Testing the Franka Solida Jr. Camera. Part 2
I usually buy 120-type film with a sensitivity of 400 ISO. Considering that the Franka camera has a limited range of shutter speeds and aperture settings, 100 ISO sensitivity is optimal for daytime outdoor photography.
This limited range for forming exposure clearly characterizes the camera as simple, intended for beginners. This is also confirmed by the shutter, which works with a self-timer— there’s no need to cock the shutter, just press the release button, and the shutter speed is activated. The aperture is not iris-based. 6.3 is the fully open lens, and the value of 11 is achieved with a curtain with a round hole. So when setting it to 11, it’s important to carefully place the lever so that the hole for 11 is exactly centered on the lens. However, it’s impossible to control this since it can only be assessed from the camera’s focal plane.
The camera is quite compact and opens smoothly. When pressing the button to open it, the lens pops out with a springy action, but not fully. The feeling is as satisfying as using a switchblade knife.
To close the camera, you need to press the pedal under the lens. The window for controlling the film winding is bright, and the marks and frame numbers are clearly visible through it. However, the window does not close. How this will affect the film and whether it will be exposed will be seen after development.
Since Franka is a scale-focusing camera, I measured the distance using a construction laser rangefinder. The rangefinder works better indoors. However, it is also useful outdoors at short distances when precise focusing is important.
The first two photos I took were from a distance of about 2-3 meters.
I will take four more shots, which will be half of the film. The rest will be shot with a Kodak Junior 1 camera— let’s see at what distance the Free-Focus of its modest lens is set.
Stay tuned to this post; I'll add photos from the Franka soon.
