Sputniks (was: re: Folio I Update)

[egoldste@xxxxxx (Eric Goldstein)]

>Hey!!!!!
>Dont give up on the Sputnik - I nearly made that mistake.
>GOOD lens hoods are essential - black wool in all of the door
>channels is a must. I found it tended to be a bit soft, but sharp and
>so I use reversal uprated slightly and it seems to get a bit more
>snap into the shots. I do have another Spud which is giving VERY
>flat results. Almost as if the film was old - but it's not. All of the
>"tricks" that I have tried sofar have not got over the problem
>although the shots are sharp.
>Just got no bite - no sparkle, just flat.


Hi Tony-

There is tremendous individual variation with these cameras. All of the
suggestions you make are to enhance contrast... my particular example has
plenty and I use no hoods or flocking. Further, I use it out of the case
without light leaks!

Where they do all tend to fall down is in the area of resolution... front
cell focusing triplets means mediocre performance at any aperture larger
than f/16 (though subjectively mine does OK at f/11; most do not) and you
really should be shooting at f/22 with these beasties.

I suspect they were designed for the production of stereo cards (surmised
from the design of the viewers and the contact print frame which was part
of the set) and so contrast/resolution were not big issues. With our high
resolution reversal films which can accomodate 2+ stops greater contrast
than a print, I think we're operating these guys outside of their design
parameters...

Then there's the inherent focusing lash, the aweful dim viewfinder, the
cheesy construction, and on and on...

What do you mean when you say "I found it tended to be a bit soft, but
sharp..."? And how do you uprate reversal... push it for greater contrast?


Eric G.