Stereo Viewers

[P3D Jonathan Orovitz <jorovitz@xxxxxxxxx>]

I noticed a request for a Realist Green Button DC attachment in a recent
photo-3d posting.  Sorry Elliott, I have one (and only one) that I got
with my Green Button viewer several years ago.  After playing with the
viewer I quickly came to the conclusions that, IMHO:
        1) Techincally, the green button is an execllent AC viewer
        2) It is a mediocre DC viewer.

With the black bakelite bulb holder in place, the image is not as bright
as with a conventional red button Realist viewer.  Due to its size and
shape, the green button viewer is not as portable as either a red button
or a Kodaslide.

Stereo viewers in general:
I may be in a minority but I spend more time looking through my stereo
viewers than fixing them.  On the whole, a viewer's ease of use and
image quality are far more important to me than are the details of their
construction.  Here are some of my opinions on common stereo viewers I
have used:

Realist Green Button:  Mine lives in a closet most of the time.  Big,
bulky, expensive, no tripod socket but good optics. Fragile bakelite
construction.  A fine investment but not a "user."  AC standard with DC
(option).
  
Realist Red Button: Travels alot, tucked in an old custom Stereo Realist
slide box.  Good optics but fragile bakelite construction.  Has the
required (epoxied) hairline crack, proabably from too much hair
splitting <g>. DC in native mode but transformers are available.

Kodaslides: Kodaslides function well in either AC or DC mode.  While the
Kodaslides have an unreliable focusing mechanism, it is easy to fix. 
Good optics (better in model II).  When I am working on slide mounting
or sorting, I often set a Kodaslide II (AC) on a tripod and use it at my
work area.  I might use my green button for this if it had a tripod
socket.

LifeLike (aka LikeLife):  Sturdy styrene bounces better and higher than
bakelite.  Poor optics but easy to use for a novice.  At one time
inexpensive.  DC only.

Brumberger (aka Star-D): Good for viewing 5-P or 7-P slides (without
being modified).  Easily takes halogen bulb.  Plastic lenses, styrene
body, tripod socket but plastic lenses.  DC only.

The DC viewers I have listed work very well and economically on Radio
Shack High Capacity Ni Cad batteries.  The High Capacity D cell carries
twice the amp-hour charge of a normal Ni Cad.  They get hot while being
charged.  Allow to cool before using or you will blow your bulb. Beware
of cheap Ni Cads that are half empty (filled with air).


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