The focus clicks are functioning and coupling to the rangefinder in camera. The slow speeds seem a little sluggish below 1/25. This is a very RARE and collectible hard to find Stereo Camera in overall amazing condition. This camera is being so "AS IS" and I have described the camera and it's function as accurately as possible.
So the camera bodies are essentially the same. The main difference between Realist models is in the lenses. The 3.5 models use a 3-element design lens, while the 2.8 models use a 4-element design. In addition, a couple of different lenses are used in each group. Early 3.5 Realists carry Ilex Paragon lenses, made in Rochester NY.
A special hybrid 2.8 camera is known as the Olden 2.8. The Custom 2.8 Realist stands in a class of its own. The story and description of this camera has been recorded in fine detail by Mark Willke (with the help of Ron Zakowski) in an article in Stereo World, May/June 1992 issue.
From this article we learn that the Custom was introduced in 1959. Even though the basic design of the camera body was not changed, an attempt was made to put the best parts on it and also include some interesting refinements like focusing knob detents (clicks as it is turned), custom nameplate, brushed satin chrome metal finish, large film rewind knob, coarse-grain genuine kangaroo leather and countdown exposure counter. The Custom 2.8 lenses were manufactured by Steinheil in Germany and, according to Realist advertisement literature, they are made of "rare earth" glass with a resolving power of 300 lines per millimeter, far superior to what was used in regular 2.8 cameras. The item "RARE EXC+ REALIST CUSTOM STEREO CAMERA F2.8 LENS" is in sale since Wednesday, September 30, 2020.
This item is in the category "Cameras & Photo\Vintage Movie & Photography\Vintage Cameras\Stereo Cameras". The seller is "bvcameras" and is located in Huntington Beach, California. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Dominican republic, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, El salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Montserrat, Turks and caicos islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Viet nam, Uruguay, Russian federation.