P3D Realist technique , was Re: PHOTO-3D digest 2878

[Marcus Warrington <marcusw@xxxxxxxxx>]

>> Here is what I do:  After I
>> take one shot, I immediately advance the film.  Pulling the camera off
>> the eyes, one finger (left hand) presses the button while right hand
>> immediately starts advancing.  This is the resting status of my Realist:
>> Film advanced but shutter not cocked.  Just before taking the next
>> picture, as I lift up the camera, one of the fingers of my right hand
>> (I don't even know which one) cocks the shutter.  The two extra steps
>> take no extra time.  You'll see...
>Oddly enough, this is pretty much what I did when I had my "loaner"
>(Thanks Jim!) Realist.  Left hand pressed wind release button as right
>hand wound film.  My difference was, as right hand was rewinding, left
>hand was cocking shutter for the next shot.  

Mmm.. I personally wouldn't want to cock the shutter after winding on for three
reasons, 1) if I don't snap again for a while the shutter spring is under tension
and hence will stretch, affecting the realists speeds, 2) once cocked you shouldn't
change the shutter speed ,and 3) it leaves the camera susceptible to inadvertently 
taking a picture..

My handling technique is;

set aperture and speed for conditions, rangefind near/far and set DOF distance
accordingly  or just use the Hyperfocal if in a hurry. Bring to eye and compose shot
,cock shutter (using third finger of right-hand) and take shot. Bring camera way from
face and at the same time push the button with my right-hand and "push" the advance
wheel around with the inside knuckle of my index finger , once its moved about a 
quarter turn you can release the button and continue the advance with the help of you 
thumb! I then set the camera to Hyperfocal for the prevailing conditions, this means
that I if something catches my eye I can shoot quickly without having to set anything..

I totally agree with Ron when he says that if you hold the realist correctly then 
all the controls are just were they should be. The left-hand index finger over the 
shutter release, right-hand index finger on focus wheel, and third finger to cock
the shutter ...

The only possible exception that you can't change the aperture or shutter speed 
without taking the camera away from you eye (although you would probably 
never want to do this anyway!)

I enjoy my Realist and like the fact that its different than other cameras (in looks and
ergonomics), when you take one apart and look at the simplisity of it all you begin to
appreciate the design and marvel at how something so simple can take such 
fantastic shots (or indeed how something as complicated as a modern snapshot 
camera can be so complicated and take such poor shots ;^) )

Marcus ?8^p
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