Pricing....and new viewers vs old

[JGoldenRRP@xxxxxxx]

Dr. T' responded on buliding a new viewer and said.

>>Have you priced good quality achromatic lenses lately?  Even >>at large
volumes a good pair of optics will cost you $60 >>minimum. IMO, the
red-button Realist viewer is WORTH >>EVERY PENNY OF THE $100 THAT IS GOING
FOR.  In addition to >>great achromatic lenses you get a very good mechanical
con- >>struction, metal rack and pinion focusing, metal lens holders
>>and interocular adjustment, coated contacts, attactive >>design.

>>You could possibly build a viewer that will match the quality >>of these
viewers...  This "blow away these 50's things" >>implies that the 50's things
are in some ways inferior to >>what our modern 90's technology can make.  I
don't think >>that's a very accuarate assesment of the situation.  Even if
>>you were able to build a viewer to match a Stereo Realist >>red-button, it
would cost at least two times the price of a >>used one to be produced in
small quantities...

Thank you George for this accurate perspective.  
Why is it that in our 3-D hobby....without much hesitation, many people will
drop over $1000.00 on a Realist 2.8 custom, with Steinheils,   a Veriscope
that may be nice optically, but is often problematic with flaring.   Yet when
it comes to a  quality standard bearer viewer....they balk at 100.00 for a
wonderful Realist Red Button.  
A good analogy in the world of audio would be to buy a really nice recording
studio for originating music.....but then go to Radio Shack and get a cheap
paging system to play the music back on.  Come on 3-D hobbyists, wake up to
the fact that the Red Button, The Kodaslide II, and other two element viewers
are crucial to optical clarity and enjoyment, they are worth the money....and
Dr.T's upgrades  to those viewers are worth every penny.....after all what
are your alternatives?
And the longer you wait, the more expensive viewers are going to get, because
they are getting scarcer all the time.  Everyone who has a 3-D camera may get
by with one camera, but often they want many viewers....and there are just
not that many out there.

The RBT viewer (not available until fall 1996) will certainly be very high
quality, but the price is not going to be in line with the cheap plastic lens
viewers, new or old.  And those who think the 3-D viewer is secondary in
consumer importance to their hobby....I afraid they will be dissapointed in
the RBT's viewer's cost.
It is very simple....you get what you  pay for...and quality,supply and
demand dictate prices. Jon Golden RBT USA  


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