Re: Motorola Ad

[P3D John W Roberts <roberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 10:00:13 -0500
>From: P3D Jeremy Buckingham  <buckingham@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Motorola Ad

>This is the first time I have posted here.  

Welcome!

>I have been thinking about buying a camera and a view master and taking 
>some 3-D shots.

>Can anyone recommend a cheap way to get started and have a little fun?

>Maybe the viewmaster is the wrong way to go, but it seemed really easy.

>Can someone outline a simple system and the approximate price I can expect 
>to pay?  Sources would be nice also

As a cheap way to get started and have a little fun, I would strongly
recommend that you try with a single conventional camera (get a non-flash
disposable if you don't already have a camera), take some outdoor daylight
shots of non-moving objects that are 10-30 feet away and that have some
actual depth to them, get some 3.5 inch high prints made, and see whether
you can cross-view or parallel-view them. Each object should be photographed
twice - take one shot then move the camera sideways (don't rotate it) about
2.5 to 3 inches and take the second shot. These two shots are the left and
right views.

When viewing, you may have to overlap the two photos several inches at first, 
to reduce the width of the stereo images and make them easier to view. 

Total cost so far - less than $20, and you can have your first results within
a day or two (or a few hours, if you pay more and get 1-hour processing).

You can get mechanical aids for viewing side-by-side stereo prints for less
than $5, and several much more capable types are available for higher prices.

If you find that you like 3D photography, I recommend that you consider
going to more capable equipment, using prints, or slides, or both. Prints
and slides each have advantages and disadvantages, but it's too soon after
the last lengthy discussion on the topic to get back into it - I assume
the discussion is available on the archives by now. Both prints and slides
can give fine results, and be a lot of fun to work with.

As I understand it, the main challenge with the Viewmaster system is the
expense and difficulty of getting a precision cutter - they're usually in
the hundreds of dollars, if you can find one at all. That may be good for
later on, but I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction to 3D.

There are several good Web pages that can give you more information.

I hope you enjoy 3D. I can send you more information offline about the
"quick and cheap" introductory techniques using prints if you decide to
try it.

John R


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