Charles Piper on TDC Vivid

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

Mary Ann and Wolfgang write:

>Personally, we really like the TDC Vivid.  
>Easy to use, great dof scale for focus and very sharp lenses.

Charles Piper brings up a few weak points in his Installment #71:
- Lenses "typically are not as sharp as those on Realists".
- DOF scale is frequently out ot adjustment or inoperative.
- DOF scale shows too little depth in f/3.5 and too much in f/16.
- Rangefinder is tricky to reset.
- Bubble level is rather difficult to see.
- It is difficult to clean the optics of the finder.
- To use a modern strobe you need to have a PC socket installed.
- Flash exposure scale is useless for strobe.
- Tranport is tricky and will result in 65 mm lens spacing. "This
  comes closer to being orthostereo...but only a perfectionist [JohnB?]
  would notice the difference".
- Strap hanger lugs are rather fragile.
- Most challenging to the average service man because of the difficulty
  in getting it apart.
- "If you can stand still for the 1/100 top speed, the Vivid may just 
  be you camera."

In conclusion, "The TDC Stereo Vivid is an odd ball in many ways, but
its adherents are so addicted to it that most would never part with it."

George Themelis quoting Charles Piper from "The Technical Page"


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