Further adventures with Scala/3D

[P3D <gosfield@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am disappointed to report that Scala may not work out for me and 3D.  

I just got my most recent roll back, and the good news was that i seem to
have nailed the exposure down (shot at rated EI (200) with a bit of
underexposure sometimes useful depending on subject, lighting, and
filtration--like lots of other transparency films) It has worked very well
to settle on Red 1 filters as basic 'correction filters'--skies come out a
natural gray, not a "red filter moonlight" black.  Many of the pictures
were very satisfying, if you are a dyed-in-the-wool B & W fancier like I
am.  Late afternoon light on building material textures, foliage details,
and even shadow details were very enjoyable. 

The bad news--I had previously been viewing mostly through a steal the 
light Reel 3d cheapo viewer (a surprisingly good viewer for the money :^} )
But now i have started looking through a Kodaslide II with halogen bulb, 
and the grain is quite a bit more apparent due to the higher 
magnification.  I don't dislike grain in itself, and even find it 
attractive in some kinds of B & W photography.  But in stereo work it has 
an annoying effect.  With Scala, it creates an odd appearance where the 
surface of large monotonic objects (e.g. sky, walls) seems to 
scintillate.  I assume this is some kind of retinal rivalry due to the 
random distribution of grain clumps, and consequent difference between L 
and R views.

Areas of shadow (the equivalent of around 9% gray, or Zone III-IV)
seem to have a veil in front of them, or a mist through which one sees 
them.  I can see grain on the surface of the shadowed objects, but it also 
seems to 'lift off' of the surface and float in the space between viewer 
and object.  Again, i assume this is some sort of retinal rivalry effect.

Would someone technically knowledgeable please discuss this in further 
detail?

At any rate, it is distracting, and is getting in the way of my enjoyment
of the other fine qualities of Scala.  When looking back over the
'winners', i wished i had been out there making 2d or slide-bar negative
shots with my Autocord or SL66 (same square format as 5-perf photography)
so I could later make prints in order to enjoy the particular subjects i
thought looked best in B & W. Another solution would be originals in 120
Scala, later scanned and printed, or web published, as pairs or
anaglyphs--beyond my technical capabilities, but closer to Agfa's intended
use of the film. 

I guess what 3Ders need is a fine grain direct pos B & W film with an EI
greater than 20.  I think there is a way to do Ilford XP-2 as direct
positive, but it would probably still have (pseudo) grain problems, and i
think the speed goes _way_ down when processed as positive.  Somehow i
don't feel motivated. 

My Wratten 44A has arrived, and my next attempted adventure is SL3d in
Polaroid direct color print 4x5 (any advice from the experienced?).  I
will make a brief attempt along the way at the much maligned 'direct to
print' color anaglyph using Polacolor and filters in front of or behind
the lens. 

best to all,

ted
gosfield@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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