P3D Re: Success with Sputnik

[Greg Erker <erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>After doing the necessary modifications (lining insides with flocked paper,
>gasketing the groove for the "barn doors", refocusing the lenses at
>infinity,

  What did you use for gasketing? My black
yarn was only partially effective in fixing
my light leaks.


>It seems like f/22 (or f/16 in a pinch) is the best aperture choice for this
>camera. The performance seems to degrade (as far as sharpness is
>concerned) around the edges of the frame - most evident at f/16.

  Sputniks seem to vary. Some people report that
theirs are sharpest at f11. I usually shoot at
f16 or f22 on my with good results. (Medium format
stereo master Don Lopp has called my Sputnik one
of only three sharp sputniks he's seen).


>One thing I noticed was a slight (but noticeable) difference in exposure
>between the
>right and left frames.  The right frame is darker than the left. I used my
>homemade shutter speed tester and found the left and right shutters were
>OK except for 1/100 which was more like 1/80. At any rate, there was not
>a consistent difference between the left and right shutter speeds, so my
>guess is the apertures are slightly different.  The apertures are coupled
>by an arm which looks like it is adjustable. Is mismatched apertures another
>well-known Sputnikism?

  Do they look different size (shutter open on B)?

  My top speed gives slight exposure missmatch
due to the two shutter timings not being equal.

>one of those smaller (~ 4"x5") fluorescent panels, such as the Cabin
>CL-5000P
>light panels properly mounted on the viewer. Has anyone retrofitted one of
>these
>light panels onto this viewer?

  I have rigged a Cabin Light panel onto
my homemade viewer. See it on my web page
at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/erker

>Thanks for any thoughts/advice, and I look forward to comparing notes with
>other
>Sputnik or SaturnSlide Viewer users.

  My Sputnik mods (including homemade lens
shades) are also on my web page.

  BTW how did you get your Sputnik
from Russia? In person/ mail order
or other?

Thanks - Greg E.