Re: [photo-3d] Re: FED versus other stereo cameras

[Linda Nygren <lnygren@xxxxxxx>]

Not to state the obvious, but if you want a 7 or so perf camera but
can't afford an RBT, and especially if you like automatic exposure and
like to tinker/troubleshoot (and don't want a twin rig), then the FED
may be for you. At least if it does indeed have great lenses, as we are
hearing, then the other problems can be worked around. Some people have
more time and ingenuity and mechanical skills than money. They may also
enjoy a challenge. 

As has been mentioned by others, Belplascas (and potentially other Euro
format  vintage cameras) offer a good "intermediate" option between the
$150 or so FED and the $3000 or so RBTs. These are not common, but show
up regularly and can usually be found in the $800 or so range. (I
recently bought one for a little less than this on ebay, with case, from
a US seller). I haven't used it much yet, but the Zeiss lenses seem to
be excellent, as reputed, and the camera has that "Realist Quality"
feel. [OK, it is a little more like a Revere, but you get the idea.] I
think it will serve me well, when I want that wider composition (for
landscapes etc). I believe that a Realist 2.8 with 7p modification would
be in the same general price range, although I know there are
differences of opinion as to whether the Realist lenses really cover 7p
well.

For the record, I am a big Realist fan, and have several that I use
regularly, but even Realists can be unreliable, although they are easier
to fix than modern cameras due to their "elegant simplicity". I had two
Realists malfunction on a recent vacation, and had to rely on my backup
Nimslo for a while, until I could find some tools and interchange parts
on the Realists to come up with one working one.
-Linda
> 
> Not to be a smart A##, but why do you bother with a camera that obviously
> has so many problems? I certainly would not feel comfortable taking
> pictures with a camera that I can't trust or be sure of.
> 
> Bob