DrT's three great cameras are down to two...

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As might have guessed, the Kodak is out.

Why?  The overlap turned out NOT to be a problem as I can still cut 
the film and mount it without problems.  The overexposure was a 
problem for this first roll but it is not a problem if you know that 
it is there and select exposure accordingly.

Then, why is the Kodak out?  Well, it just did not impress me.  How 
can I compare the Kodak with my Realist David White 2.8 and the Ektar 
2.8?  They simply do not compare.  The 2.8 lens is a sharper and 
better lens.  So, I will stick with the Realist and let someone else 
have the Kodak (I will ask my friend if he wants to sell the camera).

The pleasant surprise for me was the Ilex Paragon Realist.  I loved 
those pictures!  Sharp and bright!  I kept almost every picture from
my first roll.  Very impressive!!!  I was thinking that this sharp
lens that was put in the first Realists in 1947 must have something 
to do with the popular acceptance and favorable impressions that 
followed.

The Ektar is OK.  I am now in my 3d roll from this camera since I had 
it for a bit longer than the rest.  What bothers me with this camera 
is that the pictures are more saturated and have a "warmer" balance 
than I would have liked.  The exposures have turned about 1/2 f-stop 
darker than I would have liked (with these saturated films that I am 
using, I prefer a "lighter" exposure)  It is not a matter of shutter 
speeds because the exposures are darker and warmer even when I use a 
flash in auto mode.  It must be the aperture calibration and this 
heavy "warm" coating in the lenses.  The film that I use (Fuji Sensia)
has a warm bias already so the pictures come too warm for my taste.  
The Ilex coating is also heavy but looks bluish and maybe that's why 
I liked the pictures from the Ilex Paragon lenses so much.  

Perhaps I should use the Ektar camera with Kodachrome film???

I'll give it another round this weekend and will remember to expose
the film in the Ektar 2.8 by 1/2 fstop more.

-- George Themelis


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