Re: Is it a Stereo Camera?

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 09:39:18 -0600
>From: P3D Ronald J Beck  proposes:
>
>I propose the following definititons...
>
>Stereo camera:  A camera designed by the manufacturer to take a set of two 
>or more photos simultaneously with a pre-set interocular distance.  A 
>Stereo Camera has a single film path, linked shutters, linked focusing and 
>matched lenses.  This would include all our favorites (Realist, kodak, 
>etc...) as well as the "hand made" cut-n-paste pairs.

********  Beyond the self contradictory *designed by manufacturer* and *hand
made* there is the issue of stereo camera ideals that may yet be a part of a
stereo camera, such as an adjustable interocular. For a truly adjustable
interocular you would likely need two separate film rolls because that would
solve the problem of maintaining proper film positioning. So I suggest you
remove the restriction to a single film path and instead of giving
manufacturers all the credit, specify that a stereo camera *system* is
simply intended for taking stereo images. Since future stereo cameras may
actually be digital in nature, the existence of a film path wouldn't be
required. It should be specified that there are two or more separate image
paths, not necessarily lenses. As nice as linked focusing is, there are
likely some combinations of *hand made* that may be primitive enough to
require separate adjustments, though still be designed/modified to be a 3D
camera, especially if someone wanted adjustable interoculars and full frame
images.

To stir things up a bit, it may be that APS technology offers potential help
for this kind of design. ;-)

Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/
http://3dzine.simplenet.com/


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