Re: Realist format

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

>The Nimslo produces a frame that is four perferations wide, and the Realist
>produces one five perfs wide. Both images are taller than they are
>wide--"portrait" format in computer term...

Marvin, I have to say that the Realist format is, for most practical
purposes, square.  Jess Powell, the well-known camera repairman and author
of several repair manuals, has a long discussion on the format in his
"Realist" book.  The discussion goes on with geometrical figures and
formulas (Jess is a math and science teacher) regarding the golden ratio of
which the 7-p format approximates closely.

Jess says that the Realist frame measures 24 x 23 mm, a measurement close
enough to be called a square.  Of the 40+ stereo cameras made for 35 mm
film, all but 4 (Verascope F40, Iloca I, Belplasca, FED) use the Realist
format.  In the early 50s Realist claimed a superiority of the square
format for a number of reasons (including economy) and prepared for a war
with the Verascope, a war that never happened.  Most 3-d camera
manufacturers settled the argument by choosing the Realist format.  By 1954
even Iloca had switched to square with the Iloca II. (This info is from
Jess' book).

I personally like the square format.  It maximizes the viewing area in a
viewer and in projection.  Composition-wise it offers many possiblities. 
Maybe I like it because I do not do any landscape work and I am used to a
Realist viewer which covers 5-p very nicely and a square projection screen
at home.

George Themelis


------------------------------