Re: 3d Camara - Need advice!

[P3D Peter Davis <pdavis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> QUESTION:
> What is the best affordable (under $200 Used) 3D camara?

There's no simple answer to this question.  To start, some of the
alternatives are:

    o	Single camera, weight shift technique

	You take a picture, shift the camera horizontally about 2 1/2
	to 3 inches (without changing the direction of the lens), and
	take another picture.  Simple, but reasonably effective.  Not
	good for moving subjects, obviously.  An excellent print
	viewer (View-Magic) can be gotten for about $30.

    o	Single camera, "splitter" attachment

	The attachment fits on your camera lens, and basically puts
	two, half-width images on a single frame of film.  Splitters
	can cost anywhere from $50 to $250, and they impose some
	limitations on the lens and aperature you can use.  No special
	processing is required, but you'll need a viewer.  Viewers
	can range from very cheap up to about $150.  Since the image
	is split, you'll get tall, skinny images.  Also, you get some
	"keystoning" distortion to to the non-orthogonal light path,
	but this is generally not objectionable.

    o	Realist format camera

	This format was extremely popular in the late 1940's and
	1950's, so there's a fairly plentiful supply of cameras and
	accessories on the used market.  The image format is roughly
	square.  Realist cameras are extremely durable.  Film can
	be processed normally, but requires special mounting.  Kodalux
	still does the mounting commercially for a reasonable fee,
	although enthusiasts feel they can do a better job themselves.
	A viewer is required, and these range from $3 (for unlighted
	ones) up to $100 or more for lighted ones.  Projectors are
	also available.  Other models, such as Kodak, Revere, TDC,
	etc. are also available, and have advantages and disadvantages
	when compared with the Realist.

    o	European format camera

	These are similar to the Realist format, but the images are
	wider (7 perforations on the film as opposed to 5).  One line
	of these, the FED, is still being manufactured, and is
	available through various importers, including some on this
	list.  I don't know if the price fits your guidelines.  You'll
	have to mount the slides yourself. I don't know about
	availability of 7P viewers, but many Realist format viewers
	can be adapted for the wider format.  I'm not sure if this
	even fits in your price range.

    o	Twin 35mm cameras

	Two cameras (the choice of make/model is yours), generally
	mounted on a rigid bar to keep them spaced and aligned
	correctly.  Normal processing can be used for either prints
	or slides ... viewers are available for both at a range
	of prices.  The width of the cameras forces a slight
	hyperstereo (exaggerated depth) effect, because the lenses
	are further apart than human eyes.  Synchronization of the
	shutters, especially with flash, may be a problem.  Some
	cameras can be electronically wired together to synchronize.
	"Y" cables are available for cameras which accept a cable
	release.

There are other options, but I think they mostly get out of your price
range.  Notably, View-Master cameras can be used for making your own
View-Master reels, but equipment is scarce and expensive.  There are
also larger format cameras, but these tend to be expensive as well.

Now that I've said all this, I'm sure I'll be flamed by the supporters
of each format for leaving out whatever they consider to be the main
benefits of their favorites.

> P.S. Anyone know of a Faq that explains Lenticular and other formats. I'm not
>      really interested in buying one, but I'd like to know about them. I
>      can't imagine why you would want 4 lens's! Thanks for any info.....

My understanding is that unlike a slide in a viewer, where the viewing
angle is controlled, a print can be viewed from a variety of angles.
Therefore, multiple views are helpful to ensure that each eye sees an
appropriate image

-pd
--------
Peter Davis		       "Education is not the		 617/873-4145
BBN Educational Technologies	filling of a pail, but	    FAX: 617/873-2455
70 Fawcett Street		the lighting of a fire."       pdavis@xxxxxxx
Cambridge, MA 02138			-- W. B. Yeats

	URL:  http://copernicus.bbn.com/people/PDavis/


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