3D camera for the 90's

[P3D Gabriel Jacob <jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I mentioned a few days ago that there was an interesting white paper on
the net regarding what would be required in a new 3D camera for the 90's.
It makes for quite interesting reading. Here is the link courtesy of
Sam the Hacker (http://www.barint.on.ca/~sam/imn23d.htm)

REQUIREMENTS FOR A NEW STEREO CAMERA link at
http://www.imaginet.fr/~yc/scf/stereo-camera.htm

The paper is roughly 25k long but is very interesting. I have included
some high lights below.

>>The Council of the I.S.U. recently decided to open a new discussion on
the technical requirements for a new modern stereo camera. The results of
this discussion, as stated by William Duggan when he initiated this
discussion at the Congress of the I.S.U. at Atlanta, should be submitted to
camera manufacturers as elements of a guideline for designing a stereo
camera which could be a satisfactory tool for present stereo photographers
and also could enhance the general public's interest in stereo photography.

Philosophy of this contribution

Nearly half a century ago, the "Realist", a stereo camera conveniently
meeting the needs of stereo photographers and including the best
improvements of the technology at that time, was sold by hundred thousands.
Meanwhile, the technology improved much, and the needs of the majority of
stereo photographers also changed from watching images through the=20
stereoscope, to be able to show large screen projections under polarized
light.
The Realist is now an antique camera, and the slides produced with it can
be suitable for large-screen projection only after a long and annoying
process of slide mounting. Much better pictures, more easily taken with
modern cameras like RBT, are also easier to mount in modern pin-registered
slide mounts, and give better results in large-screen projections. But
these modern, automated and accurate cameras are heavier and much more=20
expensive.
The new camera should make it as easy as possible to get excellent stereo
slides, ready for projection without any tedious work and without any risk
of eyestrain for viewers. The camera should be designed so that fast and
easy mounting into pin-registered slide mounts could lead to near perfect
mounting, ready for projection without any shift of the slides. The=20
technical requirements will be defined under this assumption.
Purchasing and using this camera should remain at a reasonable cost.

This contribution mainly deals with the features considered as specific for
stereo cameras, even if these features are not significant in standard
non-stereo photography: symmetry and equality of the two views; film=20
stepping; viewfinders; automatic or manual focusing; setting the stereo
window; stereo base and view format; zoom or fixed focal length; choice of
focal length; lens aperture and depth of focus; exposure automation; other
features, accessories; weight, size, price and service; other types of
cameras; other types of stereo equipment.

(It then goes into the tech details of what a 3D camera would need, deleted
here but can be read at the link above for the complete paper.)

-Symmetry and equality of left and right views
-Film stepping
-Viewfinders
-Automatic or manual focusing
-Setting the stereoscopic window
-Stereo base and view format
-Zoom or fixed focus length
-Choice of the focal length
-Lens aperture and depth of focus
-Exposure automation
-Other features and accessories
-Weight, size, price and service

The price of the camera should be as low as possible. A good design would
lead to a market of hundred thousands, as in the case of the Realist, so=
 that
it is not a much smaller market than that of each of the numerous types of
non-stereo cameras of each major camera manufacturer. Therefore the price
should not exceed that of a pair of standard non-stereo compact cameras.=
 Such
cameras are sold at $150 to 200 in department stores. Stereo clubs can also
promote the sales of a good stereo camera. Our conclusion is that the price
could be no more than $500.
The service must include a demo film taken with each camera, showing that
the symmetry requirements are met with this unit. After-sale service must
be available in each country having an important stereo club: France,
Germany, Netherlands, UK, US (East and West)...

(The paper then deals with other stereo equipment such as)

-Transposing viewers
-Slide projectors
-Slide mounts

Such requirements are not very easy to meet, but technically possible.


                              Olivier CAHEN, revised by Jean SOULAS,
                              St=E9r=E9o-Club Fran=E7ais, February 20th,=
 1996

Please, send comments to Yannick Corroenne - yc@xxxxxxxxxxx<<=20

I have only included the high lights as I mentioned. This paper should be
required reading not only as to what an ideal 3D camera for the 90's=20
should be, but as it makes a very good review of what the problems are with
previous 3D technologies and is a good primer to them. It is 25k long.

P.S. Yannick used to post here on P3D and has a web page at=20
http://www.imaginet.fr/~yc/index.html#content

He also has helped with the creation of a 3D software to create anaglyph
3D pics. There is a shareware version on the net with the color part=20
disabled. You can make your own b&w 3D anaglyphs with it. The help file
is good with nice examples on how to make your own anaglyphs.
It is available in quite a few places on the net. Search for the file
3ds-us.zip  (590k)

Gabriel

                                          =20


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