Re: [photo-3d] Re: Realist and Flash

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <drt-3d@xxxxxxx>]

Well, a number of issues are involved here...

>The flash will only work at a shutter speed of 1/25s on my camera. I
>observed this when I was first using my camera with flash bulbs in 1953.
>The flash would not fire at any other shutter speed setting. 

That's a problem.  The camera should fire any flash at
any speed.  When you click the shutter, a contact is
made and the flash unit is shorted.  This action fires
the flash.  This happens at ANY speed.  The issue is if
the shutter remains open when the flash gives its full
output or not (synchronization).  In other words, the flash 
should always fire.  Whether it is in synch with your shutter
and you see the light in the pictures is another issue.

So, hardware problem to start.

Second problem/issue:  Are you trying to use electronic flash
today or are you still firing flash bulbs?

>I first read
>about this in the pamphlet "The Stereo-Realist Guide", by Kenneth
>Tydings, 1952, Chapter 8 - Flash Equipment And Its Use, pages 40-43. He
>wrote "You must set your shutter at 1/25 second. This is the only shutter
>speed setting which permits flash synchronization with any flash source."

This is a correct statement and only applies for flash bulbs,
not electronic flash.  Flash bulbs are slow in delivering
their full light output.  You need a slow shutter speed to
allow sufficient time for the flash bulb light output to
reach the film.

Electronic flash has a very short output, delivered almost
instantaneously.  With electronic flash you should get all
the light output at any speed with the Realist.

>Is there some way to modify my camera so that it will synch at any
>shutter speed?

Back to my question:  Are you using flash bulbs or electronic
flash.  If you use electronic flash, have you tried it
at fast speeds?  If the camera is mechanically OK, the
electronic flash should work.  This is my understanding.

George Themelis