Re: Prof. Weiser's Stereo Camera Book (really Realist 45's)

[P3D Michael Kersenbrock <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Under Realist there are 4 models:  3.5 (model 1041, 1947), 2.8 (1042, 
> 1951), Custom (1050, 1960), Macro (1060, 1971) and Realist 45 (1955, 
> anyone knows what possessed Realist to introduce this model???)

A Realist 45 was my very first realist-format camera.  One dear to
my heart!!! 

It originally was something like half the price of the 1041/1042 models and
has a *much* easier user interface to use.  Other than not having
a rangefinder (which Dr.-T says he doesn't use anyway), it's the very 
easiest to use among those 50's stereo cameras I've seen so far (other than 
for close-ups).  It has the viewfinder at the bottom for forehead'ing, 
a ratchet-lever film advance that auto-cocks the shutter, a LARGE
image in the viewfinder, shutter/lens settings are on LARGE knobs, 
easy to adjust, etc.  Because it doesn't have a rangefinder, it *should*
have DOF scales, which it doesn't.  It's only pragmatic user interface flaw.

I suspect that the David White company was noticing competition by lower cost
easier to use competition and tried to cover the low end of the market (which
usually is where large sales volumes are).

OEM'ing a low-end model for a company that finds itself at the high end of
a market (that it may have created itself) isn't an unusual thing.  Still
a technique that happens today in many businesses.

Mike K.

P.S. - That looks like a great book!  Sigh.... :-)


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