I have an Olympus iS-3000, a camera produced from about 1992 to 1999. I would like to get closer to its manufacturing date. The camera has what appears to be a date code similar to that found on the OM series of cameras but definitely not the same.
The code on my camera is SUL9 28 can anyone identify this or provide a listing of date codes for the iS range of Olympus cameras?
I can offer no help for your specific question, sorry.
My "knowledge" of 35mm SLR stops at about 1985.
I had no idea what this camera was. Kind of interesting.
Was this a pretty unique design, or did most of the big names have a similar model.?
The front extension took me by surprise.
The camera majors all had a go at this type of camera but only Olympus was really successful at it. Take a look at my post on https://wilwahabri.wordpress.com/2021/08/15/review-the-olympus-is-3000/ it has as much detail as I was able to uncover on the history of the camera and some example of the film output from it. I like it, it is well balanced and the missing left side is a bit weird at first but actually it makes it easier to hold the camera and reach the controls. I have several OM film cameras from OM-1 to 4Ti and for most general use I would pick this camera to use! and I really really like the OM cameras! There were a number of models iS 1000, 2000, 3000, 5000 (iS1, 2 and 3 in the States and L1, L2 and L3 in Japan) being the prosumer versions and iS10, 100, 200, 300 and 500 being the less well specified models. The iS-3000 was probably the most sophisticated and able, the 5000 was a retrograde step towards the end of the production run
I can offer no help for your specific question, sorry.
My "knowledge" of 35mm SLR stops at about 1985.
I had no idea what this camera was. Kind of interesting.
Was this a pretty unique design, or did most of the big names have a similar model.?
It is a typical representative of a group what then was called "Bridge Camera". A new type that combined features of an AF Compact with that of an SLR.
A inbetween as the group name hints at. Several manufacturers made such models.