Re: Leaky Realists etc.

[P3D Carrano, Allan <allan.carrano@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>but I'm surprised at the large number of leaky Realists and
>>suddenly remembered about Seton.  Anyone else remember that too?
>> 
>The Realist leak is a matter of camera design and the way the back fits to
>the body.  It was not a problem with ASA 10 slide film.  I have not seen
>any reference to any leaks back then and if Realist was aware of such
>problem I am sure they would have done something about it.  I don't know
>what Seton had in mind but I can bet it was not the leak problem.
>
>George

I believe this was the post referred to (digest 1231 - The post was by
L. Smart and indicated it was over lens quality, not light leaks, that
prompted Seton's leaving David White.):   

>Yep. Some German/2.8/Custom lens are not as up to snuff as
>         some 3.5s. Zak has an "optical bench" from the Realist
>          factory that measured the lenses' accuity - but there was a
>          broader range of tolerances at that time. Piper says the
>          early Ilex lens stank, but Zak said during the early
>         manufacturing, many of those lens were QCed and returned, so
>          many of the early lenses had higher ratings.  Remember, the
>          Realist's inventor, Seton Rochwite, LEFT Realist shortly
>           after over disagreements about quality!  Anyway, Zak said
>          that a future Stereo World article (as a follow-up to their
>          vauted Custom article of '92) will give the history of all
>         the Realist lens used (but he told me that in '92 - where's
>          the article?!)

Did I miss it, or is there still an article forthcoming on the lenses?

Allan C.


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