still important for photographers to dabble in film, even if it is for personal projects or just experimenting with the medium, because “When you’re taking digital photos, it’s so easy to notice a mistake and adjust your settings real fast. When you’re a film photographer, you don’t have that kind of luxury. When you hire a film photographer based on their work, you know you have someone that’s experienced in photography and will give you great pictures whether their using digital or film!” (Megan G Photography 2024)

As mentioned, if a photographer wants to get into film, it is important for them to start with cameras that are a point and shoot, just so that they can understand how film works, experiment and make mistakes. Point and shoot cameras, like the Sounex YN9000 or this post’s object the Sinpo PQ-3, make it easier for new film photographers, especially if you are used to digital cameras, because they are less complicated to use and are light and small enough to pack in with the digital cameras and not add any additional weight. Meaning that between shots with the professional digital camera, the user can take out the film camera and play around. 

Now, let’s talk about this post’s object, the Sinpo PQ-3. First, a look at the company. Sinpo, or the Sinpo Optical Co., Ltd., is hard to find information on, but with the information available, it appears that the Sinpo company is owned by the Skanhex Technology Inc. (founded in 1997), a maker of digital cameras, since 2001. (CameraWiki)

But according to DigitalKameraMesuem (2024), the Skanhex Technology Inc. and Sinpo Optical Co., Ltd. partnership goes back to 1998, with the Skanhex SX-150Z digital camera, that was “Skanhex in its early and marketed design. The Skanhex was actually built by Sinpo Optical, a company owned by Skanhex Technologies.”

Skanhex SX-150Z. Image Source: https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/oem

According to Loughran (2003), "Established in September 1997, SKANHEX TECHNOLOGY INC. is one of Taiwan's widely recognized and high quality digital camera manufacturing companies. Associated with SINPO OPTICAL CO., LTD, which is the best ODM traditional camera manufacturer in Taiwan, SKANHEX devotes to develop the best quality digital still cameras.

“... SKANHEX has worked together with the well-known international companies. Our major ODM customers include Kodak, Canon, Nikon, Minolta...etc. Our Mission is to ensure that every SHANHEX product delivers the high quality images."

So it appears that Skanhex, like the New Taiwan Photographic Corp (see Sounex YN9000 post), made cheap and easy to use camera for the masses, although unlike New Taiwan, Skanhex was open about their products being plastic, especially since they worked with big companies as mentioned above.

Although now Skanhex, goes under the trademark name of Xinhong Technology Co., Ltd. (Company Registration Inquiry Center 2024), but what of the Sinpo brand itself? Well the only thing I could really find was from Business.com, stating that Sinpo Optical Co., Ltd. was established in 1990 in Taiwan. But according to EEchain, Sinpo goes back to 1989 and “has been regarding the quality first and the customers first, the excelsior spirit and attitude as its highest principles. With all efforts of all members in SINPO, we experienced the new camera revolution, severe marketing competition and economical environment changes.”

Information on this company is very limited, whether this was because of its claim to work with Kodak, Canon, Nikon, and Minolta, as well as German distributors Jenoptik, Medion and Yakumo (CameraWiki), and wanted to be known under those brand names other than their own or similarly like the New Taiwan Photograpic Corp, who also made cheap plastic cameras and used well established (albeit without their consent), that “It’s not likely that anyone will ever come up with a more conclusive history about the company simply because the market was so saturated with these types of mass produced cheap consumer goods products made in China and its provinces.” (Eckman 2019)

Now for the camera itself. The Sinpo PQ-3 manufacturing date is tricky and it appears that the Sinpo film cameras were short lived, because as mentioned by 1998, Skanhex owned Sinpo and started making digital cameras. Meaning that this camera was released anywhere between 1989-1996. But seeing that there are earlier versions of this camera like the PQ-1, this camera could be early 1990s.

Sinpo PQ-1. Image Source: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Y30AAOSwYTVjUFJ0/s-l1600.jpg

The camera is as simple as they come. It is basically the definition of a point and shoot. On the front the camera...

… Is a 35mm lens with an F/stop of 1:4.5 and is focus free. It is also protected by a lens cover, that is built in and is removed by sliding the slider that is underneath the lens.

