P3D Re: PHOTO-3D digest 3606

[Peter Davis <pd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 10:18 PM 11/19/1999 -0700, you wrote:

> >The RBT costs over 3 times what a new
> Nikon F5 would costs.  Do you
> >think there's a manufacturing varability of 3% in the dimensions of
> a
> >Nikon?  I doubt it.  Of course, economies of scale do come
> into play,
> >but still, a $3500 camera should be pretty precise, or it's not
> worth
> >the money.
>
> I'm not an RBT owner, but I don't see the relevance in comparing a
> custom
> built RBT with a mass produced camera like the Nikon F5. 

I was merely responding to Bob Maxey's comment that the RBT's are not
manufactured to tight tolerances.  I say for $3500, they darn well
ought to be.

> Since there's a
> significant waiting list for RBTs at their current price, the market
> seems
> to have spoken regarding the question of whether the cameras are worth
> the
> money.

There's a significant waiting list for Pokemon cards too.

>    I personally am not interested in
> forking over 3 grand for a 35mm
> camera, but I'm glad to see a specialized company like RBT thriving in
> this
> age of mass produced mediocrity.   Now if those fellows would
> just consider
> welding together two medium format cameras (or better yet two MF
> projectors...)

Don't get me wrong.  I'm definitely glad that RBT is doing what they
do.  I'd love to see them get even more business, so they could ramp
up production (and drop prices).  But I still say it had better be a
precisely made piece of equipment.  I don't buy the argument that a
1mm difference in frame spacing is insignificant, especially if it means
the difference between being able to use standard processing and
not.

-pd

--------

                                Peter Davis

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