Fancy Solar DX-3 Point and Shoot

 

Jumping from a well-known camera from a trustworthy camera company to a relatively unknown “scamera” or “trashcam” from a dubious company. This post will be looking at a possible New Taiwan Photographic Corp. camera, the Fancy Solar DX-3.

I already referred to the history (whatever there is left of anyway) of the New Taiwan Photographic Corp. (see Sounex YN-9000 Re-usable Camera) that is most likely responsible for this camera. So, I will be going over evidence that points to the Solar DX-3 being made by New Taiwan and then I will be going over the camera itself.

The first thing I found is that, like the Sounex YN-9000 Re-usable Camera, there is very little information available on this camera. But like the Sounex, this camera’s body mould was reused and goes by different other names (which seems to be a staple in New Taiwan Photographic Corps business practices), such as the Franka DX-3 Fancy (Kamerastore 2023), the Focus DX-3 Fancy (Kamerastore 2022) and Civica DX-3 Fancy (burgerac). Those are only the ones I could find, I am sure there are more seeing that the one in this post has the name Solar and can’t be found anywhere! So I am sure there is more out there with different names.

Franka DX-3 Fancy. Image Source: https://kamerastore.com/cdn/shop/products/27-04-23-8969.jpg?v=1688716955&width=823

 

Focus DX-3 Fancy. Image Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhu14QoNV54R030sZ344_T9y4wecrKzZUtNg&s

Civica DX-3 Fancy. Image Source: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WsoAAOSwlxNeVs73/s-l400.jpg

The second piece of evidence is that the Solar DX-3 Fancy is part of the New Taiwan’s vast catalogue of cameras, in that two names (Franka and Civica) are names that the New Taiwan Photographic Corp. used frequently as the names appear a lot on some of the cameras on CollectiBlend’s (2023) list of New Taiwan cameras. Not only that, but some of the cameras’ designs that has the Franka name looks eerily similar to the Solar/Franka/Civica/Focus DX-3 Fancy cameras. Such as the Franka AF-300 and the Franka x-500.

Franka AF-300. Image Source: https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/New-Taiwan-Franka-AF-300-(Focus-Free)_1.jpg

Franka X-500. Image Source: https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/New-Taiwan-Franka-X-500-(Focus-Free).jpg

Now for the third piece of evidence, the design of the Solar DX-3. Looking at the camera, there are clear indications that this camera belongs to the New Taiwan Photographic Corp. family. Some of them are common design indications, such as the lines or groves on the bottom right corner. Many New Taiwan cameras have this, like the Sounex YN9000, the Vista KX-500 and Ocean WR-1. But this is debatable.

Vista KX500.Image Source: https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/New-Taiwan-Vista-KX-500-(Lens-Made-In-Japan).jpg

Ocean WR-1. Image Source: https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/New-Taiwan-Ocean-WR-1-(New-Color-Optical-Lens).jpg

Then there is the way this camera operates and how it was manufactured. Firstly, it is made entirely from plastic and most likely has weights added to the bottom plate (a New Taiwan trademark), the lens is “made in Japan,” has a focal length around 1:6, is “focus free” or “free focus” and has a range of 35-38mm (only for the simple point and shoot cameras anyway) as seen on the Nippon AR-4392F, Excel DL-3 and Canomatic C-600.

Nippon AR-4392F. Image Source: https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/New-Taiwan-Nippon-AR-4392F-(New-Color-Optical-Lens).jpg

Excel EL-3. Image Source: https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/New-Taiwan-Excel-DL-3-(Japan-Lens).jpg

Canomatic C-600. Image Source: https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/New-Taiwan-Canomatic-C-600-(Focus-Free).jpg

Then there is the film advance winding knob and rewind button at the bottom of the Solar DX-3 that is exactly the same as the Sounex YN-9000 Re-usable Camera.

As I indicted, all of these are debatable, but the fact that it is plastic, feels cheap, and apparently is branded under different names (two of those names being strongly associated with the company) and looks like New Taiwan Photographic Corps’ other point and shoot cameras, leads me to believe that this was manufactured by them.

Now let’s examine the camera itself.

 Described as: “A wonderfully easy to use and simple re-useable point and shoot camera perfect for beginners. Equipped with a Fixed Focus Lens and a built in flash, this camera can be used in all settings and is reliable and easy to use. Working very similarly to a disposable camera this one is great for those wanting something similar but with the benefits of being re-useable…” by Retro Camera Shop (2025).

