Re: Updated 3Discover Info

[P3D Gregory J. Wageman <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Oliver Dean responds:

>I agree that it's possible for a system to be successful without having
>been conceived that way, but I think you're stacking the cards against
>you with the 3Discover concept. Also, when the system is designed as a
>whole, you get much BETTER cost, availability, and ease of use.  And
>ViewMaster didn't have an intrinsic design that prevented projection.

To answer my own question, according to information on the Web, the
ViewMaster viewer/reel was invented in 1939.  The Personal camera
wasn't produced until 1952 (probably to capitalize on the 50's stereo
boom).  So 3Discover is doing well by producing a camera within the
first year of the existence of the viewer, by that standard anyway.
 
>MMmm, Gregory, haven't you heard of 35mm slides??:>) (I know you have!)
>There isn't really a good way to view them EXCEPT by projection, partly
>because the 35MM slide viewers generally sold in camera stores are, with
>possibly a few rare exceptions, mostly dogmeat, and partly because
>projection is the most practical group viewing method.  And for 16mm and
>8mm movies, I know of only a couple of viewers that were ever made for
>them outside of editor viewers -- they are displayed almost ALWAYS by
>projection.  For stereo slides, the ONLY way to share an organized set
>of slides with a sizeable group of people is by projection.  

But you didn't address the question, which was: How MANY people project?
This is key to affirming or refuting your assertion that a format that
precludes projection, is doomed.  If most people don't care about
projection, then it is a non-issue as far as marketplace acceptance.

As has been acknowleged numerous times on this list, the vast majority
of modern picture takers shoot negative film and have prints made.  For
this 80+ percent of the potential market who are used to passing prints
around, passing around a viewer would probably seem completely natural.

8mm home movies died out when camcorders became affordable and readily
available.  It's virtually impossible to find 8mm film or a place that
will develop it.  16mm is still used by independent filmmakers, but the
equipment is expensive and its users are an even smaller group than stereo
enthusiasts, I'd wager.  I've never known anyone with 16mm projection
equipment outside of schools' AV rooms.

I agree with your viewer comments.  So far the best viewing option
for full-frame 35mm I've been able to find is a Red Button that has
been enlarged to 8p, using RBT full-frame mounts.  Unfortunately for
me, that precludes projecting the same slides since I use separate 2x2
projectors for that.  There just doesn't seem to exist a 2x2x2 viewer
with achromatic glass optics and built-in illumination.  Or even a
steal-the-light viewer with achromatic glass.

>No, I think that if a stereo slide design is serious about becoming a
>complete system, a 35mm stereo camera that is part of the system would
>have to be capable of making pictures that can be projected or shown to
>a group in some way in order to be successful.

I think you place too great a value on projection, but that is your
opinion and I can't prove you are wrong... time and the marketplace
will make that determination.

        -Greg W.


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