FRAMESPLITTER? I'll pass...

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Regarding Mr. Boyer's posting:

>Mr. Harrington comes forth with a very good suggestion: FRAMESPLITTER

Please let the record show that it was not Mr. Harrington that first came 
up with this name.  It was not Mr. Themelis either.  This subject was 
discussed earlier in photo-3d and when the term "framesplitter" was brought 
up (by John B.?  I don't remember...)

I personally object to the term "framesplitter" for the following reasons:

4. It does not indicate that this device is used in stereo photography.
3. It does not even indicate that it has something to do with optics.
2. It gives no clue about the construction or function of the device.
1. Most important:  It does not use any Greek words!

BTW, the fact that the "framesplitter" splits a 35 mm full-frame (24 mm x 
36 mm) to two half-frame images is only incidental.  With a different 
arrangement of the mirrors it could be placing the two images in different 
parts of the 35 mm film.  Also, a Nimslo and most lenticular cameras are 
"framsplitters" in the sense that they create half-frame images.

The only acceptable alternative to "beamsplitter" is, as Mike K. suggested, 
"mirror stereo attachment".  Unless abbreviated to MSA (oh, no!!!), it is a 
long term but it accurately reflects the function and construction of this 
device.  

MSA sounds familiar, perhaps it will be confused with something else?  It 
does sound like NSA but consider this:  The "prism stereo attachment" will 
then become a PSA, which is perhaps a good way to put more 3-d into the 
Photographic Society of America?    (please, stop me!!!)

George Themelis

PS.  I cannot believe I've put so much energy talking about a device that I 
have never used!!!  BTW, I was doing a spell check on this and my spell 
checker found the unknown word "framesplitter".  I did not use the option 
to "Bypass" but, instead, I quickly added it to my personal dictionary, 
just to be in the safe side... ;)


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