Polaroid stereo camera

[P3D Michael Burke <mlburke@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Here is an experience I'd like to share:

        I had passport photos taken today at my local photo store.
The employee took a single exposure with a Polaroid camera (model 203)
which had two lenses.  It produced two 2x3 inch exposures, side by side, on
a 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" print.
        On viewing the results, I quickly realized that these images are a
stereo pair and this "passport photo camera" is actually a stereo camera!
My observation was confirmed upon quickly freeviewing the pair. The stereo
effect was definitely present.
        I examined the camera and found that it is a fairly bulky unit,
optimized for inside portrait use and fairly expensive I would guess.  I
measured the inter-lens distance at  2" (compared to the Realists 2 3/4")
less than optimal but adequate to generate some depth.
        I was delighted, discovering latent stereo photography in the guise
of a mundane passport photo.
        As an aside,  the passport application requires two **identical**
photos, yet as we all know there are *subtle differences* in the two photos
of a stereo pair.  I wonder if the folks at the passport office are aware
of (or care about) this distinction?  They must get thousands of
applications with photos from this system

Mike Burke
mlburke@xxxxxxxxxx



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