Mailinglist Archives:
Infrared
Panorama
Photo-3D
Tech-3D
Sell-3D
MF3D
|
|
Notice |
This mailinglist archive is frozen since May 2001, i.e. it will stay online but will not be updated.
|
|
[MF3D.FORUM:1195] Re: MF viewers
- From: Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>
- Subject: [MF3D.FORUM:1195] Re: MF viewers
- Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 22:42:07 -0500
Linda Nygren wrote:
>
> I guess the main options in MF viewers are the SaturnSlide kit from RMM,
> with various lens options, and the Kings Inn viewer from Q-Vue. Comments
> on the pros and cons, and how do the Kings Inn lenses compare to the
> less expensive RMM lens options (closest in price)?
Per the detail page at http://www.skep.com/3D/gallery.htm the
King Inn lenses are 34x83 PCX (plano-convex) lenses (single
element, not achromatic). I've never looked through a King
Inn viewer, but everyone who has ever discussed the viewer
with me has mentioned how poor the lenses are.
The rectangular lens option of the SaturnSlide gives you high
quality glass cemented achromats, 85 mm FL.
> Also, the Kings Inn
> has a 62 mm interocular; what is the interocular on the SaturnSlide
> viewer?
The SaturnSlide kit now has 66 mm lens spacing.
> How difficult would it be to upgrade lenses on the Kings Inn at
> a later date?
Alan Lewis sells a replacement front panel for the King Inn viewer.
For $55 you can upgrade the lenses to glass achromats. The replacement
panel uses the same lenses that are in the lower priced Saturn viewer.
Also mentioned on the King Inn detail page:
| The lens housing/focusing assembly is in two pieces screwed together.
| This allows for the actual lens holder to be disassembled from the rest
| to have modifications made to it if desired (substitution of better
lenses).
So if you have your own lenses that fit properly, the modification
should be easy. If they don't fit, it will become more of a "hacking"
project.
The King Inn and the upgrade panel will get you into illuminated MF
viewing at lower total cost, and you avoid the assembly and finish
required with the Saturn kit. The kit, however, gives a viewer that
most consider more aesthetically pleasing, and an upgrade path beyond
the rectangular lenses, should you choose to delve more deeply in MF 3D.
> Other viewer options for the non-Hacker? -Linda
Listed roughly in order of increasing cost:
- Freeview + light table or light panel;
- Plastic lorgnette viewer + light table or light panel;
- View Magic viewer + light table or light panel;
- Sputnik viewer http://www.skep.com/3D/Sputnik/sputnik.htm (STL);
- Glass lorgnette (coming soon to RMM) + light table or light panel;
- Holmes style stereoscope (STL);
(All the above are essentially using a print viewer adapted to view
slides; the FL in most cases is not quite right for slide viewing.)
- Have a friend or relative that likes to work with wood and/or
get into a small project assemble the kit, for fun, as a gift,
or in exchange for a nice dinner!
- RMM demo Saturn viewer from NSA Mesa;
- Custom assembled version of the Saturn viewer from RMM
or Alan Lewis (more expensive than demo);
- Ekeren MF 3D viewer (coming soon; more expensive than Saturn);
- Japanese made viewer (same site that has the mounts; more expensive
than Saturn).
That's about all I can think of at the moment.
Paul Talbot
|