P3D Realist Ektar 2.8 mystery

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

Now, Realist, officially only made 3 models of stereo cameras:

Stereo Realist 3.5  -- 1041 - Introduced 1947
Super Realist 2.8   -- 1043 - Introduced 1954
Realist 2.8 Custom  -- 1050 - Introduced 1959

These cameras share essentially the same body.  There are very few 
differences between different models.  For example, when the 2.8 was
introduced (as super Realist!) it had the DOF scale and the double
exposure feature but these soon became standard for the 3.5 Realist
too.

Now, we all know that there were Realist 2.8 cameras with Kodak Ektar
lenses before 1954.  Yet, I have not seen these mentioned in official
Realist literature.  What is the deal with them?  BobH mentioned that
they where sold under the counter.  Why?  How many Ektar 2.8s were sold
and why was Realist keeping this a secret?

The other question is regarding the lenses.  We mentioned the early
Realists having Ilex lenses (Ilex was an optical company in Rochester
NY).  Later all lenses, both 3.5 and 2.8, were marked David White. 
There are a few lenses marked "Germany" (more common in 2.8s than
3.5's)  There is a speculation that the lenses are basically the
same and they were manufactured in Germany.  Can anyone confirm this?

Finally, the issue of 3.5 vs. 2.8 lenses has been discussed in detail
in this list.  The 3.5 lenses are triplets (have 3 separate airspaced
glass elements) while the 2.8 is a "Tessar" which looks similar to the
triplet, except one element is a cemented achromat, making it a 4-element
lenses.  In principle, the more elements, the better the optical 
corrections and the better the lens.  The difference might be difficult
to see in real life shooting situations and mid apertures.

George Themelis

PS. Another interesting Realist trivia:  even though the Realist camera
was offered for sale in May 1947, it was really introduced in 1945 via
ads in American Photography magazines.  These ads show a prototype
camera and viewer... the most important difference being in the knobs
of the camera and the focusing knob of the viewer... There was some
shortage of materials that delayed the production and Realist had
the public drooling over ads promising a totally new experience...
which was TRUE and created a sensation when it came out...


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