It is made mostly of plastic, has a dimension of 136 x 78 x 51mm and weighs around 257g (Kamerastore 2023). Which is similar to the Sinpo PQ-3 Point and Shoot Film Camera that is 130 x 72 x 48 mm (Minophoto), but it is the difference in weight. Both cameras seem to have the same components, but the Solar is heavier, than the Sinpo at 220g (Minophoto). One could make the argument that because the dimensions are different, so would the weight be. That is valid, but the dimensions only differ by 6 x 6 x 3 mm. Meaning that the weight should be similar or just have a 3-6g difference between them, not 37g! This is the reason why I mentioned that the Solar may have weights added to it like the Sounex YN-9000 Re-usable Camera.

Anyway, let’s look at the front…

The lens is Japanese made (probably made by Kinetic), focus free, with a focus range of 38mm and a focal length of 1: 6.3. It also has a lens cap/slide like the Sinpo PQ-3 Point and Shoot Film Camera. But this lens slide doesn’t turn the camera on or off like the Sinpo. Instead it does lock the shutter from firing if it is still covering the lens, but this feature only works sometimes.

Underneath the lens is the ISO/aperture settings.

Similar to the Sinpo, this is used to help set the correct aperture that corresponds with the film’s ISO, but it isn’t accurate. Also like the Sinpo PQ-3 Point and Shoot Film Camera, Agfa Clack Film camera and the Kodak No. 2 Brownie Camera Model D, the aperture is a plate that has different size holes punched in it instead of aperture pedals/blades.

There are only three settings. The smallest is a square hole punched in the plate, which is used for film with an ISO of 400-1000. The second smallest is for film with an ISO of a 100 and the biggest setting is anything under an ISO of a 100 and is also the setting that turns on the flash. 

Above the lens…

Is the viewfinder and next to that is the built-in flash.

On top…

Is the film rewind crank, which is also used to hold the film in place in the film compartment. To release the film, the user must lift it up.

Next to that is the shutter release/button. The shutter speed is unknown, but if we look at other point and shoot cameras and the Sounex YN9000, it should be around 1/100 second. 

Then next to that is the film counter, that is the same as the Sounex YN9000.

Underneath the camera…

Is the battery compartment to power the flash and it takes 2 AA batteries.

Then there is the rewind button, that must be pressed and held when using the rewind crank to rewind the film, again similar to the Sounex YN9000. Underneath that is the tripod socket.

Then on the back…

Is the film compartment. Unlike the Sounex YN9000, the compartment isn’t opened with the rewind crank, but with a latch on the compartment cover. This could be an indication that this camera was made after the Sounex, possibly mid to late 1990s.

Above the cover, is the viewfinder, with the indicator that lets the user know is the flash is ready.

Next to that is the film advance winding knob or thumb wheel.

The camera takes 35mm film. To learn about that and how film works please see my Kodak 200 Color Plus Film post.

In my Sinpo PQ-3 Point and Shoot Film Camera post, I wrote that point and shoot cameras are the best starting point for photographers, that want to experiment with film photography. Their small size makes it easy to pack in with the digital gear and they don’t require much skill to use.

But, I would not recommend the Fancy Solar DX-3 as a point and shoot camera. Although it looks cool and has a slightly better lens then the Sinpo, it is actually awful. The shutter, thumb wheel and even rewind button underneath tend to jam and get stuck. The film counter keeps on resetting, so you lose count of what frame you are on. So, in other words I am saying that Retro Camera Shop’s (2025), description is not factually correct.

Say what you will about the Sounex YN-9000 Re-usable Camera, but at least that camera has a working shutter, film counter and thumb wheel. I suppose the rise of point and shoot made New Taiwan Photographic Corp. rush when building this camera, because the quality took a big nose dive in my opinion.

If you want a point and shoot camera, just go with the Sinpo PQ-3, heck at this point I would even recommend the Sounex YN9000 or just using a disposable camera. Anything other than the Fancy Solar/Franka/Civica/Focus/whatever name it also goes by DX-3 point and shoot camera!

Thank you for making it to the end of the post. And as always, I hoped you enjoyed it as much as I did researching it.

If you want to help this site out, please consider joining my Patreon: patreon.com/OnlineCurator

Please see the Please help this site post on this blog, for more information.

