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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