P3D Re: Realist Vignetting at f/16?

[Michael Georgoff <Michael_Georgoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Regarding Realist vignetting at f/16 as well as at f/22... Thanks to all who
confirmed (Tom, Gabriel, Mark, and Basket-Case Bruce) that "vignetting
happens" (my new bumper sticker).

I said, "I'd hate to have to shoot a f/11 or below to avoid it."

George asked "This prompts me ask you how much of a problem this is for you?
It is more noticeable in projection than the viewer.  How bad is it in your
camera?  Can you send a typical slide for my evaluation? I cannot think of
any situation that you need to use f16 for reasons other than exposure".

It's not a problem (as in something that does not work right), but it is a
what I consider a "shortcoming" of the Realist.  Now, I can send you a slide
to have a look, George, (got your address at home), but it's stock,
standard, dark corner vignetting.  I have not had the luxury of seeing any
of my slides projected, but I have to imagine it's like I see in my viewer,
except for bigger with on-screen dark corners...

You said " I cannot think of any situation that you need to use f16 for
reasons other than exposure".  Depth of field is more the issue than
exposure.  I acknowledge that moving to ASA 25 or 64 would help, but my
volume of shooting is such that I typically have ASA100 in the camera for a
wider range of exposure situations.  And I prefer to get maximum DOF as
allowable by the shot.

It's kind like not being able to use a tool to it's fullest as it give
suboptimal results under certain conditions (as compared to the Kodak, which
reputedly does not suffer the same shortcomings).  Kinda like, "Nope, can't
drill a hole larger than a quarter inch if you're drilling into aluminum on
Thursdays.  Works fine on wood, though, up to a half inch any day of the
week."

Was this a bonehead design, a production compromise, or, as George later
pointed out, not envisioned in the days of ASA 10 and 25?  (Maybe the
question should be posed in the context of "why does the Realist fail where
the Kodak does not?).

Michael Georgoff
San Jose, CA

(PS: Anyone got Realist-Vignette-Accommodating mounting supplies, say, oval
shaped masks, or quarter-inch rounded corners on the standard rectangle?)


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