Wide angle lenses in 3-d

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

Without an intention to distract the list from discussing my favorite 
topic (beamsplitters ;)), I would like to make a few comments on the 
wide-angle issue.

The adapter for the Realist is moderately wide and very expensive.  Dick 
Twichell and others commented on some situations where it is useful.  
That's fine and well-taken.  If I ever find a pair priced reasonably, I 
will buy it and try it.  But since it's worth its weight in gold, I have
a feeling that it will be the first to go for sale. 

The way I see things:  Going from 2-D to 3-D with a Realist is huge leap.  
Going from a Realist to a Realist with a wide-angle adapter is a luxury.  
It might be useful in some tight situations but does it justify the 
expense?  I am not sure...

I generally object to the misuse of wide-angle lenses in point-and-shoot 
cameras.  Why is the goal to include everyone and everything in the 
picture?  The result is cluttered pictures with a lot of distortion.  
I mostly use my (wife's) P&S at the longer end.
Now, for SLRs and wider angles, there is room for interesting effects 
but many of them do not apply to 3-d.  I fully agree with Steve Spicer 
that wide angle 3-d is for special effects mostly.  I have seen some of 
Susan Pinsky's fisheye 3-d and was not impressed... I did not like the 
apparent distortions and the fact that there is only depth in the 
pavement right underneath and not the main subject.  

Wide angle lenses include a lot of unwanted foreground.  I know that 
George Philosophos of the Chicago Stereo Camera Club, swears by the 
28 mm lenses in his Minolta X-700 outfit but I cannot imagine how he 
uses these for standard work.  My shortest pair is 45 mm.  I find 
more use for my 135 mm lenses than anything wider than 45 mm.
Since an extra pair of lenses in my camera bag will add weight and 
inconvenience, I have decided to stay away from the wide angles.

Normal to longer lenses in my twin SLRs help me concentrate
on my subject, simplify my composition and increase the impact in 
projected slides.  Wide angles are a headache...in 3-d, IMO.

George Themelis


------------------------------