[MF3D.FORUM:1227] MF 3D Slide Protectors

[Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

In Part I of my PSA Albuquerque report, I mentioned putting
all my slides in the new MF 3D slide protectors.  As you
may recall, Sam had expressed an interest in having "view-
through" slide protectors for the RMM 80x132 medium format
3D mounts.  http://www.rmm3d.com/supplies/spicer.mf.html

As the developer of the archival storage pages for R-format
3D slides, I had a long-standing interest in offering an
archival page for the 80x132 mounts.  Developing a custom
storage page for the MF 3D mounts, however, is cost prohibitive.
A few weeks or so ago I tried some Archival Plus pages intended
for 3-1/2" x 5" prints.  Although some MF 3D shooters use them,
I decided I really didn't like the way they worked out.  The
mounts don't fit snugly in the pockets and thus slide out too
easily.  At only four slides per page, they really add a lot
of excess bulk to a slide collection.

So at Sam's request I had some archival sleeves custom made to
fit the MF 3D mounts.  Although I didn't expect to like them
(I've heard negative reports about the ones made for R-format),
I have to say they worked out great!  I've put every one of
MF 3D Expo 2000 slides in these protectors, as well as all my
own MF 3D slides.  And I sure was glad I did when I went to
the PSA conference.  At the NSA conference (Mesa, July) I had
to nervously watch every person who handled one of the Saturn
viewers to look at the demo images.  Even though I had several
viewers set up with 1 image each (rather than a stack of images),
I knew some people would do things like turning the viewer
upside down to look it over, spilling the slide on the floor
(or worse), possibly stepping on it, getting finger prints
all over the image picking it up again, etc.  (And yes, it did
happen.)  At PSA I was able to leave a viewer and my images
in the slide protectors with David Morrison at the stereo den
while attending conference events, and not have to worry about
damage from poor handling.  Now I won't have to worry about it
when showing images to family and friends either, no more being
afraid to let them change the slides in the viewer themselves.

So, I have to say that Sam was right on target with his idea for
view-through protectors for MF 3D slides.  They work great and I
will be putting all my images in them immediately.  For purchase
information, please see the FS: message that follows.

Paul Talbot