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The
initial vocation of the company
O.P.L (Optique et Précision
de Levallois) was to manufacture rangefinders and military cameras.
In 1938, the company starts to study cameras for civilians but this new
production domain will really start after the 2nd world war.
The factory of Châteaudun (France), is dedicated to this civil
activity and starts production in 1945 using the prototyps that have
been secretly developed during german occupation. Quickly, these cameras
gain a great fame in the opinion of the public. They rival with the
German cameras from Leica. |
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The model FOCA *** (or PF3) has been produced from 1947 to 1957.
The presented camera belonged to my uncle. It has the serial number : 306.204
which does not appear in the
offical list published by FOCA.
Mr Contoz who is an expert in PF2 and PF3 (Thank to Eric Burtscher for
his help making this contact possible) believes that it is a PF3 model
dated of 1957.
It is equipped with a lens OPLAR 1:3,5 f=5cm. The aperture can
be selected in a range of 3,5 to 18 by rotating a ring located at the
extremity of the lens.
The curtain shutter allocates speed variation from 1 sec to 1/1000
sec. |
Low speeds (T, 1 sec, 1/2 sec, 1/5 sec, 1/10 sec et 1/25 sec) can be
selected turning a special wheel located on the front face of the
camera. On the upper part of this same face, a lever which releases the
film advance mechanism. The focusing is done using a bright rangefinder
and very precise (that's normal... it is the great speciality of the
company O.P.L) |
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My uncle had
bought several accessories
but
unfortunately not all from FOCA.
| Filter 1d FOCA |
| Flash MINETTE for bulb (Japan) |
| Pneumatic self-timer GITZO |
| sun filter FOCA |
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