[photo-3d] Re: Not buying an RBT S1

["Mike Kersenbrock" <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In photo-3d@xxxxxxxxxxx, Herbert C Maxey <bmaxey1@xxxx> wrote:
 
> So I guess you are saying that the Realist does not have, in your 
words,
> A Good Interface? 

No I don't.  I think it has some UI things that are superior, the
"bottom" viewfinder in particular.  The lens cover is good most
of the time.  Its not linking of the winding and shutter cocking
I think isn't good.  It's knobs aren't good, especially for 
rewinding.  Its mode switch for rewind mode also isn't intuitive.
The Realist 45 and Kodak stereo cameras are much better in this
regard.  PLEASE note that I'm talking about particular design
aspects.  I don't LOVE everything or HATE everything. The construction
of the (non-45) realist is solid wonderful, but is about the worst
UI of the dozen or so different 50's cameras that I have used.  Each
camera has its good points and its bad points.  Saying that a camera
has a weakness doesn't mean it's a bad camera, just that it has
weaknesses.  Also having a weakness doesn't mean that it's unusable.

I think some aspects of the RBT X3 UI aren't too hot
either (due to the design of the base camera, not that other base
cameras are necesarily worse or better overall).


> I think this is a poor comparison. Yes, all things
> being equal, I would take an easy to use interface over a hard to 
use
> one. However, you can't compare a cheap no brainier camera to the
> Realist. MILLIONS of people use Hasselblad, Nikons, Leicas and
other 
that
> work just like the Realist. You set shutter speed, aperture and you 
have
> to focus.

You left out winding the film and separately cocking the shutter.
Although one can get into a routine not to mess it up often,
I've still gotten double exposures on my Realists (yes, I've
two non-realist-45 cameras, I think the f3.5 was my second
realist format camera, first was the Realist 45).  Haven't used
any of them in the last few years, however.  One could argue
that I'm just the dummy that went and did the double exposures
without keeping track correctly.  However true that may be, it's
I who bought the camera, it didn't buy me.  I want *it* to do
the work.  If that means I'm lazy, so be it.  It's true. :-)



> Ever drive a Model A? Simple transmission but not easy to use. Ever 
Ride
> an Indian Chief or a Harley with a foot clutch and Right Side Shift?
> Simple but not so easy to use initially. Simple mechanisms are not 
always
> easy to use. Ever fly a hot air balloon? Simple but not so easy to 
use.
> Ever try to deal with my dog Herman? Brain is as simple as it gets, 
but
> he is not easy to use.

Thank-you for reinforcing my arguments!

Mike K.