If you want to help in another way, well I have opened a shop on Displate, where you can own a piece of the Online Museum. There I will have the drawings you see at the start of every blog which you can now buy and proudly display in your home.

As of this post there is only one poster, but more will be coming soon, so please keep this link booked marked:

https://displate.com/BFennSW?art=66e809bf952d9   

List of sources:

Burgerac. Civica DX-3 Fancy. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Civica-DX-3-Fancy-/153847074975

CollectiBlend. 2023. New Taiwan. https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/New-Taiwan/

Kamerastore. 2022. Fancy DX-3 – Camera. https://kamerastore.com/products/fancy-dx-3

Kamerastore. 2023. Franka DX-3 Fancy – Camera. https://kamerastore.com/products/franka-dx-3-fancy

Minophoto. Sinpo PQ-3. http://minophoto.web.fc2.com/minolook/09_toy/pq3.html

Retro Camera Shop. 2025. Sirius DX-3. https://retrocamerashop.com/products/sirius-dx-3?srsltid=AfmBOop2A5d-RfsU8UZ7_hCw7pRW3GedbOEYkiLH9bqpsp_UmTSyyHkx

Kodak No. 2 Brownie Camera Model D

 

Jumping into 2025 with an iconic camera series and also the new record holder of oldest camera on this blog. No, it isn’t another Agfa, as in the past, but a Kodak, specifically the Kodak No. 2 Brownie Camera Model D.

I already went over the history of Kodak in the Kodak 200 Color Plus Film post and I went over the history of the Kodak Brownie series in the Kodak Brownie Model 1 Camera post. So, I will be jumping directly into the camera concerned. 

The Brownie No. 2 was produced from 1901-1935, and came in different models (A-F) and appears to be the first camera to use 120 film (Peggy 2019). These cameras “are pretty hard to kill. They’re both so simple and robustly enough manufactured that even the jankiest one you find in the back of some dumpy junk store can probably still make images…” (Grey 2019). With even BCG Film and Photography noting that “The No.2 Brownie was a fantastic addition to the Brownie line, they just don't seem to stop working.” This camera and its five variations were a runaway hit with the public, with the No. 2 holding a world record of 2.5 million units sold all over the world (Solomon 2017). 

Speaking of the variations, they all seem to be the same, but with minor changes (except for the Model F). The Model A, first had a detachable winding key, but that was replaced with a pull-out winding key that most box cameras have (BCG Film and Photography). It should be noted that the first No. 2 is not the No. 2 A, because the No. 2 A worked that same as the first No. 2, but it used 116 film instead of 120 (Film Cameras 2019). But I will be referring to the No. 2 (120 film camera) as Model A, even though this doesn’t matter because it seems to be working the same way as the Model D, which I will be getting to shortly.

Kodak Brownie No. 2 (A). Image Source: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5935fa15579fb38a23d59301/1508110614324-NOKFVHM4YJG42CG67CA5/Kodak+Brownie+No+2+medium+format

 

BCG Film and Photography further writes that by 1904, the Model B was released and the only change was that the fine grain leatherette was replaced with a coarser one and the lens and viewfinders were fitted with metal eyelets. It also seems that its film compartment and film carrier was opened from the front. Then by 1907 the Model C were made with spoolcenters.

Kodak Brownie No. 2 Model B & C. Image Source: https://www.brownie-camera.com/56.jpg

Kodak Brownie No. 2 Model B. Image Source: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IVsAAOSwwYlh8ZT~/s-l400.jpg

And then with the Model D (1914), this camera is the variation that had a clamp (Purcell 2020) or “the sliding latch for hinged back was replaced by a spring catch” (BCG Film and Photography). The winder key was also changed to a “bar style” (Purcell 2020). By 1917, a metal name plate was added to the back (BCG Film and Photography). 

The later versions of the Model D also saw the exclusion of the back mask (Grey 2014), which was a piece of cardboard that is a frame guide that covers up the excess film, held the film in place and possibly protected the film from light.

Kodak Brownie No. 2 Model A-C Back Mask. Image Source: https://shutterlogue.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2050016-768x576.jpg

Kodak Brownie No. 2 early Model D, with Back Mask attached to Film Carrier/Holder.
Image Source: https://live.staticflickr.com/2934/14615455123_6771a982dd_c.jpg

Then according to BCG Film and Photography, by 1919, the Model E was released and the wooden film carrier was replaced by metal and the camera had a trigger guard.

