New Taiwan Photographic Corp. Weiko 2000AF

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Anyway, back to the camera at hand:

This post is going over another scamera/trashcam, but I feel that no matter how little info or how insignificant a camera might seem, it still deserves to be recorded and documented. So in this post I will be talking about another New Taiwan Photographic Corp., point-and-shoot, cheap (and possibly unlicensed) scamera/trashcam. This is the Weiko 2000AF.

I already went through, or at least what little I could find, about the New Taiwan Photographic Corp. (NTPC) in my Sounex YN-9000.

First I will go over why I believe this to be another New Taiwan Photographic Corp. (like the Sounex YN-9000 and the Fancy DX-3). One is the lens, as I wrote in my YN-2000 post, the lens is usually a dead giveaway. And the Weiko 2000AF is no different.

It has the same markings as with many other NTPC cameras: “Lens made in Japan”, “Auto fix focus” and the “50mm lens.”

Example lens from the Akira 2000N from the New Taiwan Photographic Corp.
Image Source:
https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/New-Taiwan-Akira-2000N-(Lens-Made-In-Japan).jpg

Another thing are the weather symbols on the lens, which can also be found on the Sounex YN-9000.

Then there is the camera’s body, which has the NTPC signature marks. It looks like a SLR camera, the lines on the right-hand corner, the added weights on the bottom plates and the thumbwheel. The entire body is very close to the YN-9000, except this camera has a flash.

Then there is the fact that, like the Sounex and the DX-3, this camera body is a generic cheap plastic mould that NTPC reused multiple times, selling this same camera, but different brand names.

Such as the Vista KX-500 (CollectiBlend 2025) and the Asaflex EF-80 (Halgand 2024).

 

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

Asaflex EF-80. Image Source:
https://collection-appareils.fr/asaflex/images/Asaflex_EF-80.jpg

Because the name Weiko is made up by NTPC, and just slapped onto a camera that already goes by different names and was bought in bulk by the corporation, there isn’t any real documentation of its history and origins.

Even just searching for the meaning of Weiko doesn’t make it easier, but it does give some indication that maybe the NTPC did put in some effort when choosing this brand name.

According to Ask Oracle (2021), in Chinese it means great and powerful and Ancestry (2026) writes that it is an old European name, which is where this camera could have been sold.

But this seems highly unlikely. As Eckman (2023) writes: “…Sometimes, there are names used that aren’t exactly like a real camera company, but come close…” and in this case the NTPC probably chose the name Weiko, because it sounds similar to and is a misspelling of the name Seiko, which is the name of a Japanese watch company and means “…precision and exquisite manufacturing, and also another word, pronounced just the same, that means success…” (Seiko 2026). Thus trying to trick consumers into buying this camera, making them think it is a Seiko or at least in some way connected to or built with the same precision as a Seiko watch.

But I should also mention that it appears the NTPC did also sell cameras under the Seiko name (NOS Seiko), but they probably got in trouble and changed it to similar names, such as the Weiko and even a camera by the name of Seikanon 35FX (a combination of Canon and Seiko).

NOS Seiko. Image Source:
https://media.karousell.com/media/photos/products/2021/9/10/nos_seiko_film_camera_1631275480_7089afa0_progressive.jpg

Seikanon 35FX. Image Source:
https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/New-Taiwan-Seikanon-35FX-(Lens-Made-In-Japan).jpg

Now unlike the Fancy brand name (Fancy DX-3) used by NTPC, Weiko, doesn’t seem to be that popular, and the only other camera I can find with the Weiko name is the Weiko 1000X.

Weiko X1000. Image Source:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DxMAAOSwnH1WXTTg/s-l400.jpg

And to prove that this camera was bought in bulk and sold under different names by NTPC, we can look at the lens cap and the carrying bag, which just has the word “Camera” written on them (and upside down on the bag).

 

The word Camera isn’t a licensed name, and it is probably cheaper to just have “Camera” printed onto the accessories, when having the cameras made by a third party company.

Then when NTPC receives the cameras, they either have this third party company only place a specific brand name printed onto the cameras or NTPC, saves money by putting the brand names on themselves. This would seem more likely, as the lens cap and bag, have the name “Camera” engraved onto them. Making it hard for the NTPC to just slap a sticker over them.   

Or, I could just be missing the mark completely and the lens cap and bag were bought from a separate company, and NTPC just added them to the camera’s shipping box last minute. But these are all just my theories.

Now time to look at the camera more closely.

I can’t find a definitive year of when this camera came out, but according to Halgand (2024), the Asaflex EF-80, which as mentioned is the same camera as the Weiko 2000AF, was “Manufactured or assembled in Taïwan from (Circa) 1987 to (Circa) 1991…”

This camera is made from plastic, with weights added to the bottom plate. It weighs the same as the other point-and-shoot cameras (Solar DX-3, Sinpo PQ-3, the Praktica Sport, Minolta AF-Big Finder and also the Sounex YN-9000). It is the same size as the Sounex YN-9000, which is: 6 x 3,5 x 4 inches.

The Weiko 2000AF, works the same way as the Sounex YN-9000, but the Weiko just has a few extra features.

So, let’s talk about it. Starting with the front.

The lens-

The lens is the same as the Sounex YN-9000, it is a 50mm fixed focus, with a max f/stop of 6.3. And although the lens says “Auto” there is nothing automatic with this camera. The lens is all plastic and is most likely a meniscus lens (see the Instamatic Pocket 10).

