wide-angle stereo

[Richard Twichell <73163.3423@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dr. T Asks:

- What exactly is the attraction of wide-angle 3-D photography?  
- Why would I want to use a wide angle adapter in my Realist camera?  
- In want kind of photographic situation will a wide-angle adapter help?  
- Will a wide-angle adapter help me take better pictures?  
- More interesting pictures?
- Give me a good reason why I should try a wide-angle attachement.

The smart-ass answer to question #2:  To take pictures of Big Things.  
Well, seriously.  Large groups indoors can sometimes only be covered by 
backing into a corner and using a Steinheil.  Hint:  Make sure your flash 
will cover - my Sunpak potato masher will cover Steinheil Territory 
horizontally but not vertically without a beam spreader.

The serious answer to question #4:  Yes, sometimes. (see answer #1).  
Example:  I was shooting HMS Victory, a Very Big Thing; (Nelson's flagship 
from Trafalger, now in drydock at Portsmouth, for  non-Anglophiles);  If I 
had backed up enough to include the whole ship, I would have been subjected 
to the usual whining:  Not enough 3-D; should have used hyper, etc.  So, 
using the Steinheil allows one to recreate the stereo visual perspective of 
standing relatively close to a large object, while compensating for the 
inability of the viewer to turn his head to see the whole thing.   

Thanks, Allan Carrano, for the excellent analysis of Realist 2.8 vs. 3.5 
for Steinheil work.  As well, Piper points out in Installment #94 that the 
inherent vignetting in Realist 3.5s is aggrevated by Steinheils.

Dick Twichell 


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