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Formosa Plastics Corporation Yashiwa XR90 |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Taïwan from (Circa) 1985 to (After) 1985.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 7118
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Formosa Plastics Corporation
The cameras manufactured by Formosa Plastics Corporation are recognizable by the adhesive label marked "FPC Quality Passed." The problem is that this label easily peels off. The markings on the lens cannot help with identification because the same ones are found on cameras manufactured by Ouyama, suggesting that the lens is a common subcontract among several manufacturers in Taiwan. These markings are fanciful, using a fictitious serial number. They sometimes suggest functions that do not exist. For example, "Auto Fix focus" simply means there is no focus adjustment; it is a fixed focus. The word "Auto" is there to deceive.
One can attempt to determine main types among this production. It is noticed that the differences between two types are sometimes minimal. Dating is very difficult, although there is an evolution in shapes to follow the design of major brands.
To add to the confusion, the cameras bear various commercial trademarks, which are mostly hollow shells. The same model name can be used for different devices (e.g., Licom MXF-700). Some models bear well-known brands because they have been used for advertising purposes (e.g., Time). Other names, such as Nikanon, are only there for their resemblance to major brands like Nikon and Canon.
| Markings on lens | # on lens | |||
 Like a Haking cameraOval window above the lens, serving no purpose |
Kinon SL-III |
 |
Color Optical Glass Lens F 6 50 mm |
|
 Opaque window in line with the lens (non-functional) Film advance lever |
Super II |  |
Optical Color Lens Auto Fix Focus 50 mm Lens 1:6 |
|
 Off-center viewfinderProminence of the bulge towards the front |
Luminox 356 SL |
 |
Optical Glass Lens 1:6 f=50mm series 432462 |
432462 |
| Premier PC-90 |
 |
Optical Glass Lens series 198523 |
198523 | |
 Off-center viewfinderOpaque window in line with the lens (non-functional) Film advance lever |
Nishiki Super II |
 |
Nishiki Optical Glass Lens Auto Fix Focus 50mm Lens 1:6 |
|
 Off-center viewfinderOpaque window in line with the lens (non-functional) Frame counter on the top cover |
Optiflex NF-1 |
 |
Optiflex Color Optical Glass Lens 1:6 f=50mm series 746277 |
746277 |
 Off-center viewfinderOpaque window aligned with the lens (non-functional) |
Optiflex NF-1 |
 |
Optiflex Color Optical Glass Lens 1:6 f=50mm series 746277 |
746277 |
 Film advance leverWide and low shoe base |
Kinon SL-IV |
 |
Color Optical Glass Lens F 6 50 mm |
|
 Off-center viewfinder.Covered window under the bulge. The shutter release button is on a small platform. |
BW-7000 |  |
Optical Color Lens Auto Fix Focus 50mm Lens 1:6 |
|
| UCC UC300 |  |
|||
 SLR-like form. Side viewfinder. Bulge for better grip. |
GMTEX GT-304 |  |
New Optical Lens 1:5.6 f 50 mm Series |
|
| Comax LT-002 |  |
Comax Optical Lens 1:6 f 50 mm Series |
||
 SLR-like shape. Side viewfinder. Bulge for better grip. Advance lever. |
Comax GT-306 |  |
Comax Optical Lens 1:6 f 50 mm Series |
|
 SLR-like shape. Side-mounted viewfinder. Bulge for improved grip. |
Meikai 4353 SSN |  |
New Optical Lens 1:5,6 f=50 mm Series 626326 |
626326 |
| ESC |  |
|||
 SLR-like shape. Viewfinder aligned with the lens. |
ESC |  |
New Optical Lens 1:5,6 F = 50 mm Series |
|
| Roniflex X3000 |  |
|||
| GM Tex GT-304 |  |
|||
 Off-center viewfinder. Window obscured beneath the bulge. |
(Time) |  |
Kinetic Optical Color Lens Auto Fix Focus 50mm Lens 1:6 |
|
| Nikanon RX-7 |
 |
Nikanon Color Optical Glass Lens 1:6 f=50mm series 746277 |
746277 | |
 |
FC-100 (Time) |  |
Color Optical Lens 1:6 f=50mm series 746277 |
746277 |
 Finger rest at each end.Off-center viewfinder. Window obscured beneath the bulge. |
Licom MXF-700 |
 |
Optical Glass Lens Auto Fix Focus 50mm Lens 1:6 |
|
 Reflex-like appearance. Viewfinder within the faux prism bulge. |
Oppex 2 7090 |  |
New Color Optical Lens f=50mm 1:6 |
|
| Oppex 7090 |  |
|||
 Reflex-like appearance.Viewfinder within the faux prism bulge. Advance lever. |
Licom MXF-700 |
 |
Optical Glass Lens Auto Fix Focus 50mm Lens 1:6 |
|
 Reflex-like appearance.Viewfinder within the faux prism bulge. |
Alto |  |
Optical Color Lens Auto Fix Focus 50mm Lens 1:6 |
|
| Deluxe-III |  |
|||
 SLR-like shape. Two viewfinder windows aligned with the lens. |
Leo.35 |  |
Leo. 35 Optical Color Lens Auto Fix Focus 50 mm Lens 1:6 |
|
 Reflex-like appearance.Finger rest at one end. Off-center viewfinder. Window obscured beneath the bulge. |
Eureka 2436 |  |
New Color Optical Lens 1:6 f=50mm series 347859 |
347859 |
| Weyburn F6 |  |
|||
 Reflex-like appearance.Off-center viewfinder. Finger rest on the right-hand side. |
Yashiwa XR90 |
 |
New Color Optical Lens 1:6,3 f=50mm series 624181 |
624181 |
__________
Please do not confuse this with a 'Yashica', or one of Ricoh's beautiful 'XR's! This camera was made by FPC in about 1985-7.
It is one of the few models which has two shutter speeds, 1/60 and 1/125. It also has an improved diaphragm, which creates a square aperture and closes to the centre of the lens. The lens is an “optical lens” not an “optical glass lens”, so we know it is plastic.
It is also one of the first cameras of its type to have a plastic 'filter' over the lens. Is it just for appearance, or does it have a purpose? Was it designed to reflect light at an angle away from the lens? There is also provision for a very useful accessory, a bayonet mounted lens hood, which was probably sold with it.
There is a label on the base which has a serial number and reference to “Yashiwa Photographic”, but this is the only known camera produced by that long lost corporation. It is quite heavy and probably has some scrap metal in it.
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