P3D Coupla questions

[tls246@xxxxxxx]

Hi to all-

I've got a few questions for Y'all:

1.  Does anyone have any suggestions to fix a stubborn focus wheel in a
Realist?  Mine turns smoothly from the longer exposures until it reaches
1/25 sec, at which point it requires a herculean effort to get into the
short exposure range.  Once past this point, it turns easily again.  I've
taken the camera apart and eyeballed the mechanism, and there's no obvious
wear on the "tooth" at the 1/25 spot- it just hangs up.

2.  Although I love my Realist, I find that it is unwieldy for off-the-hip
snapshot situations.  My subjects are rarely patient enough to wait for me
to meter, set the exposure, and focus.  I'd also like to play around with
European format stereo.  For this reason I'm considering buying a FED stereo
M camera, which at least has automatic exposure.  My decision is contingent
on the advice of you more experienced users.  What is the difference between
the FED M and and other versions, like the FED BOY?  Is general quality
good?  Optics?  How does it compare to the Realist in ease of use?  Is it
worth the $300 or so that I'll end up spending on it?

3.  Despite my aforementioned love affair with my Realist, it has a problem
that I've been unable to diagnose.  In many of my shots a strange vignetting
effectshows up in the corners.  Looks a bit like this:

_____________________         _______________________
I***                 I        I                   ***I
I**                  I        I                    **I
I*                   I        I                     *I
I                    I        I                      I
I                    I        I                      I
I                    I        I                      I
I                    I        I                      I
I                    I        I                      I
I                    I        I                      I
I                    I        I                      I
I                    I        I                      I
I*                   I        I                     *I
I**                  I        I                    **I
---------------------         ------------------------

It's most pronounced in the upper corners, less so in the lower, and gives
the impression of a circular outline.  I've ruled out the obvious candidates
(thumbs, shutters not opening all the way, obstruction from the case, etc.)
and given the simple construction of the Realist, I'm baffled as to what
could be causing it. (Film plane problems....?)  Is this a common problem?
Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks for your patience with this newcomer to the list!

Trent Schindler
tls246@xxxxxxx
http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/tls246/gate.htm 


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