Re: Too many cameras...

["allan carrano" <allan.carrano@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

     In Digest 1217, Jim Hollis wrote:
     
     >I have three variations of the Realist 3.5........Ilex Paragon
     >lenses-one button, David White Lenses-one button; David White         
     >Lenses-two button.   One may find at least four variations of the 
     >Realist 2.8.......David White Lenses, Ektar lenses, Lenses marked 
     >Germany, and the Olden variation with large knobs-not quite a 
     >"Custom" technically.
     
     I have seen bits and pieces over the years describing the number of 
     different types of lenses appearing on Realist cameras and what their 
     relative merits are.  I think I have it down for the most part, but 
     not completely.  While Jim Hollis covers it pretty well, there is 
     still some confusion/doubt in my mind about the full line of lenses 
     used for Realists.
     
     My understanding (and what I hope is that someone out there in 
     Photo-3D land can corroborate, add to and/or correct) is that the 
     following list of lenses is the complete Realist repertoire:
     
        A.  3.5 Realist 
            
            1. Ilex Paragon (Does the lens barrel say `Ilex Paragon'?)
            2. David White f3.5 Anistigmat (Are these Steinheil lenses, or  
               could they be a combination of Steinheil and Ilex lenses     
               just not identified as such;  or are they lenses sourced     
               elsewhere of known or unknown origins?)
            3. Steinheil (Are there 3.5 Realists that say "Steinheil" on    
               the lens barrel or does one assume he/she  has Steinheils    
               when the barrels read "David White..."?)
     
     
         B. 2.8 Realist
            
            1. Steinheil Rare Earth lenses (used only on the Realist Custom 
               - with the exception of those found on some of the last of   
               the Realists, the so called "unreal Customs" from Olden      
               Camera in NY)
            2. Kodak Ektar (usually rated highly for performance, but a     
               notch below the Custom Rare Earth lenses.  They may be       
               considered better than the next lens listing, but I hope     
               someone more knowledgeable than me will comment on that)
            3. "GERMANY" marked lenses (Are these Steinheils, or are there  
               lenses on 2.8 Realists with the name "Steinheil" appearing   
               on the barrels?  I have never seen any.)
            4. David White f2.8 Anistigmat (same problem as with the 3.5s   
               above.  Who made these?  I believe more than one source of   
               supply. Yes?)
     
     You can see from the above, my list begs information.  I would really 
     appreciate hearing from anyone with the whole lens story, and who 
     could put my list together with answers instead of questions.
     
     Allan


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