P3D Re: Realist models & a short history

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

Thanks Tom for adding very interesting information on the
Realists 3.5:
   
>When stereo's heyday arrived in the early 1950's, Realist switched to
>American Optical as their supplier, and used their own name as the
>identifier. However, they couldn't keep up production so "Simpson"
>lenses were also used under the David White moniker. Ron Zakowski said
>that he was in the process of writing an article for Stereo World on how
>to identify the two lenses, but I got a feeling that it was rather
>technical article and a casual user would not be able to distinguish
>between the two just by looking at them.

It so happens that my most favorite Realist 3.5 is an early one (SN about
20,000) that has DW lenses but still the old style film advance.  This
camera is very sharp and has great contrast.  I wonder if this one has
"Simpson" lenses?  (Any word about the sharpness of those compared to
later DW lenses?)

This might also explain the "vignetting riddle" that has been around for
some time.  In general, Realist 3.5 cameras are known to vignette (darken
the corners of the film) at small apertures.  I know the Ilex vignette
considerably and most Realists 3.5s too.  However, there are people who
claim that their Realist 3.5 does not vignette.  Billy Turner is one.
My favorite early Realist 3.5 does not vignette either.  This is a feature
that one should expect to depend on the overall design and construction
of the lens and not small production variations, so, I wonder...

>The fourth lenses that Realist put into the f3.5's were "German" made
>lenses. I have not seen any of these, but Ron said that were periods of
>production when Realist just could not find enough lenses for their
>f3.5's, so they imported some from Germany. These are marked "Germany"
>or "Made in Germany" on the bezel.

I own one of these... I also have a friend (in p3d too from time to time 
and also in the Alpha folio of SSA) who has one.  I have seen his pictures
and they are sharp!!!  These "Germany" 3.5's are very rare as these two
cameras are the only ones that I know of.  Much more rare than Ektar
Realists 2.8.

I have not tested mine... It is just sitting in my basement with 15 more
Realists 3.5, waiting to be cleaned and be put to service.  If anyone is
interested, I would sell it (for a higher price, of course, taking into 
account the rarity of the species).

-- George Themelis


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