Twin Olympus XA-2 Results

[P3D Ralph Johnston <copley@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello again, I just received my first roll from a pair of Olympus XA-2
cameras which were paired up by Joel Alpers of Rocky Mountain Memories.
This roll was print film.

There were some duds in the roll, due to the processor printing one view
lighter than the other.  Also, on the flash shots there were problems due
to uneven lighting with the flash off the left camera of the pair,  and to
shallow depth of field because the flash mode shoots wide open f/3.5.

However, there were a number of really nice pairs.  These 4x6 prints
required trimming between 1/4 and 3/4" from each print.  The right side of
the right print and the left side of the left print are trimmed the same,
so that all objects show up in both views.  I then mounted the right view
above and touching the top of the left view in a "magnetic" photo album
page 8.5 x 11" 3-ring binder style.  View Magic requires a 4" spacing which
is perfect for 4x6 prints.

The best way for a beginner to use the VueMagic over-under viewer is to
start about two feet away and look at the middle of the three images you
see.  Then move in to about 12" for more detail.  The images are quite
sharp although somewhat hyper stereo.  Some of the close objects look as if
a photo of the object had been pasted on a cardboard cutout.

I plan to try slide film next.  These would be mounted either as 2x2's or
using the (almost) full frame RBT mount.

My ideal camera to twin would still be 4" wide but would have aperture
selection for flash.  One candidate is my Vivitar 35EM compact.  This
camera has a hot shoe, collapsing lens barrel, scale focus, and aperture
priority auto.  An auto exposure flash could be mounted on each camera for
flat even illumination.  I am looking to buy a second one.

PS My Dad's StereoRealist now has a new lens cover thanks to Dave Berenson
who sold me one from a junked camera.


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