VM Dupes

[P3D <LeRoyDDD@xxxxxxx>]

     The Subject of this posting does not refer to those who have been
hornswoggled into stereophotography using the Viewmaster Personal or Mark II.
As a matter of fact, I are one. :=)

     Mike Dochterman said:

"for distribution to friends, etc, I have always felt that the Viewmaster
format was the simplist. ...unless one takes twenty or thirty of the exact
same shot, reels cannot be made up that are the same. I've tried using that
neg/slide film ... the film is so wretched that I quickly gave up on that
idea ....does anyone know of ... a slide duping setup [all/any formats to
Viewmaster], or have any idea of how one would go about making one?

Mike, there are services that will get you VM duplicate reels of good
quality... my evaluation is they are expensive per reel in small quantities,
low cost per reel in too-large quantities to your/my purpose.

Some possible solutions come to mind:

     1) Use fine grain print film for the neg/slide process. Kodak
Ektar/Royal 25 and Agfa Portrait 160 are a couple of possibilities. I'm in
the process of checking this out (got the film, at least) for Realist format.
If it works for that, it'll be good enough for the 50mm lens VM viewers.
     2) Project and shoot off the screen. Either polarized or one image at a
time. I experimented with this with fairly good results. I used a very
directional screen with a TDC and got a not-too-objectionable hot spot.
Interestingly, the color shift toward blue in Daylite Kodachrome at long
exposures *almost* corrected for the incandescent projection bulbs.
     3) Sacrifice a Mark II by separating the lens board/shutter assembly
from the back and move them far enough apart to get the correct
magnification/close focus... creating a "stereo extension tube" effect. If
you or anyone else does this, please report to the list.
     4) Contact print whole film strips. Anyone know where to get a readymade
35mm contact printing frame?

Good luck in your quest...

LeRoy Barco
LeRoyDDD@xxxxxxx


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