It is with reluctance that I announce I have a Sputnik for
sale. If you want to shoot MF3D here is a chance to get
everything you need (just add a tripod and meter).

It was my first medium format camera and my second stereo
camera. I really, really like it but it hasn't been out
shooting in over a year and it's time it went to a new home.
I'd like someone else to be able to start shooting and
enjoying medium format stereo so I'm going to try to move
this as a package. Here's what is offered:

Sputnik -- The Spud is clean and ready to shoot. The
interior has been both flocked and baffled.
The doors have been yarned. The edges of the
lens elements have been "blacked". I have
adjusted the focus and damped the focus gear.
It has an oversized Sam Smith "Spud Knob",
a spirit level and a case.

Hoods -- Press-fit lens hoods recently cast by
Elliott Swanson.

Finder -- Slide-on, bright-line viewfinder built
by Don Lopp. It is not a rangefinder but
it is fantastically fast and easy to use.

Cable release -- Must have item for your Sputnik.

Film -- A roll of Provia 100. I'll load the camera
for you if you like or just send you the film.

Processing -- An A&I mailer into which you will drop
your exposed film. A&I will send you back
processed, sleeved, rolled and boxed film.

Mounts -- Six mounts for your first roll of film. You
can choose between 80x140 plastic with 52mm
apertures or 80x132 cardboard with 50mm apertures.
I'll even send you some of each if you like :)

Viewer -- A 3D World viewer (what I call an MFPV). It
has terrific lenses and is a great match for
the 80x140 mounts (and also works with the 80x132).

Mounting jig -- Inspired by Sam Smith's concept and built
by myself with a mounting-gauge inspired by
Paul Talbot and enhanced by myself. It lets
you view your slide real-time while mounting.

Comments on the Sputnik:
I can't promise it is the sharpest Sputnik on earth, but
more than one knowledgeable viewer has let me know they
consider it to be well above average.
Even with the yarn seals on the doors, I have always used
gaffer's tape on the doors latch and along the top edge of
the doors. I don't know if it leaks light without that tape.
I just never felt like taking any chances and taping that
Sputnik latch always felt like a good idea. When the camera
is empty, I "store" my tape on the back door.
There are only two lens caps (I lost the third while
photographing in the middle of a river).
The glass is in great shape.
I use a paper washer under the take-up spool to better
align it with the supply-spool.
I have never timed the shutters but my resulting images
have always matched my expected exposures.
The self-timer is not fully functional. I could have
removed it the last time I had the lenses open but I didn't.
The tripod mount on this Sputnik is 1/4".


What's missing from this "package":
Tripod
Light meter
Postage stamps for the film mailer
Scissors for cutting your processed film
Light table or tablet for illumination while mounting


Photos:
A picture of the camera is available at
http://www.alaska.net/~thurston/images/Sputnik.JPG

The mounting jig can be seen at:
http://stereo.thurstons.us/mounting_process/AUT25945a.JPG
(The light tablet in that photo is _not_ included.)

The viewer can be seen at:
http://stereo.thurstons.us/mf_viewer.htm
(The viewer included is silver not black.)

Cost:
$600 + postage
I'm not greedy; I really think this package is a
$600 value. I'm not proud either; if you feel I've
grossly over-valued this package drop me a note with
your offer and an explanation. I can't promise accept
your offer but I'm willing to consider.
________________________________________
John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska
http://stereo.thurstons.us

Hey John,

At 12:09 AM 7/7/2007, you wrote:

>$600 + postage

I'm not looking to buy a Spud myself, but I think that's a great
price for what you're offering.

I ventured into the world of Sputniks a couple of years ago, buying
one directly from a Russian seller on ebay - just to "play"
with. Man, that camera gave new meaning to the word "RAW". It was
hurting in so many ways I wanted to take it to the my local
veterinarian and have it put down.

I returned it for a refund, instead, losing only the cost of postage
and the film and processing I had burned, but I made up my mind that
if I ever decide to buy another Spud, I'm going to buy one that has
already been re-engineered, like the one you're offering. Not only
is your camera ready-for-use, including the hoods and a viewfinder
that's very hard to come by, you're including everything else someone
would need to jump into MF3D. I think your asking price is very reasonable.

Mike Davis