P3D Stereo cameras: Mint vs. Bargain

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

Last Saturday I visited and interviewed one of our elderly club members
for a future newsletter story.  His name is Don Peck.  He has taken many
wonderful stereo pictures through his travels in the USA and Europe in
the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.  He is also the inventor of the "multiple 
column stereogram" and I have in front of me US Patent # 4,135,502
(Jan. 23, 1979).  You will read all about it in a future "Stereogram"
issue.

At some point he mentioned his favorite Realist that took all these 
wonderful pictures.  I asked to take a look.  What I saw really 
socked me!  I have never seen such an ugly Realist!!!  It is a Realist
3.5 (nothing special about the lenses) with signs of heavy use all over 
the place (dirt, wear, etc.)  I swear, I would have not picked this
camera up if I had seen it for sale in a camera show.  And yet, this
workhorse took some spectacular stereo images.

What is my point?....

I see people looking for mint stereo cameras.  Why?  A mint stereo
camera means that it has been used very little.  Does that say anything
about how the camera's performance?  It can be a nice camera or a
lemon.  On the other hand, a camera with lots of wear tells a story.
Someone has used it and enjoyed it. And the wear is the proof that
he/she enjoyed it a lot.  The lenses do not wear out.  Ron Zakowski 
and other repairmen can clean shutters, replace parts, etc., and give 
these cameras a second life.

(OK, the real reason for posting this is that I have quite a few
Realists for sale, many at a bargain price.  I only have 1-2 "mint"
and in the past most people go for the mint ones.  I urge you to
try the "bargains".  Check my sell-3d posting for details!)

-- George Themelis


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