Beam Splitters

[tomwhite@xxxxxxx]

Let me preface this by saying that I am definitly only a snapshot
photographer. I enjoy the added dimension of stereo because it adds interest
to my snapshots and my friends enjoy seeing themselves in 3D. 

I have been using a Franka splitter for two years. I use several Cannon
cameras and as a result have accumulated a collection of lenses over the
years. I have simply dedicated one of my "standard" 50 mm lenses to the
splitter and just leave it permently  attached. The lens with the splitter
just becomes another option out of the bag. So it becomes convenient to
shoot stereo and flat on the same roll by quickly swapping lenses. I rarely
use a 50 mm lens otherwise.

I have not found the "area of confusion" between the split images to be much
of a problem.  At some extreams of f stops and especially at oblique angles
of lighting, there are some problems. But mostly not. All of my cameras are
of the auto exposure variety and they tend to pick medium range f stops anyway.

The second surface mirrors are not a problem for me. I am just a snapshot
kind of guy and am happy to nail a good one of my grandkids on occasion. I
gave up on trying to produce prize winning shots a long time ago.

My advice would be for anyone interested in entry level 3D and who already
has a 35mm camera with a 50 mm lens to go ahead and try one.

I also use a twinned XA2 rig and ocassionally will lug around a pair of
twinned Cannon T-70 SLRs. But those came after I discovered the beam
splitter. I still use the splitter, too.

Tom White
Driftwood, Texas


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