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P3D Belplasca & 7p Realist comparison
- From: "John Goodman" <jgood@xxxxxxxx>
- Subject: P3D Belplasca & 7p Realist comparison
- Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 07:38:40 -0600
Thankfully, I've transcended the conundrum of which is the
"best", but still want to evaluate performance details in
order to more successfuly explore their individual
strengths. I've carefully examined a pair of KR64 rolls shot
in fine weather with these two cameras, views of an
unkempt pond of lotus flowers, and fields of rice near
harvest time. As with anything having as many variables as
camera comparisons, YMMV greatly.
The 7p Realist was recently restored by Ron Z., and he
mentioned that the lenses needed adjustment so I assume
that it's performing at its best. The Belplasca was CLA'd
by Ken Ruth, so my assumptions are identical. The
majority of shots were with the focus set at infinity for both.
At f. 11, give or take a half stop or so, they are neck and
neck, of practically equal quality. Slight exposure variations
between comparison shots from identical vantage points
seemed more significant, when choosing the best of a pair,
than differences in optical performance. That is, subtle
differences in rendition of faraway details, contast and
shading, seemed to be due more to vagaries of exposure
than to major differences in lens performance between the
Zeiss Tessars and "Germany" lenses.
Below f. 8, however, the Belplasca offered significantly
higher quality, showing greater sharpness away from the
central portion of the images. (Low-light shots were mainly
taken on a tripod.) Views that are sharp in the center but
noticeably softer at the peripheries can be disappointing,
imho. I wasn't able to test either of the cameras wide open
(at infinity focus), as recommended by Dr. T. Kodachrome
10 would have been quite useful... :-)
A favorite 7p Realist view on the test roll shows a narrow
irrigation ditch extending into the distance, a reflective
ribbon of water, smack dab in the middle of which is the
reflection of a distant tree branch. The camera position
was critical, and what I saw is what I got. While this kind of
compositional clarity may not be impossible with a
Belplasca, the parallax-free Realist viewfinder seems both
prettier and more accurate. But the Belplasca requires less
manipulation to use.
JG
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