[MF3D.FORUM:358] Viewer kit update

[Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

The subject of the SaturnSlide(tm) Medium Format viewer
kit came up on Photo-3D, so I needed to post an update.
It was a bit premature, unfortunately, but it was nice
to have a reason to bring it up, instead of having to
initiate it!

For those who are not on Photo-3D, here's the story,
as posted over there.

The SaturnSlide(tm) Medium Format viewer kit is not dead
yet! It is true the product has gone into hiatus from
time to time, but we have been working hard to find ways
to alleviate or eliminate the availability problems. Just
this afternoon I finished working on a new set of pages
describing the latest incarnations of the widely adored
SaturnSlide(tm) viewer kit.

The kit will now be available in two versions: the
standard kit features *huge* (46mm diameter), 78mm
focal length, commercial grade coated glass achromatic
lenses.  These lenses are absolutely superb!  If there
are better lenses anywhere for viewing medium format 3D,
I have not seen them. The large diameter of the lenses
allows comfortable viewing of the entire image area for
all users throughout the full range of human eye spacing,
even with eyeglasses. The lenses are sharp with good
contrast and minimal pincushion or barrel distortion.

The optional rectangular 85mm diameter lenses provide
high quality medium format stereo viewing for most users,
at an economical price.  Due to their smaller size, they
may not be suited to persons with eye spacing substantially
smaller or larger than normal, nor to those whose eyeglasses
may prevent them from holding the viewer close enough to
their eyes.  Most users with close to normal eye spacing,
however, will be able to obtain full image coverage with
these lenses.

The viewer has been designed so that the lenses may be
upgraded from the rectangular lenses to the large round
lenses.  So, whether you want to start by just dipping a
toe in the waters of this breathtaking form of 3D, or you
are ready to dive in head first, there is a version of the
viewer kit that is right for you.

Please see http://www.rmm3d.com/viewers/satslide.html
for more information. (I apologize in advance for the
pictures on that page. If a SaturnSlide(tm) owner can
volunteer to help out this digitially-impaired soul by
providing better pictures, I will be extremely grateful!)

The intial stages of production (i.e., ordering the wood)
have begun, but it will be some time yet before these two
versions of the kit are in stock. We will first be working
to manufacture an enhanced version of the SaturnSlide(tm)
lightbox attachment, as that product is in backorder status.
More information on the new lightbox may be found at
http://www.rmm3d.com/viewers/satlight.html

In the meantime, a very limited number of viewer kits with
large round surplus grade lenses are currently available.

More information on the various lens options for the viewer
kit may be found at http://www.rmm3d.com/viewers/satlens.html

Note that we will also offer the 46x78 lenses alone, at a
discount from their usual selling price, for those who want
to design and build their own viewer. See Robert Thorpe's
MF viewer gallery at http://www.skep.com/3D/gallery.htm for
ideas to help get you started.

The SaturnSlide(tm) MF 3D viewer kit is available exclusively
through Rocky Mountain Memories. http://www.rmm3d.com 

"SaturnSlide" is a trademark of Alan Lewis.

Paul Talbot