Eglise Saint-Nizier Lyon
The Church of Saint-Nizier (French: "Église Saint-Nizier") is a church in the Presqu'île district of Lyon, France, Its name refers to Nicetius of Lyon, a bishop of the city during the 6th century. Begun in the 14th century and only completed in the 19th century, the church contains a variety of architectural styles, ranging from the neo-Gothic spire to the classical Renaissance facade. In 1998, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with other historic buildings in Lyon.
I went there on November 22, 2023, with my French FOCA camera type « PF3 » or ***, made in Châteaudun, Eure, France, year 1954. The OPLAR normal lens was equipped with a 42mm push-on FOCA (France) AUV filter plus a generic metal cylindric shade hood.
The camera was loaded with a Fomapan Creative 200 exposed for 160 ISO. Expositions were determined using a Minolta Autometer III with a 10° finder for selective measurements privileging the shadow areas. The weather was a bit dark and windy in the afternoon giving typical exposure from 1/50s to f/4.5 to 5.6 outdoor. Indoor in the church, I used the slow speed module of the FOCA at 1/10s an the full aperture f/2.8.
Eglise Saint-Nizier, November 22, 2023
69002 Lyon
France
After exposure, the film was processed using Adox Adonal (= Agfa Rodinal) developer at dilution 1+50, 20°C for 10min.
The film was then digitized using a Sony A7 body adapted to a Minolta Auto Bellows III and a Minolta Slide Duplicator using a lens Minolta Bellow Macro Rokkor 50mm f/3.5 at a reproduction ratio of 1:1. The reproduced RAW files obtained were processed in LR prior the the final JPEG editions.
All views of the film are presented in the dedicated album either in the printing framed versions and unframed full-size jpeg accompanied by some documentary smartphone Vivio Y76 color pictures.
About the camera and the lens:
This French FOCA camera type « PF3 » or ***, was made in Châteaudun, Eure, France, year 1954.
I got the set from a French dealer on eBay , including the camera and its normal lens OPLAR 1:2.8 f=5cm, a rare ever-ready bag Ref 120-503 « Luxe » with a upper compartment for three 42mm push-on filters. The bag is made of a pork leather and was in 1950 three times more expensive than a normal ever-ready bag. The set also included a FOCA view finder covering the field of a 3,5cm focal lens in its original grey and rd small FOCA box, a soft neoprene FOCA hood, three 42mm FOCA filters yellow x2.5, green x3.5, and orange x4. The kit also included a (used?) roll of Kodachrome-64 (DX-coded canister).
According to the serial number in 401.xxx, this PF3 should be a model-1 (version 5 or 6).
The camera was used very carefully and has been probably well serviced in the past. The OPLAR normal lens 1:2.8 f=5cm is a model-3 version-3 from 1954 too with the "ECD/9" diaphragm graduation 2.8...3.5...9....18.
The camera was originally sold to its first owner by « Photo-Plait » in Paris, France, one of the most important photo store, founded in 1910 and editing a well-know catalog of camera's for mail-order selling in France and overseas. Then the camera could have been sold either in the Photo-Plait store, 35-39, rue Lafayette, Paris 9ème or by mail-order selling.
When I first detailed the camera, I soon realized that it is almost pristine with very little signs of a very careful use. All functions works flawlessly, including the slow shutter speeeds and the shutter curtains are as new. The view finder and range finder are very clear and contrasted as the day 1. The lens is also very nice condition.
The FOCA PF3 is essentially the same camera as the type PF2B (PF for "Petit Format") constructed in France by the company "Optique & Precision de Levallois" (OPL) starting from 1947. The difference lies in the built-in slow speed mechanism giving 1/10s, 1/5s, 1/2s and 1s exposition times, plus the T-mode. It was manufactured in the Châteaudun OPL factory, route de Jallans, France. The factory, constructed in 1938, is still at the same place under the name of SAFRAN now producing precision devices for aerospace appliances.