Around this lens are two rings. The first is the f/stop or aperture setting. And like the Sounex YN-9000, the lens also has an “…outer most ring on the lens moves allowing you to move between the 4 aperture (f/6.3-16) setting with are shown along with weather icons. The aperture is controlled by moving 2 V shaped blades apart...” (Alan 2020).  But what is different of the Weiko, is that there isn’t weather symbols on both sides, instead on one side there is the iconic NTPC weather symbols and on the other side is the numerical values of each symbol:

Full sun: 16, half sun: 11, cloudy: 8 and over cast: 6.3.

 

The Weiko 2000AF’s aperture petals are similar to the Solar DX-3, square, but whereas the DX-3 has a multihole aperture, the Weiko has two V-shaped petals that form the square aperture opening.

The second ring is behind the f/stop setting and it is an extra feature that the Sounex doesn’t have, a shutter speed setting.

But it isn’t that impressive, seeing that there are only two settings, 1/60 and 1/125 second.

 

Then next to the lens in the upper corner is the viewfinder. This is kind of a down grade from the Sounex, as the viewfinder on the Weiko is off-centre from the lens. This can be problematic because as Alan (2020) writes: “…The viewfinder is big but basic and off centre. If your left eye is dominant, then this isn’t the camera for you. In the viewfinder, there are no frame line or other info seen in or around it.” 

The viewfinder was possibly moved due to the second addition that sets it apart from the Sounex, the flash, which is located right above the lens. It has a reach of 3-10 feet.

On top-

From left to right:

First is the film rewind crank, which is also the latch that unlocks the film compartment cover.

Then there is the f/stop setting reference that indicates what f/stop is best when using film that has an ASA/ISO of 100 and 400.

Then on the built-in flash-

Is the cold shoe or accessory clip.

Then in front of that is the on/off switch for the flash. Black means off and read means on.

Then in front of that is the built-in flash table, that indicates the distance one must stand, and what f/stop you should use and on what type of film, when using the flash.

Next to all of that is the shutter release button, which is where the third extra feature is. And that is the remote cable release socket. The shutter is a single leaf shutter.

Then finally, there is the film frame counter.

Underneath-

Top left corner-

Here is the flash battery compartment. This takes two AA batteries. This is only for the flash, the camera doesn’t need batteries to take pictures.

Then there is the rewind button, which must be pressed in when rewinding the film with the crank.

And next to that is the tripod socket.

On the sides-

One can find the eyelets, where the neck strap goes.

On the back-

Is the film compartment cover.

To open this, the user must pull the film rewind crank up until it pops out and the cover opens.

Above the cover-

Here is the viewfinder.

The film advance thumbwheel.

And the flash ready indicator. It lights up green to let the user know that the flash is ready to fire.

Then lastly we have the film compartment-

Which has the bare minimum.

The film counter sprocket is directly connected to the thumbwheel, along with the film advance spool.

And on the cover, unlike the Sounex YN-9000 and the Fancy DX-3, there isn’t a film pressure plate!

It takes 35mm film and shoots negatives of 36 x 24mm. To learn how film works, please see my 200 Color Plus post.

Now this isn’t a bad camera, it is slightly better than the DX-3, but that isn’t saying much. Personally the Sounex YN-9000 is the better of the three. I think that the YN-9000 looks better, especially the weather symbols, which are different colours making it look more interesting, instead of the boring all orange colours on the Weiko 2000AF. Then there is the fact that the Sounex’s viewfinder is in line with the lens and not to the side, like the Weiko.

Usually I would say if I recommend this camera to beginners of film photography and I would say no. I will stick to recommending the Sounex YN-9000, the Halina X35 Super and the point-and-shoot cameras (Sinpo PQ-3, the Praktica Sport, Minolta AF-Big Finder) except for the DX-3, I would never recommend that camera!

And that is that. 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:

Alan, D. 2020. THE SCAM THAT CAME IN FROM THE COLD – TAMASHI FMD QP8000 REVIEW. https://austerityphoto.co.uk/the-scam-that-came-in-from-the-cold-tamashi-fmd-qp8000-review/

Ancestry. 2026. Weiko Family History. https://www.ancestry.com/last-name-meaning/weiko#:~:text=Weiko%20Family%20History-,Weiko%20Surname%20Meaning,Weir%2C%20Weiss%2C%20Perko%2C%20Weide

Ask Oracle. 2021. Weiko - Buddhism Name Meaning and Pronunciation. https://www.ask-oracle.com/baby-name/weiko/

CollectiBlend. 2025. The New Taiwan Photographic Corp. https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/New-Taiwan/#:~:text=The%20New%20Taiwan%20Photographic%20Corp,are%20listed%20under%20this%20manufacturer

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

Halgand, S. 2024. Asaflex EF-80. https://collection-appareils.fr/x/html/camera-14200-Asaflex_EF-80.html

Halgand, S. 2024. Ouyama - New Taiwan Photographic Corporation Derlai (Nestlé). https://collection-appareils.fr/x/html/camera-14016-Ouyama%20-%20New%20Taiwan%20Photographic%20Corporation_Derlai%20Nestle.html

Seiko. 2026. History. https://www.seikowatches.com/us-en/special/100stories/history/#:~:text=In%201924%2C%20one%20year%20after,actually%20started%20with%20this%20watch