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. With a 130 x 72 x 48 mm in size and 220g in weight (Minophoto), it is basically the definition of a point and shoot.

On the front of 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. Next to the viewfinder is either the sensor that autofocuses the camera or the automatic flash sensor exposure that set off the flash when it detects insufficient light. But I believe it is the autofocus sensor. 

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.

It should be noted that this isn't three separate ISO settings, but rather two. What I mean by this is that this slider also changes the aperture and unlike other cameras, this camera doesn't have aperture pedals or blades that narrow or widen. Instead this camera has a plastic plate that has two different size holes punched in it. One hole, being the biggest aperture setting is used for film that has an ISO between 100 and 200. 

And the second punched hole, or aperture setting (the smallest setting) is for film with an ISO of 400.

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. The shutter speed is around 1/100 second (POLA Store).

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.

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

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

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/

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

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

Olympus OM30 Film Camera

 

Going from digital to good old film. In this post I will be talking about the Olympus OM30 film camera, a nifty piece of technology that was the “first foray into autofocus for the OM system, although strictly speaking the OM-30 is not part of the OM system, this only includes single digit models.” (Filmphotography.eu 2024)

The importance of old film cameras is similar to the importance of camcorders stated in the Philips VKR6847 Explorer Camcorder post and the Panasonic/National NV-M5 Camcorder post. In both documentation of human history, but also a way to capture that “unmistakable quality to them that digital cameras just can’t replicate.” (Mayhigh Films 2023)

In this post I won’t go into a deep philosophical discussion about the importance of film cameras, instead I will direct you to my Philips VKR6847 Explorer Camcorder post and the Panasonic/National NV-M5 Camcorder post, as well as my last post (Nikon Coolpix S01 compact digital camera), on the significance of these vintage pieces of film and photography technology. But I will just say what I mentioned in my Nikon Coolpix S01 compact digital camera post and my Panasonic/National NV-M5 Camcorder post, that if you want that old film look that film cameras gave pictures, then it is better to use the technology from those days, instead of using filters in the editing phase.

After all, “film cameras have an unmistakable quality to them that digital cameras just can’t replicate…” (Mayhigh Films 2023), but it is important to remember that just like modern cameras, “Choosing the right film camera can be a tough decision, but there are a few things you can keep in mind to help you choose the best one for you. First, think about what type of photography you want to do with your camera.” (Mayhigh Films 2023)

Now, for the Olympus OM30 camera. First a look at the company’s history. The Olympus company started in 1919 as Takachiho Seisakusho and was founded by Takeshi Yamashita and started manufacturing microscopes. Yamashita wanted to create unique microscopes and by 1920 released the Asahi.

Asahi Microscope. Image Source: https://static3.olympus-lifescience.com/data/Image/museum/micro/images/1920_01/img_01.jpg?rev=5DF8

 

Then “Three decades later, Olympus successfully developed the world's first gastrocamera for practical use. The spirit of creation that infused the company at its founding has been passed on through the years, from the release of the company's first product to its breakthroughs in Opto-Digital Technology today.” (Olympus 2024)

By 1936, Olympus released their first camera, the Semi-Olympus, which “shot 6×4.5cm negatives on 120 film, a format that has faced a lot of neglect throughout photographic history but actually enjoyed a lot of popularity in Japan during the decades surrounding World War Two.” (Jacoby 2024)

Semi-Olympus Camera. Image Source: https://www.olympus-global.com/technology/museum/camera/products/images/semi-oll.jpg

This camera was branded Olympus, which actually went back to the 1920s, when the microscopes where branded as Olympus products (Jacoby 2024). The name comes from Mt. Olympus, which was similar to Japan’s Mt. Takachiho, in that it was believed that the main gods and goddesses where believed to live on these mountains and that the Olympus trademark is “also imbued with the aspiration of Olympus to illuminate the world with its optical devices, just like Takamagahara brought light to the world” (Olympus 2024).

After the Semi-Olympus, came the Six camera (1940) and the Olympus company hit, the Olympus 35, which took the 35mm film in 1948 and by 1952 sealed Olympus’ fate as one of the top camera companies when the 35mm film became the standard (Jacoby 2024).

The Olympus company went through many name changes. First founded as Takachiho Seisakusho in 1919. Then by 1942 Takachiho Optical Co., Ltd., due to optical instruments being the company’s foundation. After the end of the war changed their name to Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. in 1949 to help increase company image. Then finally “in 2003, the company made a fresh start as Olympus Corporation, to show its willingness to establish a dynamic corporate brand by unifying the corporate name and the well-known brand.” (Olympus 2024)

This camera is part of the OM system camera series that has a long history going back to 1972 with the OM1. If you are interested in learning about it please read the article The Olympus OM System by 678 Vintage Cameras (2017) here: 

https://www.678vintagecameras.ca/blog/the-olympus-om-system 

Now time to look at the object of this post, the Olympus OM30. The OM30 was released between 1983 and 1987 and was also known as the OM-F camera in North America (Filmphotography.eu 2024). This particular model was most likely produced somewhere in 1983/84 because this camera was serviced only once in 1986 and according to Lomography (2024): “It’s important to remember that even though film cameras are often built like tanks, many of them have been around for decades so it would be better to have them serviced every two or so years to keep them in good condition.”

 

More about the camera. It is an SLR motor camera, meaning it needs a power source to work and the Olympus OM30 uses 5 LR44 batteries that go in a compartment located next to the lens.

The camera comes with the standard Olympus OM-System Zuiko Auto-S 50mm lens with an f/stop of 1:1.8. It has an aperture ring on the front to allow as much or as little amount of light to enter the sensor. This is only done when the camera is set on auto, as the setting of the aperture on the lens will automatically set the shutter speed.