Eglise Saint-Nizier Lyon
The Church of Saint-Nizier (French: "Église Saint-Nizier") is a church in the Presqu'île district of Lyon, France, Its name refers to Nicetius of Lyon, a bishop of the city during the 6th century. Begun in the 14th century and only completed in the 19th century, the church contains a variety of architectural styles, ranging from the neo-Gothic spire to the classical Renaissance facade. In 1998, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with other historic buildings in Lyon.
I went there on November 22, 2023, with my French FOCA camera type « PF3 » or ***, made in Châteaudun, Eure, France, year 1954. The OPLAR normal lens was equipped with a 42mm push-on FOCA (France) AUV filter plus a generic metal cylindric shade hood.
The camera was loaded with a Fomapan Creative 200 exposed for 160 ISO. Expositions were determined using a Minolta Autometer III with a 10° finder for selective measurements privileging the shadow areas. The weather was a bit dark and windy in the afternoon giving typical exposure from 1/50s to f/4.5 to 5.6 outdoor. Indoor in the church, I used the slow speed module of the FOCA at 1/10s an the full aperture f/2.8.
Eglise Saint-Nizier, November 22, 2023
69002 Lyon
France
After exposure, the film was processed using Adox Adonal (= Agfa Rodinal) developer at dilution 1+50, 20°C for 10min.
The film was then digitized using a Sony A7 body adapted to a Minolta Auto Bellows III and a Minolta Slide Duplicator using a lens Minolta Bellow Macro Rokkor 50mm f/3.5 at a reproduction ratio of 1:1. The reproduced RAW files obtained were processed in LR prior the the final JPEG editions.
All views of the film are presented in the dedicated album either in the printing framed versions and unframed full-size jpeg accompanied by some documentary smartphone Vivio Y76 color pictures.
About the camera and the lens:
This French FOCA camera type « PF3 » or ***, was made in Châteaudun, Eure, France, year 1954.
I got the set from a French dealer on eBay , including the camera and its normal lens OPLAR 1:2.8 f=5cm, a rare ever-ready bag Ref 120-503 « Luxe » with a upper compartment for three 42mm push-on filters. The bag is made of a pork leather and was in 1950 three times more expensive than a normal ever-ready bag. The set also included a FOCA view finder covering the field of a 3,5cm focal lens in its original grey and rd small FOCA box, a soft neoprene FOCA hood, three 42mm FOCA filters yellow x2.5, green x3.5, and orange x4. The kit also included a (used?) roll of Kodachrome-64 (DX-coded canister).
According to the serial number in 401.xxx, this PF3 should be a model-1 (version 5 or 6).
The camera was used very carefully and has been probably well serviced in the past. The OPLAR normal lens 1:2.8 f=5cm is a model-3 version-3 from 1954 too with the "ECD/9" diaphragm graduation 2.8...3.5...9....18.
The camera was originally sold to its first owner by « Photo-Plait » in Paris, France, one of the most important photo store, founded in 1910 and editing a well-know catalog of camera's for mail-order selling in France and overseas. Then the camera could have been sold either in the Photo-Plait store, 35-39, rue Lafayette, Paris 9ème or by mail-order selling.
When I first detailed the camera, I soon realized that it is almost pristine with very little signs of a very careful use. All functions works flawlessly, including the slow shutter speeeds and the shutter curtains are as new. The view finder and range finder are very clear and contrasted as the day 1. The lens is also very nice condition.
The FOCA PF3 is essentially the same camera as the type PF2B (PF for "Petit Format") constructed in France by the company "Optique & Precision de Levallois" (OPL) starting from 1947. The difference lies in the built-in slow speed mechanism giving 1/10s, 1/5s, 1/2s and 1s exposition times, plus the T-mode. It was manufactured in the Châteaudun OPL factory, route de Jallans, France. The factory, constructed in 1938, is still at the same place under the name of SAFRAN now producing precision devices for aerospace appliances.