Kodak Brownie No. 2 Model E. Image Source: https://i0.wp.com/photothinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/pt-KodakNo2BrownieModelE-01.jpg?resize=960%2C721&ssl=1

Then the final model, the Model F was released in 1924 and unlike the previous models, that were all made out of cardboard, the Model F was made from aluminum. The trigger guard was removed, tripod sockets were added and the leatherette was changed back to a fine grain. (BCG Film and Photography) 

Kodak Brownie No. 2 Model F. Image Source: https://foticoscollection.com/storage/media/18819/conversions/hmrwY_orig-zoom.jpg

Over the years, the Model F came in different colours and some of these colours were made for special occasions, such as the 1930 Christmas model that had a “special Modernist finish, black with slight relief, wax-like feel…” and the 1935 version that came in silver to celebrate King George V of the UKs silver jubilee. There were also the 1931 models that “had rectangular line decoration of earlier models…” It also had the winding key replaced by a knob. (BCG Film and Photography)

Now let’s have a closer look at the Model D, starting with the body.

The No. 2 Brownie Model D is made out of cardboard, covered in a coarse grain leatherette and is slightly bigger than the Kodak Brownie Model 1 Camera, but functions in a similar way.

The front of the camera is interesting because unlike other cameras, there is no lens in the front, only the shutter. That is because the lens is behind the shutter, instead of in front of it.

The shutter is a rotary shutter (see Kodak Brownie Model 1 Camera post), with a speed of what is assumed to be 1/50 of a second (Eckman 2016) and this is probably the same for all the variations.

Then in the left top corner, are the viewfinders or brilliant finders. Top finder is to help take a picture in portrait mode and the bottom finder is for landscape, the same as the Kodak Brownie Model 1 Camera.

 

But as many reviewers point out these “brilliant finders” aren’t really brilliant. As Kohl (2017), points out that the finders are very dim and hard to frame due to the small size, by writing that “There are small viewfinder lenses on the front of the camera and a small ground glass on the side and top of the camera. Not sure if it's due to age, the mirrors coming unsilvered, or by design but the viewfinders are really dim. They're almost usable with a loupe.” It gets worse when dirty, with Grey (2019) writing: “Any No. 2 Brownie’s viewfinders will be dim even when clean, but when they’re dirty they’re useless.” 

Now for the left side…

There is the small landscape (or horizontal) brilliant finder. Underneath that is the shutter lever or shutter rocker (Eckman 2016). This shutter lever is interesting because the user must move the lever down to take an exposure and unlike other cameras, the lever doesn't jump back into place.

Instead it stays down and if the user wants to take another exposure, then the lever must be pulled up. In other words: “… you move the rocker in either up or down position.  The shutter fires regardless of the original orientation of this rocker…” (Eckman 2016).

Then underneath the shutter rocker, is the winding key, that advances the film and keeps the film holder (or carrier) in place by locking into the take-up spool (see Kodak Brownie Model 1 Camera).

Now on top…

Is the vertical or portrait brilliant finder.

Next to that are two slides. The wide one is the aperture settings and the narrow one is the exposure or shutter speed settings.

The exposure slide has three settings. According to Eckman (2016), Kodak never made any indications of what each aperture setting is, but that many people have speculated that it is either f/8, f/11 or f/16 on the widest and the other two is f/22 and f/32.

 

Solomon (2017) seems to agree that the last two f/stops are correct. But it is still unclear, with even the Brownie No. 2 manual giving no clue to the aperture size:

Page 20 from the Brownie No.2 manual

What is also interesting, is that like the Sinpo PQ-3 Point and Shoot Film Camera and Agfa Clack Film camera, the camera doesn’t use aperture pedals, but instead a plate that has three holes punched in it.

The shutter slide has two settings. An “I” setting when down and a “B” setting when it is pulled out (see Kodak Brownie Model 1 Camera).

 Then there are the two studs that held the strap, that like the Model 1, is missing.

Kodak Brownie No. 2 (Model A) with Strap. Image Source: https://shutterlogue.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2050026-768x576.jpg

And behind that is the latch that locks the film compartment cover in place.

Now for the back…

This is where the cover or hatch is covering the film compartment. On this hatch, top right corner, is the red film window, used to tell what number frame the film is on.

