Re: Any tips for a would be stereo camera purchacer?

[P3D <PTWW@xxxxxxx>]

Rich Harris asks:

>>2).   If I have to resort to mail-order, what kind of questions should
>>I ask over the phone regarding the condition of, say, a Realist 3.5?

and George Themelis responds in part:

>The only question that is of interest for me is the serial number, but I
>doubt that it will mean much to you.  Ask the questions that you would
>ask when buying any camera, like, is the camera working well, would you
>take it back if it's not, how many days do I have to return it, any
>accessories that come with it, etc.

I would like to add that I seem to recall someone on the list, I think his
name was Dr. T, recently conducted an extensive survey of list members and
determined that nearly 50% of Realist cameras have a problem with light
leaking into the camera body and causing "orange steaks" to appear on the
film.  So while you might not normally ask this specific question "when
buying any camera," it is a good one to ask about when buying a Realist
and certain other 50s stereo cameras (try searching the archives for
"orange steak" or "light leak."  I found some older discussion of a
similar problem with another camera make, perhaps TDC. )  While the problem
in the Realist is normally not so severe as to be insurmountable (various
solutions were discussed on this list, and I think this Dr. T fellow is
attempting to perfect a ligt leak detection and cure technique), it could
be something that could help with your price negotiations, especially if
you are buying from a camera shop.  And you would want to know how many
days you have to try the camera and return it in case it does have an
incurable light leak problem.

Also, I have recently learned from Dr. T that a slide I took with a
borrowed Revere exhibits signs of mismatched lens focal lengths.  That
of course makes me wonder if that could be a common problem with Reveres.
In any event, it would be something else you would want to be sure to
have a chance to evaluate within your right of return period.

Paul Talbot


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