Realist format slides & prints

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Gabriel writes:

>In regards to beginners using a Realist, another reason why I 
>think they should wait is because it is much harder to mount
>them compared to prints if you don't have the right tools at
>hand and also you can free view prints, try that with a slide.

I free view slides all the time, especially in uncut rolls ;)
Who needs a Dukes Projection Previewer after all??? ;) ;) ;)

Even though in theory this is a correct statement, in practice
mounting *Realist-format slides* is greatly simplified by the
mounting supplies and tools available for this job.  That's
the beauty of the Realist format.  It was not developed or
came about by accident, but after considerable thought and
planning.  Tough competition for a small market share in the
50s forced stereo companies to develope complete systems that
would be easy for the average person to use.  The success of
the system in the 50s and the fact that it is widely used today
is a proof that it works.

Mounting Realist-format slides from a classic stereo camera is
as easy as put them in the frame and you are done.

>Also you can experiment to your hearts content with prints.

Yes, that's true.  But at some point you will have to stop
experimenting and settle with a system to enjoy.

>Prints are more user freindly.

Prints have many advantages.  I started with prints.  For a
very short time, and while I was involved in SEM stereo work,
I took stereo print pairs with my SLR.  I used a big mirror 
stereoscope at the University to view the pairs.  Alignment 
was done by trial and error.  This only lasted for a few months, 
until I bought my first Realist stereo camera.  After my first 
roll of 3-D slide film, I was sold and hooked for life...  

Since then, I have managed to convert several friends from 2d 
photography to 3d.  They all started with a Realist camera 
without going through the initial print experimentation phase.

George Themelis


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