Re: First stereo camera -- Which one??

[P3D Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

Re: Adam Beckerman wants to know which stereo camera to buy while in
San Francisco on business.  Adam, you are in a terrible place to get
a good deal on a stereo camera!  That $495 Realist was discussed on
the list this past Spring as an example of outrageous stereo camera
pricing.  A fair prices is probably $125-$150, perhaps $175 at the most
depending on condition and features.  The shop with the six stereo
cameras is closer to market pricing, but generally still high, IMO.
You might not do *too* badly if you can talk them down some more.

Note that not all the cameras you mentioned take the same format
pictures.  The VM Personal takes those tiny size (sorry, VM fans)
images that go in Viewmaster Reels; I believe the Sputnik is a medium
format camera, and so uses 120 or 220 film.  I'm not an expert on
all the different models, but the other four are probably all 5-Perf
("Realist format") cameras.  (I think the first Iloca was a 7-Perf
camera; you would have to check to see which model they have.)

If at all possible, you should try to have have one of the vendors
on the list sell or rent you a camera they can ship to you.  I'll
send you some names and e-mail addresses off-list.

I know things can get real hectic when trying to get out of town for
business and/or vacation, but I would strongly recommend that any
newly acquired camera be used for a few test rolls of film at home
before being asked to perform in a distant place.  This applies
whether the camera is new or used, stereo or flattie (and as I
learned the hard way, even to a camera that is an identical model
to one you already own and know how to use!)

Paul Talbot


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