In the bottom corner is the flash on/off switch. This doesn’t exactly work as one might think, this button is pressed if you want the flash on for one shot and after that shot the flash would be off, unless pressed again then it will go off. Right above the flash button, is the built-in flash.   

Next to the flash is the viewfinder. This camera isn’t an SLR and so the user can’t exactly see what the lens or sensor sees, which can cause some problems (see Sounex YN9000 post). But at least it is right above the lens, meaning that unlike similar cameras, the user can at least see the gist of what the lens will capture.

Then there is the ISO (100, 200 and 400) setting slider, that is used to set the ISO (no kidding) to the correct ISO that is indicated on the film roll. This is found next to the lens.

On the back...

… Is the film compartment, that takes 35mm film.

Above that is the viewfinder.

Next to the viewfinder is the rewind slider, that, with a motor, automatically rewinds the film back into its capsule/cartage.    

Then on the side next to the film compartment’s opening is the latch slider that opens the compartment.

On top of the camera is the shutter button and the film counter, that indicates on what number film slide/frame the film is on and like the other two film cameras in this online museum/blog (Sounex YN9000 and the Olympus OM30), the counter starts with S, can take up to 36 pictures and ends in an E.

Underneath, is the battery compartment. The whole camera is motorised, from changing to the next film frame to rewinding it and needs two AA batteries.

The camera came with a carrying bag and strap, which isn’t missing, just misplaced…

This camera even has an advanced version (well, sort of) called the Sinpo PQ-3 (Date), which has a “Date function for setting the date on the photo” (POLA Store)

Sinpo PQ-3 (Date). Image Source: https://pola-store.ru/2254-13926-thickbox/sinpo-pq-3-date-plenochnyj-fotoapparat.jpg

Sinpo PQ-3 (Date). Image Source: https://pola-store.ru/2254-13927-thickbox/sinpo-pq-3-date-plenochnyj-fotoapparat.jpg

To explain how it works to capture images onto film in a process known as photochemistry, please see the Kodak 200 Color Plus Film post.

Now this post wasn’t exactly the most exciting, but is still interesting. Even though this camera isn’t the most known, I believe this camera is the best way for photographers to learn and practice, if they want to try out film.

With its simple and light weight design, that is even better than the Sounex YN9000, because of the Sinpo PQ-3s internal lens, making it easier to put into a bag and not take up so much space.

The best part is also the automatic motorised rewind film button which as Ovchar (2023) writes that because “the film would rewind automatically. This made the process easier while also keeping it pure.”

From this, the photographer, can learn how the exposure/developing process works and if interested, can get more professional and advanced film cameras to elevate their craft.

Thank you for making it to the end and as always, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did researching it.

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List of sources:

Business.com. Sinpo Optical Co., Ltd. https://business.com.tw/cop/com.php?id=hv4c6ylsdedzjnm

CameraWiki. Skanhex. http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Skanhex

Company Registration Inquiry Center. 2024. New popularization SINPO. https://www.findcompany.com.tw/trademark/00480761_078039103

DigitalKameraMesuem. 2024. OEM models from 1989-2002. https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/oem

Eckman, M. 2019. Cannon DL-9000 “The Scamera.” https://mikeeckman.com/2019/04/canon-dl-9000-the-scamera/

EEchain. Sinpo Optical CO., Ltd. http://www.eenet.com.tw/eenet/compcontent.asp?a=sinpo&b=d12

Loughran, P. 2003. DX6490 new features over other DX models. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/5925550

Mayhigh Films. 2023. What makes one film camera better than another? https://medium.com/@mayhighfilmsindia/what-makes-one-film-camera-better-than-another-73c75c172de5#:~:text=The%20benefits%20of%20using%20a%20film%20camera&text=They%20are%20generally%20less%20expensive,longer%20lifespan%20than%20digital%20cameras.

Megan G Photography. 2024. Four Reasons Why Film Photography is Important. https://meghangphotography.com/four-reasons-why-film-photography-is-important/

Ovchar, I. 2023. Why Film Photography Is the Only Right Way To Start. https://fstoppers.com/originals/why-film-photography-only-right-way-start-632883

POLA Store. SINPO PQ-3 (DATE) FILM CAMERA. https://pola-store.ru/plenochnye-fotoapparaty/2254-sinpo-pq-3-date-plenochnyj-fotoapparat.html