|
The picture shown at left is, in a way, a pretty good summary of what this HTML version of the Stereo Realist Manual
is all about.
Although this is an introduction to the HTML version of the Stereo Realist Manual,
the picture at left was not taken with a Stereo
Realist, but rather, as those familiar with recent stereo equipment may have already figured out, with a Loreo. |
The Stereo Realist was possibly the most popular stereo camera ever made. Over 130,000 were sold! It had a very successful run
from 1947 till 1971 and was
advertised in magazines such as National Geographic well into the 60s. Several famous individuals such as Harold Lloyd and president
Eisenhower are known to have owned and used Stereo Realists. The "5P" format used in the Stereo Realist became standard for Stereo
cameras in the U.S. and became known as "the Realist format". It is still referred to as "the Realist format" today, even when it is
produced by non Realist cameras, such as the Revere and the Kodak stereo camera.
When the Stereo Realist Manual was published in October 1954 the 3D fad of the 50s seemed to be at its height, though 3D
movies would disappear from the theatres by the end of the next summer. The Stereo Realist seemed to be entering its heyday and some
thought it was poised to become the standard camera for amateur photographers. The time seemed right, then, to launch the definitive
guide to photography with this camera.
The result was a book, published by Morgan and Lester, which contained articles by a number of different authors containing sample
photos by numerous Realist photographers. Though all the authors owned and used Stereo Realists, most of the material in the book is
not specific to the stereo realist and so it has become viewed by stereo photographers as the "Bible" of stereo photography and as
the most complete and thorough book ever written on the subject.
 |
 |
Though much of the information in chapter 3 on color films is outdated, the discussion on emulsions is still
interesting and timely
as is the discussion about different lighting conditions and how they affect various types of film. The often repeated suggestion
about standard "starter" settings for a novice is based on the then standard ASA 10 film. Todays photographers using ASA 64 or 100
would be well served
to try 1/150th of a second with an aperature of f/8 or even f/11. See ASA Note for more details. |
| Back to Start | next page |  |
My father was very proud of his gardening abilities and was particularly proud
of his brocoli!
I myself, like Former president Bush, am not especially fond of brocoli as a food,
but I thought it would make a good subject for
a closeup stereograph and I was not disappointed.