Inside the film compartment is the film holder/carrier, also made from cardboard and has some damage.

 And just like the Model 1, the user must pull the winding key out to release the holder, so that it can be taken out and loaded with film. Loading the film seems to be similar to loading film into the Model 1.

Then inside the film compartment is the lens, behind the shutter as mentioned above. According to Eckman (2016), the lens is a single element meniscus lens (see KODAK Pocket Instamatic 10 Camera post), with an unknown focal length.

 But according to Solomon (2017), that is a fixed focus lens, that “can only shoot from ten feet onwards…” but if we go back to Eckman (2016), who states that the focal length probably is 75mm, with a focus range of eight feet to infinity on the smallest f/stop and only goes up to ten feet to infinity when on the last two large f/stop settings. But both focus ranges of eight and ten aren’t exactly the best, because as both Eckman (2016) and Solomon (2017) agree, this makes close up or portraits impossible (or at least incredibly difficult) to shoot.

The camera uses 120 film (see Agfa Clack Film camera post for more information) with “eight 2¼” x 3¼” exposures” (Eckman 2016). To learn how film works please see the Kodak 200 Color Plus Film post.

Now it doesn’t seem that the Brownie No. 2 had a flash mount, but according to the manual, using a flash was possible with Kodak Flash Sheets, an equivalent to flash powder (Aperture Preview 2023). A flash sheet is a piece of paper, coated in highly flammable chemicals, that the user ignites with a match. Once the match touches the sheet it instantaneously burns up creating a bright flash.

Kodak Flash Sheets. Image Source: https://nwmangum.com/Kodak/images/FSheets-1.jpg

For more information on this camera, please check out the manual here:

https://www.cameramanuals.org/kodak_pdf/kodak_brownie_2.pdf 

And there it is, an amazing example of a box camera and a literal box at that. Simple and easy to use, with some drawbacks, but the design has definitely influenced the new brownie cameras. This camera is the perfect representation of the old saying of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” (just add “only improve on it”).

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

If you want to help this site out, please consider joining my Patreon: patreon.com/OnlineCurator

Please see the Please help this site post on this blog, for more information.

If you want to help in another way, well I have opened a shop on Displate, where you can own a piece of the Online Museum. There I will have the drawings you see at the start of every blog which you can now buy and proudly display in your home.

As of this post there is only one poster, but more will be coming soon, so please keep this link booked marked:

https://displate.com/BFennSW?art=66e809bf952d9  

List of sources:

Aperture Preview. 2023. Kodak Vest Pocket Model B. https://www.aperturepreview.com/kodak-vest-pocket-model-b#:~:text=The%20shutter%20speeds%20were%20reduced,/11%20to%20f/32.&text=That%20is%20all%20for%20the,including%20a%20case%20and%20cosmetics.

BCG Film and Photography. No. 2 Brownie. https://www.brownie-camera.com/53.shtml

Eckman, M. 2016. Kodak No. 2 Brownie Model D (1914). https://mikeeckman.com/2016/10/kodak-no-2-brownie-model-d-1914/

Film Cameras. 2019. Kodak No. 2 and No. 2A Brownie: How to use - Video manual. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nk2jPa53kA

Grey, J. 2014. Kodak No. 2 Brownie, Model D. https://blog.jimgrey.net/2014/08/18/kodak-no-2-brownie-model-d/

Grey, J. 2019. Kodak No. 2 Brownie, Model F. https://blog.jimgrey.net/2019/02/15/kodak-no-2-brownie-model-f/

Kohl, N. 2017. Kodak No. 2 Brownie. https://kohlweb.com/essays/2017/10/kodak-no-2-brownie/

Peggy. 2019. Kodak Browne No. 2. https://cameragocamera.com/2019/07/27/kodak-box-brownie-no-2/

Purcell, D. 2020. No 2 Brownie Camera Eastman Kodak Co. / Canadian Kodak Co. / Kodak Ltd. http://redbellows.co.uk/CameraCollection/Kodak/No2Brownie_gen.htm

Solomon, J. 2017. Kodak Brownie No. 2 Camera Review – Shooting a Hundred-Year-Old Film Camera. https://casualphotophile.com/2017/02/05/kodak-brownie-no-2-camera-review-shooting-a-hundred-year-old-film-camera/