P3D Re: Realist models & a short history

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

>Can anyone explain to me all the different models of the Realist?

First, there is the REALIST and the Realist 45.  The first just plain
Realist was made in the USA by David White Co. in Milwaukee.  The 
Realist 45 is a totally diferent camera made in Germany for David
White.

All Realist cameras are very similar.  They only differ in minor details
and in the lenses they carry.  Later Realists have a small "double
exposure prevention button" and a depth of field scale next to the
focusing. (These features were retrofited in some earlier cameras too)
Also, very early Realists have a different (and less reliable) film 
advance mechanism.

The biggest difference and the factor that affects the price is the
lens board.  Here are the different types of lenses:

A. Realist 3.5
- Ilex Paragon lenses (very early models) - usually go for more
- David White lenses - $125 is a medium/low price

B. Realist 2.8
- Ektar lenses (very early 2.8 models) - go for more
- David White lenses - $350 is about a medium/high price for those
- David White - Germany - not sure if these are different than plain DW
- Custom Realist - "Rare earth lenses" claimed to be the sharpest but
  there is no agreement on that.  The camera has other nice touches too
  and goes for more money (say $1000)

There is also something called the "Macro Realist" which uses a modified
Realist body and different lenses. Good luck finding one of tho$e!

The 3.5 lenses and 2.8 differ in design, the first being 3-element lenses
and the second 4-element lenses.  The 2.8 are claimed to be sharper at
the edges and in wider apertures, do not vignette (that's the darkening
of the corners) and work well with various attachments (e.g. wide angle
attachment).

The Realist has the reputation of being a "user unfriendly" camera, 
designed by engineers for engineers.  One difficulty is that
the film advance and the cocking of the shutter are not coupled.

The camera was designed from 1944 to 1947 by Seton Rochwite.  It was
introduced in 1947 with the red button viewer as a complete system and
remained essentially unchanced for at least two decades.  It sparked a
renewed interest for stereo in the USA.  Others, rushed to capitalize on
this interest.  By 1955 there were at least a dozen Realist-format 
cameras in the market.  But by this time the market was saturated and
one after the other the stereo cameras disappeared from the market.
The Realist was the last one to close.  The David White company is still
around, doing what it was doing before it got into the stereo photography
business, i.e. selling surveying and other precision instruments.  Ron
Zakowski worked for David White since he was 15.  He retired a year ago.
When Realist closed the stereo camera division, he bought all the parts
and tools.  He is considered one of the best Realist repairmen today.

Even though the camera was designed more than 50 years ago, there are
many people who use it today and some people even swear by it.  I am
one of those, constantly amazed by the wonderful stereo pairs it takes,
roll after roll after roll...

A SASE envelope will return a reprint of a 4-page special on the
Stereo Realist which was published by our club last year, together with
a membership/subscription form.

Regards -- George Themelis
10243 Echo Hill Drive, Brecksville OH 44141 


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