P3D Re: Realist and X4 Compositions

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

Mark Dottle writes:

>The Realist viewfinder is surprisingly accurate since it is 
>located between the lenses. 

That's correct.  However, there is a plastic mask that determines
what is seen through the viewfinder.  If this mask is rotated then
your pictures will be tilted.  I remember one report that in one
Realist camera the actual field of view and the one seen through
the viewfinder did not match.  If accurate composition is essential
for your work (it has not been that essential for mine), then you
might want to check and compare the actual field of view with that
seen in the viewfinder.  You can do that by shooting a few test
pictures or open the back and examine the field of view one a 
piece of ground glass.

>The feature of the X4 that I am learning to appreciate more is the
>stereo focusing. Although the viewfinder seperation is 75mm and my
>occular seperation is 65mm ( like Dr.T who mentioned this detail
>previously) I find stereo focusing to be easy and accurate. Using the
>linked lenses and 2 eyes to focus requires little use of the prism
>focusing aids. What you see is truly what you get. 

Correct again.  I mentioned earlier that what is seen in stereo
through the viewfinder of the X4 corresponds to a stereo viewer
of certain focal length.  To find this focal length I zoomed with
one eye looking through the viewfinder and the other looking
directly into the scene (I did that by flipping the camera vertically)
trying to find the FL that the two images match.  I found that this 
focal length is about 60 mm.

>I've added a monopod (as a compromise to carrying a tripod full-time) 
>and I am pleased to see the added sharpness. 

Good!  I think I have found the source of camera shake failures in
my first X4 rolls.  I was getting soft pictures due to camera shake
at 1/125 speeds while my Realist (or RBT S1) shots at 1/25 are tack
sharp.  It has to do with the way I was holding the camera while
pressing the shutter.  I was using stereo viewing while I was taking
the picture.  Which means that my nose was right at the center of the
camera back acting as a pivoting point with all sorts of degrees
of rotational freedom.  Now I follow this routine:  I use stereo
viewfinder to compose and set the camera.  But when the time comes
to take the picture, I flush the camera on the left side of my
face, looking only through the left lens.  This gives a very steady
support, similar to what I am using with any other camera.  I hope
to see the difference in the results!

George Themelis