Re: Kodachrome and Tilt...

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: photo-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

>Thanks to all for your comments... The concensus seems to be that tilt >is not a fatal flaw in stereoscopy but rather an aesthetic issue. 

That sums it up pretty well...

>If I ever show my slides to Dr. T., I'll make sure my horizons >are dead level (and the shots aren't boring). ;-) 

I don't think that Dr. T. has any less tolerance for these, than the average stereo photographer. Anyone who thinks that he/she is not bothered by the tilted horizons is invited to view one of my slides with a tilted sea level. Then we'll see if they are bothered or not... ;) 

>As for Kodachrome, I've been paying $7.88 a roll for processing (uncut, >unmounted). Turn-around is 7 days, pretty reliably. However, the cost >and turn-around are the same for my E-6 films... 

I was using the local drug store to precess my E-6 films for under $4 with 7 days turn around. I experienced the usual problems like occassional scratches, getting someone else's film back, getting a roll half cut, etc. Unlike Peter Davis, I did not try to set the lab straight... (Parenthesis: even if you get the manager personally involved, I don't think that he has the time to supervise everyone of your rolls. Your precious film is handled by minimum wage workers who change often. If you are the only person having a problem, I am willing to bet that that lab would rather lose you as a customer than put their act together... If you solve one problem today, another one will come up tomorrow... How many free rolls of film will it take before you get tired of this? I am not talking about Peter Davis here who might not have a choice, but those of us who tolerate a bad situation in discount chain E-6 processing just to save a few dollars ... Close parenthesis)

Here is what I did: I took
my business elsewhere... at a "professional" lab that picks my film from work, returns it to work next day and takes excellent care of my film (including "dunk" processing where the entire roll - down to the last mm- is processed). The cost with tax is $8.77 per 36 exp. roll. Is it worth the extra cost? It is for me! Seven days is WAY TOO LONG for me to wait... and if they screw up one roll I might not be satisfied no matter how many coupons for free processing they give me... Not that the other lab will never make a mistake... It's just that the probability is lower. I am willing to pay for a better service, quicker turn-around and minimal risk.

George Themelis


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