Re: Medium format 3d

[P3D Greg Erker <erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>I would like to learn everything I can about medium format 3d. I have
>been working in 35mm for 10 years and am ready for something new.
>Anybody know about it? Cameras? Viewers? Mounts? I have looked at the
>Sputnik and there's got to be something better.

  Mounts are the easy part so let's start there. Assuming you
are going to shoot slides then Joel's company Rocky Mountain
Memories has three formats. Ones with 50x50 mm openings for
6x6 cameras, ones with 40 high x 50 mm wide for 645's or
cropping 6x6 to landscape, and thirdly 40 wide by 50 high
portrait mounts which can also be used as closeup mounts.
AFAIK Joel will send out free sample packs on request.

  Joel's mounts are King Inn compatible. The official KI
mounts are available from Que-vu (sp?). Info in the 3d
yellow pages on Joel's web site. They only have one format
of mount (52x52m). They are more pricey but the slightly
larger opening may be usefull to some people.

  Que-vu also sells the King Inn viewer which sells for
$135 (I recall) and has fluorescent lighting. It reportedly
has poor lenses but I have heard of people who replace them.

  Cameras: Sputniks are fairly common. They sell for about
$250 US in working order. They originally came with some
sort of print viewer which I've never seen. Would probably
cost more if you got one with the viewer included.

  Sputniks are prone to light leaks (mine's very bad and
I haven't had time to fix it). My test roll with all seams
covered with black electrical tape was fine. They also
suffer from glare due to the semi-shiney interior walls
and lack of baffles. Sam Smith has mod info on his web
page at:
http://www.cadvision.com/3dhacker/index.htm

  I plan to install the black flocked paper from Edmund
Scientic to fix mine.

  There are some other stereo MF cameras but I don't know
anything about them.

  Twin TLR camera work well for this format. I have a
pair of Ricohflex's. They have decent 3 element lenses
and are fairly narrow, allowing near normal lens spacing
if desired (mine go down to 3.25"). They sell for about
$40 to $50 US each.  You'll need a dual cable release
(or two singles) and some type of mounting bar or slide
bar (if you want variable lens spacing).

  For more money you could get a pair of Yashikamats
or Rolleis and have excellent results.

  I have a homemade slide viewer using two achromats
from Edmunds (36mm dia x 82 mm fl). It is lit by two
of Dr. T's frosted halogen bulbs.

  There's much more to say, but I'll let Joel and Sam
and other MF 3ders have a say.  I'll conclude by saying
MF stereo is awesome due to it's grainfree nature.

Regards - Greg

------
Greg Erker, Research Engineer at, (but not speaking for)
  TRLabs, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
  



------------------------------