Green button Edsel

[P3D Jonathan Orovitz <jorovitz@xxxxxxxxx>]

Friday I posted an article giving my subjective opinion of several =
popular stereo viewers including the Stereo Realist green button viewer =
(ST-2062) .  I do not hold the green button in high regard, especially =
in its DC (battery) configuration.  IMHO, green button is the Edsel of =
the Stereo Realist viewer line.=20

I immediately received a response from Dr. T on how to modify my green =
button viewer to make it better.  While I am certain that Dr. T's advice =
will result in a brighter image, my problems with using a green button =
viewer are more fundamental.

Stereo Realist red (ST-2061) and green button viewers share excellent =
optics and fragile Bakelite construction. Let me compare them as DC =
viewers:
        1) Green button is almost seven ounces (~200 gm) heavier than its red =
button cousin.
        2) Green button viewer is slightly larger than the red button.  There =
are not many handy carrying cases for it.
        3) Green button lacks a tripod socket, a handy feature when sorting and =
mounting.
        4) Changing batteries on the green button is harder than on a red.  =
Green has two small-diameter bolts located on the underside of the unit. =
 These require a real screw driver or reasonable substitute.  The =
batteries rest in the lower half of the unit.  One must carefully turn =
the unit over before opening it.  Even then, the bolts and DC bulb =
carrier can still fall out the rear.  Once the batteries have been =
changed, one must put the top back out, carefully flipping the unit =
again to reinsert the screws.  Do not try this in a moving vehicle.
        Battery changing in the red button is far easier.  The red has a single =
large bolt on its top side. A coin or even a fingernail can loosen and =
tighten it.  With the top off, nothing is likely to fall out of the red =
button unit while you change batteries.
        5) Green button viewers cost more than red button viewers and many come =
without the DC bulb adapter.

Dr. T also advised avoiding the high capacity Ni Cads I mentioned.  When =
I first started using battery-powered stereo viewers I used standard Ni =
Cads.  I have occasionally bought ultra-light, half-empty batteries.  I =
quickly became tired of having the batteries run out of juice while =
showing my pictures.  I often pass my viewer around a group of a dozen =
people.  BTW, D cells vary in weight from 65 grams (air filled Ni Cad) =
and 162 grams (high capacity Ni Cad and alkaline).  Your choice of the =
best battery type depends upon how you use your viewer.

Jon Orovitz


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