Re: Realist etc

[P3D Michael Kersenbrock <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Actually I do have one, and it has many drawbacks of its own.  The mirrors
> aren't front-surfaced, so the image quality suffers from ghosting and
> secondary refraction effects.  It is difficult to control the width of

Mine has front surfaced mirrors.

> the black bar in the picture, unless you shoot at a constant f-stop and

Yes, I set the camera to fixed f/stop and let it adjust the speed.

> only adjust shutter speed, which limits what one can shoot or the kind
> of light one can shoot in.  

When used as a "niche" device rather than a general device, one can also pick
the film speed to be appropriate for the intended use -- and that will
indirectly pick the range of shutter speeds one is likely to use.  Rather
course control, but works when used for specific purposes -- especially for
outdoor events where there generally can be a lot of light (generally,
faster film even in brighter light to allow the shutter to go really up
there).

>Framing an image is damned hard, unless you
> block one of the apertures so you can see one image without overlap.
> Then you've still got to adjust the other mirror to center the subject.
> That's assuming it hasn't walked away by then. :-)  It also has a tendency
> to fall off the front of the camera.

I think these problems aren't inherent to the device, but to the particular
one you have.  My Pentax adapter is quite sound, and very easy to use.  Just
point, and simultaneously focus (through the lens) and tilt side to
side to "match vertically" the two images seen.  Almost instantaneous and
easy to do once used to it.  One gets used to seeing two images and learns
to frame by looking at just one of them as if there were only one.

> On the plus side, besides offering all the advantages of your SLR, you
> can get stereo prints back from your local 1-Hour (although the last roll
> I had developed came back with a "Troubleshooting" sheet from Fuji because
> of "streaks" in the images (i.e. the black bar).  You can shoot slides and
> get them comercially developed and mounted just about anywhere, if you have
> the appropriate viewer (which I do).

Quite.  It has limitations which make it generally less good than, say , 
a 5-perf Realist type camera , but it does have a couple niche advantages
over the Realist (dual SLRs and RBT cameras have these same advantages and
more, but they have their own negatives as well).

Not a good general use solution, but it does have a niche for niche uses.
Multiple solutions are available for the plethora of situational problems
that one can and does run into.  One doesn't have to pick *one* way of
doing things and use it for everything.


> 
> >P.S. - Yes, I lust for a RBT camera instead (who doesn't?) but it'll be a few 
> >       years before I can even dream about it seriously.... so a "few" years will
> >       pass before the MSA loses its niche with me.  :-)
> 
> It's a bit closer than a few years for me, although I do have the dilemma
> as to whether I need that Pentium Pro 200Mhz system or the RBT X2 more!

That's easy.  Just get a dual Pentium-not-pro system and the RBT X2 (I kind
of liked the S1 because of the autofocus and seeming to be lighter/smaller.).


Mike K.


> 
> 	-Greg

P.S. - I *do* have one of those rear-surfaced adapters, but the Pentax front-surfaced
       one is an order of magnitude better one, in my experiences with them anyway.
       So if yours is like my "other" one, I agree with your accessment!  :-)



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