Alan Lewis' ACHROMAT POCKET STEREOSCOPE

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I just received (15 minutes ago) Alan Lewis' new Stereoscope.
To say that I am thrilled with it would be an understatement!!!

Let's start with the packaging.  It came in a lovely custom-made
wooden box labeled "Achromat Pocket Stereoscope".  In the bottom
I read the following hand-written note:  

Achromat Stereoscope, S/N 002  1997, A. Lewis

Do I have a collectible, or what????  It would have been nice to
have the S/N 001 but I cannot complain.  I still think I was the
first to reply to Alan's sell-3d posting (it pays to be in ACK mode
in sell-3d and check email often) but that's OK :-)

The top of the small box slides to reveal the lovely little scope
wrapped in a red cloth.

Oh, what a beauty!!!

Custom-made wood, brass decorative screws, detachable handle...
I just cannot get over the looks of this scope.

I hold it in my hands... Boy, is it heavy!!!  Why is it so heavy?
Because it has ACHROMATIC LENSES.

To understand the difference, you have to check Alan's www address:

http://www.arlington.net/homes/dlewis/projects/achrom.htm

>From this page, I quote:

"The Achromat Holmes Stereoscope Project 
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SINGLE ELEMENT AND ACHROMAT LENSES?: 

   Here's the difference.  (ed. check the picture!)

The lenses in the rear are achromats, and the lenses in the front are 
single element Holmes lenses.  There is a BIG difference.  It is amazing 
that all of that extra glass actually improves the image rather than 
degrade it.  For reference, a single element lens is about .31" maximum 
thickness and the achromat lens is about .88" thick.  Almost three times as 
thick! 

The quality of the image is superior to a conventional single element lens 
scope.  It is especially noticeable in three areas: 

1.) Black and White images are completely free of color fringes.  The 
images are crystal clear and sharp. 

2.) Color images appear to have more depth.  The edge lines of objects in 
the photos are very distinct, no color fringes to blur the edge.  You can 
notice the sharp lines separating objects in your image. 

3.) Since it is color corrected, reds don't jump out at you.  With single 
element lenses red object will tend to float out from the photo.  Your 
photo is presented perfectly. "

Alan then goes on to describe how he came up with the idea of the pocket
stereoscope:

"Since only a serious stereo enthusiast (collector or photographer) would 
be interested in this scope, what quality did they possess that would help 
me?  Answer: They already know how to properly view stereo images.  Many 
know how to use lorgnettes to view stereo viewcards.  The hands and arms 
replace many of the elements of a conventional stereoscope.  An experienced 
person can use a lorgnette just as easily as a  Holmes/Bates stereoscope. 

The ACHROMAT LORGNETTE: For the experienced stereo enthusiast this viewer 
will give the same results as the DiamondView Achromat StereoScope.   
It can be taken to shows for previewing stereoviews.  It can be used at 
photo gallery/museum stereo displays.  Stereo views in magazines and books 
never looked so good. "

Price? The price that I paid is $150, which is a bargain IMO not only 
because of the lenses but also because of the professional first rate
quality of construction.  I don't know if Alan has any more lenses or if 
he plans to make any more achromatic stereoscopes.  You can contact him
at:

dlewis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I used the pocket scope and works as described.  Same wonderful quality of
achromatic lenses in a portable package!!!  I personally own one Keystone 
Visual Survey Telebinocular which uses the same achromatic lenses (I 
recently sold two through sell-3d) and I agree with everything that Alan 
says about these lenses.  The Visual Survey scope is a huge & heavy 
stereoscope with a metal base, internal illumination, adjustable height, 
etc.  It is the stereoscope I use to view stereo cards.  However, it is 
not portable.  Alan's Pocket Stereoscope is the supplement to my list of 
achromatic scopes:

- Keystone Visual Survey Telebinocular:  Best and most comfortable
  viewing instrument.  Bulky and heavy.

- Alan Lewis' Pocket Scope:  Light and portable, same quality as the
  "big brother" but not as easy to use handheld.

- My own eyes:  Most portable (cannot forget it home) and prefectly
  color-corrected, but it takes longer to use and the FL is long (low
  magnification.)

And now I can die happy :-) I am fully achromatized!!!

--- George A (A stands for Achromatic) Themelis


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