Kodak vs. Realist cameras

[P3D Elliott Swanson <e3d@xxxxxxxxxx>]

George is my favorite person to argue with. He deals with my diatribes so
logically!

I think we need to reserve a room a NSA where the Realist and the Kodak
fans can all drink 3 margaritas and have a pie fight, photographed by
someone using a philosophically neutral Iloca Rapid.

I use a Realist and a Kodak camera. Using a Realist doesn't violate a key
component of my value system as would, say-- buying something at Wal*Mart
or seeing the film "The Sound of Music." But the Realist I use isn't
stock. I mainly like the camera for its versatility and options. It
started out as a 3.5. Then someone gave me some Ektar 2.8 lenses
(installed by Zak along with the correct 1/200 shutter parts).  Getting
better. Then Lannie (btw where is Lannie? no posts for a long time) sold
me a Seton Rochwite polarizing head to replace the flip top lens cover. 
Now we're cookin'. Then at a camera show a Steinheil wide angle showed up
cheap. When I know precisely what I plan to do, I often use the Realist.
With this it became the most versatile camera system I have. But every
time I go out in the field, down in a cave, out to the beach, into adverse
weather, it's the trusty Kodak every time, and it's never let me down
after being rebuilt. (When I took it apart and fixed it right, there were
3 Kodak factory repair stickers in it-- Kodaks approach to repair was
apparently to hose the sucker with oil and send it back. It took 3 naptha
baths to get all the goo out of it. And that's why so many Kodaks have
sticky shutters. But the Kodak is so much easier and faster to use than
the Realist. Self cocking shutter. Big easy to use rewind. Bubble level. 
Designed for usual and customary image composition-- that bottom of the
camera focus/rangefinder on the Realist is one of the most
counterintuitive features ever designed on *any* camera. Easy film
threading. A hinged back that stays with the camera. The focus on the
Kodak isn't fiendishly placed to bump your thumb (ok-- be honest-- how
many of you have shot pictures on a Realist using the usual hyperfocal
system most of us do, only to discover that ^%*&^()!! focusing wheel has
magically turned?) 

The Realist is a good workhorse camera, don't get me wrong, but you need
to spend a lot of time getting your chops down.

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And re George's concern about non-OSHA non-EIA authorized repairs to the
AC components of viewers-- I share it. I've fixed these things for people
(generally friends, and for free) but it remains a concern. We aren't
dealing with stepped down voltage, but full tilt 110vac. Honestly, I
recommend using such machines on battery power, or getting one of George's
transformers and running the viewer on low voltage. 

--Elliott



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