[MF3D.FORUM:448] Re: New members (sputniks)

[Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

Greg Erker quoted and wrote:
> 
> >I'm one of those new to medium format 3D. The list
> >has been very helpful thanks to the recent discussions
> >of Sputnik fixes. I have run one roll of film through
> >my Sputnik. It is clear that the lenses are not
> >focused at the same point. One lens is way off.
> >Is this something I should try to adjust myself?
> 
>   Are you handy with mechanical things?
> 
>   Are your gears worn enough that they unmesh
> sometimes?  That's how my focusing got out of
> synch.

As a purely WAG, I'd speculate that perhaps 50% of
Sputniks have a lack of full focus synchronization
among all three lenses (left/right/viewer).  I don't
think it only happens from the gears being worn down.

The process of adjusting the focus with the Sputnik
is the same conceptually as with other front-elemenent
focusing stereo cameras.  1) Temporarily un-mesh the
focus; 2) synchronize the focus; 3) re-mesh.  As Greg
says, it helps to be mechanically handy.

> I have a writeup on Sputnik fixes on my
> web page: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/erker

There are several other Sputnik fix up resources
as well.  Marco Pauck has a very nice Sputnik info
page with links to several Sputnik fix up web pages.
http://www.pauck.de/marco/photo/stereo/sputnik/sputnik.html

> >Another observation. I used the FED lens shades on
> >the Sputnik and noticed a little vignetting. Would
> >that be due to the lens shades or does the Sputnik
> >often vignette at high apertures?

I notice Marco's page mentions using the FED lens
shadess.  How about it Marco?  And vignetting problem?

I do recall having some vignetting in the shots I took
with Sam Smith's lens-shade-equipped Sputnik.

Paul Talbot