Perfo 608 No 200

What a pity that the cameras can not tell us their story! And this one in particular ...
Not only because the traces of heavy wear prove that it had to see many things, but mostly because this camera is the prototype of the small series of "Performance 608" and it shows interactions between a photographer exposing his needs and a manufacturer that strives to satisfy his desires. According to the archives of the Lachaize family There was is a very dynamic photographer in Villeurbanne (France), Mr. Berriot, which prompted the development of Punch 608. He bought the unfinished prototype, the performance of which suited him ...
This copy is shown in the Volume 3 of "Prestige de la Photo" , recognizable by its lens "Rodenstock – Heligon f : 2,8 / 90 mm A 3 271 166"  and on the cover of the book by G. Bandelier and J. Charrat titled "Paul Lachaize Génial autodidacte" (meaning: Paul Lachaize of genius autodidact)
 

This camera is not for amateurs, not only because it had to be loaded with film reels of 10 meters, either 62 mm in width, or 35 mm, perforated or not, to produce 110 photos in 6x8 cm, 150 in 6x6 cm, 200 in 4.5x6 cm, 200 in 32x43mm and 250 in 24x36 mm. It is possible to punch the film to identify image series, and to cut it to process the exposed part. films are supplied with paper leaders, loading and unloading is done in broad daylight, the supply reel is enclosed in a sealed compartment, and the exposed portion is wrapped in a cassette opening and closing according to the lock of the back
.
As for the Mécilux the opening of the back of is impossible if the film is in place, but is still possible if necessary.

Aiming is done by a large frame that must be pulled out and an eyelet that folds. Unlike the standard model, there is no rangefinder here: missing are the semi-transparent mirror and the mechanical connection between the feeler of the lens and the small secondary mirror, but the lens has its cam. The focusing by helical goes down to 47 cm, and provides the parallax correction by a set of cams.
The cocking is done by a pivoting trigger operated by the left thumb and the film advance by a length value selected by the cursor setting internal masks for the different formats.
The frame counter is a sensor that indicates the remaining film footage to be exposed.
The shutter is a Synchro-Compur limited to 1/400 s. without serial number.

On vintage photos of the time, we can see the camera equipped with a big flash connection Mécila with two contacts, but the support has disappeared, and there is no connection between the connection and the shutter. There remains a hot shoe accessories in bad condition ... (This shoe is kept in place by the two visible screws, but also four others inside, which is the evidence of the level of quality that Paul Lachaize imposed to himself.)
The optical unit is interchangeable, fitting into its slot while the lock opens and closes a curtain to prevent to expose the film. Tests on different lenses has been made, including a Télé-Xénar Schneider180 mm F: 5.5. The standard lens is a 90mm Mécila F: 3 or 3.5. (Note that "Prestige de la photo" incorrectly states that this camera was equipped with rocking and shifts, information that Bernard Vial repeated in part ... But we can not imagine how to couple the film advance and cocking of the central shutter with these systems.)

For Mr Berriot, Paul Lachaize oriented the optical unit to ease the use of the camera at arm's length, above the head and adapted a "focusing leg." It is likely that the aids in aiming and distance indications are the work of the photographer himself, as well as other markings used as a visual checklist ..
Two Congres type threads and a two fasteners for a shoulder strap are completing the equipment.