C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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compact-35mm
The David White Stereo Realist Custom is a mid-to-late production variant of the original Stereo Realist, distinguished by its twin f/2.8 coated lenses and upgraded cosmetic trim. Introduced around 1958, it was positioned above the standard f/3.5 model in the David White lineup, offering a full stop of additional light-gathering ability - a meaningful advantage in the era before fast color slide films were widely available. Like its sibling, it shoots 24x23mm stereo pairs on standard 35mm film using the 5-perforation Realist format, producing 28 pairs per 36-exposure roll. The camera is fully mechanical and requires no battery.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Kodak UltraMax 400 is a versatile consumer-grade ISO 400 daylight-balanced color negative film with T-grain emulsion, delivering warm Kodak colors, fine-for-speed grain (PGI 46), and wide exposure latitude. Currently in production and available globally as a single-roll and multi-pack.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
The premium-grade Realist - faster glass and finer trim for the dedicated stereo enthusiast.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm (5-perforation Realist format) |
| Frame size | 24 x 23 mm stereo pairs |
| Stereo baseline | ~70 mm |
| Years | ~1958 - ~1971 |
| Lenses | Twin coated Anastigmat f/2.8, 35mm each |
| Shutter | Central leaf, 1s - 1/150s + B |
| Flash sync | X-sync |
| Meter | None |
| Focus | Scale / zone focus |
| Battery | None required |
David White introduced the Custom variant as a response to growing competition from German stereo cameras - notably the Belplasca and Iloca Stereo - which offered faster optics than the base Realist f/3.5. The company upgraded the optical formula on both lens barrels to f/2.8 with multi-coating applied to the glass elements, improving flare resistance and low-light capability.
The Custom also received chrome-heavy cosmetic revisions that differentiated it visually from the standard model: additional brightwork on the top plate, a refined leatherette grain, and in some production runs, a slightly revised viewfinder bezel. The shutter mechanism and 5-perforation film transport remained unchanged from the standard Realist, preserving full compatibility with the existing Realist-format accessory ecosystem - slide mounts, viewers, and projectors all worked interchangeably.
Production of the Custom continued alongside the standard model until David White exited the camera business, believed to be around 1971.
The Stereo Realist Custom represents David White's attempt to hold the upper end of the American stereo market as German manufacturers pressed in with technically refined alternatives. For stereo photographers shooting slide film in dimly lit interiors - family gatherings, stage performances, club events - the additional stop of the f/2.8 over the f/3.5 was the difference between a usable exposure and a guess.
Within the American stereo collecting community, the Custom is the more desirable of the two main Realist variants. Its relative scarcity compared to the far more common f/3.5 model, combined with the faster glass, makes it a targeted acquisition for active stereo shooters rather than shelf collectors alone. The Realist format ecosystem it participates in - standardized during the 1947-1955 boom years - remains the dominant archive format for mid-century American stereo slides.
C41
Kodak ColorPlus 200 is an affordable, consumer-oriented daylight-balanced color negative film at ISO 200. Known for warm, slightly muted color rendition, fine grain, and wide exposure latitude, it is currently in production and widely available in Asia and select global markets.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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