Photographer vs. camera (was: Kodak vs. Realist)

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eric G. writes, regarding the majority of stereo photographers:

>They are working as location photographers attempting
>to capture a pleasing rendition of the reality of the moment. For this
>type of work, a good lens for the job is one with good resolution and
>sharpness which is relatively well corrected against visual distortions
>and which gives good contrast. For the most part, this is what most of
>the lenses on most of the stereo cameras I am acquainted with seem to be
>designed to achieve;

I agree with this statement.  And since the average stereo photographer is
not using a tripod and most of his pictures are taken at 8 or smaller
apertures, he will not see any significant difference between a Kodak,
Realist 3.5, Realist Custom or Belplasca.  The choice of film and tecnique 
is much more important than the choice of camera IMO. 

In my participation in SSA, PSA, etc., I get to see about 70 different
slides every month in a viewer, taken by 70 different people, plus at least
100 slides projected in Detroit, taken by 25 or so people.  The above-
average pictures are usually taken by the same people.  I have reasons to
believe that it is the photographer that uses the camera that is behind
this success and not the camera itself.  This is good news for the stereo
photographer on a budget.  The most affordable stereo cameras today are
capable of excellent results.

Going beyond ordinary photography, I had the chance to view 250 slides by
the late New Yorker, Ted Lambert.  I was astonished by his creativity! 
2/3 of the slides were taken inside his house, with techniques that he
developed/mastered.  All mounted in Realist format slides.  Also, lots of
multiple exposures, etc., in outdoor pictures.  He proved to me that 99.9%
of the stereo photographers today have not used more than 10% of the
capabilities of their stereo cameras.  Ted proves that it is not the $100
stereo camera to blame for mediocre results but the lack of imagination in
many of us.

-- George Themelis


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