Re: 7P Realists....

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

>George writes:
>> This weekend I managed to install an Ektar lens board in my 7p Realist. 
>
>This reminds me... at NSA '97, I swear I recall that the speaker said
>that some of the viewmaster photos were taken with a modified realist
>camera -- and one of the modifications was conversion 7P.

That's a well known secret thanks to Wolfgang and Mary Ann Sell's
article in Stereoscopy 2.19 (June 94), "Realist or Relascope?"
View Master Engineers around 1973 spent over 230 hours to modify
a couple of Realist 2.8 cameras to 7p.  The Sells have one of those
and write: 

"Although much time and effort was put into this project, the idea
of converting existing Realist cameras required too much time and too
many additional parts to be cost efficient.  After completion of a few
examples, the decision was made to scrap this project, and View-Master
began using twin 35 mm cameras for their photography... We do not
know how many packets or exactly what titles were photographed using
the modified Realist camera, however we believe it was used extensively
until the switch to twin cameras.  The camera [that the Sell's have]
continues to work well today and we've taken a number of good stereo
photographs with it."

My camera was modified by John Slivon (not a VM engineer :-)) and
it continues to work well today and I've taken a number of good
stereo photographs with it :-).  Here is what I wrote in January
1997 in P3D:

"I have mounted my first Realist 7P roll and completed a careful
examination of the stereo pictures in my red button viewer.  The pictures
look as clear 
and sharp in 7p as they always looked in 5p. There is no evidence from the 
pictures that the camera was modified (other than the size!)  In terms of 
operation, the 7p Realist works better than the 5p.  Not only there is no 
overlap between pictures but there is a consistent 5 mm gap from picture to
picture (compare to 1.5 mm gap in full-frame 35 mm) which makes cutting the
chips with scissors, a breeze.  There is plenty of space in the standard
7p mount to place the stereo window anywhere at will.

Which one is better, Realist or Belplasca?  I am concluding that MY Realist
is every bit as sharp as MY Belplasca in the tested conditions. I find 
myself preferring the Realist pictures, due perhaps to my long-term 
exposure to this particular FL and interocular separation.  Given the 
choice today to pick this particular Belplasca or this particular Realist, 
I would pick the Realist without any second thoughts based on this 
examination, my familiarity with the camera and an overwhelming number of 
practical reasons, some of which were outlined earlier, all in favor of 
the Realist."

And concluded:

"In conclusion, if you are a stereo photographer in need for 7p images but 
are not satisfied with the currently produced FED or Iloca, or cannot find 
the elusive Belplasca or Busch Verascope, now you have a new exciting 
choice.  It is called Realist 7P.

PS. The name again of the highly-skilled surgeon is John Slivon and he is 
DrT approved and highly recommended!  (I trusted him blindly. I sent him 
my favorite stereo camera without even asking to see a test roll from a 
converted Realist first.  Not only I was not disappointed, but I am 
thrilled with the quality of the work he did.)  His email address: 
John Slivon <frogs@xxxxxxxxxx>

PSS.  Check sell-3d frequently for "Belplasca for sale by DrT!!!!" (I am 
dead serious here - I think I'll end up with a pair of Realists, my 7P 2.8 
and a 5P 3.5). "

As predicted, I sold my Belplsaca and now I do have one 7p 2.8 Realist
and one 5P 3.5.  Long live the REALISTS! :-)

-- George Themelis


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