3D "camera" report

[P3D Eric Drysdale <Eric_Drysdale@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all,

Picked up a rare 3D camera this weekend that I've not heard mention of here. 
It's a lightweight single-lens system with a binocular viewfinder, and so
easy to use that a kid could do it. It's the "Sesame Street Big Bird 3D
Camera."   This is actually a big plastic 3D viewer in the shape of a big
blue camera with a little Big Bird figure perched atop as a "flash."  There
is a non-interchangeable filmstrip of 24 views of the alphabet,  which you
advance by pressing a button on the front. (XYZ is one letter, which no doubt
confused many youngsters who already thought LMNO was "lemon-o"... but I
digress...)  The photography is very well done, definitely with 3D in mind. 
There's a clever shot of a bunch of kids with a kite stuck in a tree from the
kite's POV, and a delightful shot of Prarie Dawn and Grover on a seesaw. It
seems to be from 1978 based on the copyright info.  Doing the Realist one
better, it's got a notch cut out for the nose for great stability.  

I couldn't resist opening it up to see how it worked.  I recognized the VM
format, but the case isn't large enough for a reel, so I guessed that it was
on a 16mm loop with a Realist-style spacing.  Upon opening it, I discovered a
loop of 35mm uncut VM mark II film running on a diagonal through the viewer. 
 There's no way I'm selling mine, but it seems like it would be easy to
remove the advance mechanism to create a decent viewer for uncut VM MII film.
 

A fun find.  If only it had come with Ernie and Bert's film cutter.  

-E
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