A review of The Realist; A repairman's view

[P3D Elliott Swanson <elliott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jess Powell wrote a little booklet on the Realist camera, copyright 1988. 
(It isn't really a repair manual, and doesn't claim that distinction-- 
note the subtitle "A Repairman's View). All it's intended to do is give 
someone a feel for the technology of the camera, and a few hints for 
those brave enough to take a shot at opening one up. The booklet is 
staple bound, hand typed, and has 78 numbered pages. It's divided into 14 
chapters: 
Foreword (6p)
1) Film Format and the Golden Rectangle (14p) 
2) Introduction - Stereo Realist (7p)
3) Realist Lens (14p)
4) Realist Shutter (7p)
5) Realist Rangefunder (5p)
6) Realist Flash System (5p)
7) Front View Finder (13p)
8) Realist Wind System (4p)
9) Realist Rangefinder Windows (3p)
10) Tips on Buying Your Realist (4p)
11) Concluding Thoughts (3p)
12) Realist Viewer (4p)
13) Realist Camera Case (6p)
14) 1950 Prices and Specifications (2p)

The book has some copied photos and hand drawn illustrations, but it
doesn't have exploded views. Lack of illustration are a weakness of the
book. Powell interweaves information and personal camera philosophy.
Chapter 1 is Powell's philosophy of stereo. Hard core tech-types may want
to skip it because they already know everything about taking great photos.
On to Chapter 2: "During my years of camera repairing, I have yet to see a
camera as rugged and reliable as the Realist. Some of my repair jobs
included drops in the Pacific Ocean, some so dirty that even quality
cameras would have stopped functioning long ago, yet they still grind
through that measureable second of time. There was a time when American
products were the world's best and the Realist is present day testimonial
to this fact." "Looking at a stereo picture is akin to traveling backward
to a time frame in the universe which will never exist again." In Chapter
3 he describes the lens variations, from the Ilex Paragon in the St-41. He
discusses the tactics of adjustment:  "It is usually an easy task to set
the rangefinder on the lens board type camera. However, if there is too
much difference between the lens board and the film plane, you have a
major adjustment problem that may leave you yearning for a rotational lens
element such as found on Kodak. Such an adjustment is a laborious, time
consuming, yet super critical task.  there are four glue held screws that
hold the film plane. Again, the screws are special so you need a Realist
type wrench. These screws must either be tightened or loostened to more
the entire film plane away or towards the lans board. This is how it is
done..." He goes on to describe the process. I have found another
variation, where no screws are used, and extension feet (instead of
screws) integral to the film carrier were apparently filed to precise fit,
and are not adjustable. But Jess's info clearly describes how to set sharp
focus on the camera. He goes on to describe the individual lens components
and how to clean them. In chapter 4 on shutters, Powell states, "In
looking at the design, you wonder why the blades function at all. Each
side has two blades that are opened and closed by one lever arm. This is
done by the speed of the spring powered lever which actually rams into the
loose blades that are enclosed between two walls. The speeding lever
actually rams into the resting blades and spreads them open. Problem? As
strange as it seems it actually works exceptionally well... in hundreds of
repairs, I have only seen about four broken blades and the possible cause
was dirt or rust from water contact.  I have to concede that my instincts
are wrong. It is a reliable shutter, regardless of how it looks." Whaddya
know! A guy who can admit he may be wrong! 

Anyway, you ought to be getting the idea. This book won't teach you 
step-by-step Realist repair. You will learn something about the soul of 
the camera, the mind-set you need to open it up, and some good solid 
facts about what you'll encounter. If you want to learn something about 
the Realist, you need to buy a junker, take it apart methodically logging 
every step of the process on paper and maybe taking some close-up 
reference photos, and then put it back together. If you aren't willing to 
do this, and you aren't willing to learn by making mistakes, stay out of the 
camera. 

--Elliott


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