Re: PHOTO-3D digest 1361

[P3D Bob Howard <bobh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

RE: Stereo Vivid by TDC (Bell & Howell) found by Tim Smith.

Tim..This is the most perfect stereo camera in 35mm format in several 
ways. It is the only American format (Realist format 22.5x24mm) that is 
ortho stereo by a clever ramp for film to allow the lenses to be spaced 
like the eyes. (Two frame spacing of most is hyper-stereo a bit). It 
also being engineered by StereoCraft the designers of the first 
Viewmaster camera, has the clever f/stop and shutterspeed dials built to 
work as a Kodak type exposure guide. Fortunately, it has ASA marks up to 
100 which is as fast a film as one should ever use for 35mm stereo 
anyway. It also has very clever depth of field pointers on the focus 
knob window perhaps predating the pointers on Compur shutters such as 
the Hasselblad had. It has a bubble showing in the viewfinder.
I would take this camera over any of the cheaper successors. 
IMHO the Realist and the Vivid are the champions in Realist format. That 
is because they were designed for stereo. All the others are two lens 
conventional cameras. The advantage of the Realist is forehead holding 
for super steadyness. BobH


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