DaMert Foldout 3D Packages

[P3D Ronald W Doerfler <doerfler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi All,

I don't recall mention of them on the list, but the Zany Brainy stores (kid's
educational stores) around here are selling 3 types of 3D foldout packages made
by the DaMert Company.  They are flat cardboard packs that fold out into a simple
stereo viewer with extremely simple plastic lenses--in fact, the same layout
as the Civil War packet listed in Reel 3D.  Each comes with 14 stereo pairs
printed on cardboard.  Having bought the Civil War packet, I was aware of the
quality I was getting.

I wasn't expecting much with them, but bought the Space Odyssey set because it
contained a lot of standard space photos that would have to have been computer-
manipulated (Earthrise, nebulae, astronaut on the moon next to the lander and
rover saluting the flag, the moon, that montage of planets you've seen, etc.).
I expected to see at best flat disks for planets, etc.  Well, I was surprised
to find that the planets were quite spherical, and the nebulae looked pretty
good as well.  (If you look real close at the spherical body shots, such as the
Earth, the moon and the Hercules Star Cluster, you can detect the circular slices
that were made from the original image to get depth, but it's not immediately
noticeable.)  Given the cheapness of the materials (each set costs about $7), it
was a pleasant surprise.  A little fuzzy, but probably worth it to get one for kicks
if you like space stuff.

I also bought the Undersea Adventure, because I thought it would most likely
be real stereo pairs taken with a stereo rig.  I was surprised in this case to find
that it was disappointing--poor color mainly.  I would recommend passing on
that one.  The third set was an African safari type, but I didn't look at it.

Ron Doerfler
mailto:rdoerfler@xxxxxxxxxx



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