     

Set to manual the user must use the ring on the camera body behind the lens (the Manual Shutter Speed Dial), which sets the shutter speed manually. The slower the shutter, the more exposure there will be and the faster the shutter speed the less exposure there will be.

In the middle of the lens is the focus ring, that moves forward and backwards and looks like it is zooming in and out, but this ring only to fix the focus because the lens is a prime lens 50mm lens.

 

On the top of the camera, there are five modes. Check is used to test battery life, B is set for photographs that are taken with very long exposure times and OFF switches it well… off, Shocking!

Then there is AUTO, which as mentioned sets the shutter speed automatically depending on the aperture setting from the lens and it is also helps with auto focus. But this only works if the user has a “special stand alone autofocus 35-70mm/F4 zoom lens that was introduced simultaneously. This lens, shown in the picture below, can turn any OM body into an semi-autofocus camera, with autofocusing triggered with a button on the lens. In combination with the OM-30 however, this lens can also be triggered by the shutter release button, and in combination with a Winder or Motor Drive and the M.In-Focus Trigger Cord motorized single autofocus or continuous autofocus is possible.” (ESIF.world)

Autofocus 35-70mm/F4 zoom lens. Image Source: page 77 of user manual

M.In-Focus Trigger Cord. Image Source: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hdoAAOSwZGRgEt6B/s-l1600.jpg

On top of the ring used to switch between these five modes, is the rewind knob. This is used (with the turning the rewind release lever in the front) to wind the film back into its capsule, similar to the Sounex YN-9000 Re-usable Camera (see post for more information) and just like the YN-9000, to open the film compartment, the user pulls the rewind knob up.

Next to the mode switch is the hot shoe plate, for an external flash. Then next to that is the ISO (ASA) setting. It is set by lifting up the Exposure Compensation dial and turning it to the desired ISO or ISO indicated on the film. The Exposure Compensation dial is also its own thing. It is to help with under/over exposed photos. Moving it to the + side helps with over exposure and – helps with under exposure (according to Elgar 2021).

In the corner of the Exposure Compensation dial is the self-timer, that is set to 12 sec. Above that is the shutter release, which has a screw thread for the in-focus trigger cord as well as a gas remote shutter release cable. Then there is the Film Advance Lever, which helps move the film to the next frame when one is used and next to that is the Exposure Counter, that tells the user on what number frame they are on and goes up to 36 and starts with S and E at the end.

On the front of the camera is the lens, Manual Shutter Speed Dial, the rewind release lever and battery compartment.

But there is also the In-Focus Trigger Cord Socket, that powers the M.In-Focus Trigger Cord.

At the bottom of the lens and in the corner is the F/stop knob. It switches between F2 and F4. The user switches it depending on the lens. 

F/stop setting guide. Image Source: Page 35 user manual.

Underneath...

...is the Sound Switch, to put the camera on silent and also save battery power. 

Above that is the Motor Guide Pinhole and next to that is the Motor Coupling Socket, then on the other side is the Motor Coupling Terminal, where the Motor Drive (a “more efficient shooting, particularly in sports and wildlife photography, and the desires of amateur and novice photographers for easier to use cameras both drove the development of automatic film transport…” Wikipedia) connects and gets power. 

Page 51 of the user manual.

In the middle is the Tripod Socket. 

To know more please check out the manual here:

https://esif.world-traveller.org/om-sif/bodygroup/manuals/om30.pdf

This camera is a SLR or Single-lens reflex camera. A SLR is a “type of camera has a moveable mirror behind the lens which reflects an image through a five-sided prism (pentaprism) or pair of mirrors, onto a glass screen (the viewfinder). This means the photographer sees exactly the same image that will be exposed on the recording medium (film or digital CCD). When you press the shutter button, the main mirror is flipped out of the way so the light passes straight through to the recording medium as pictured below. As you do this, you notice the image briefly disappear from the viewfinder. There is also the familiar sound of the "camera click" as the whole mechanism works.” (Media Collage)

SLR camera diagram. Image Source: https://www.mediacollege.com/photography/camera/slr/images/slr-diagram-01a.gif

The light (made out of photons) react with the camera film in a process known as photochemistry (Woodworth 2024). For more information on this process please check out my Kodak 200 Color Plus Film post.

This was a fun one and more importantly short. Thank you for making it to the end and as always, 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

https://patreon.com/OnlineCurator?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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

List of sources:

Elgar, P. 2021. REVIEW: Olympus OM30 Film Camera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvP-Nz7DImw

ESIF.world. OM-30 (US: OM-F). https://esif.world-traveller.org/om-sif/bodygroup/om30.htm#:~:text=It%20is%20not%20a%20true,lens%20that%20was%20introduced%20simultaneously.

Filmphotography.eu. 2024. Olympus OM-30. https://filmphotography.eu/en/olympus-om-30/#:~:text=It%20was%20built%20by%20Olympus,only%20includes%20single%20digit%20models.

Jacoby, J. 2024. A Brief History of Olympus, From the Six to OM Digital. https://petapixel.com/history-of-olympus-om-system/

Lomography. 2024. Do I need to get my film camera serviced regularly? https://www.lomography.com/school/do-i-need-to-get-my-film-camera-serviced-regularly-fa-51eo4nlq#:~:text=It's%20important%20to%20remember%20that,keep%20them%20in%20good%20condition.

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.

Media Collage. SLR cameras. https://www.mediacollege.com/photography/camera/slr/

Olympus. 2024. Founding of Olympus. https://www.olympus-global.com/company/milestones/founding.html?page=company#:~:text=Olympus%20was%20named%20after%20this,the%20predecessor%20of%20Olympus%20Corporation.

Wikipedia. Motor drive (photography). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_drive_(photography)