P3D Re: Re: P3D Re: A stupid (?) twin camera idea

[michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Michael Kersenbrock)]

> One partial work-around is to "overlap" the bodies, kind of like this:
> 
> 	+--+
> 	|  |
>      +--+  +--+
>      |        |+--+
>      +--------+|  |
> 	    +--+  +--+
> 	    |        |
> 	    +--------+
> 
> The problem here, of course, is that one lens is now further back than
> the other.  So, here's my stupid idea ... is it possible to put
> different focal length lenses on the cameras to give them,
> effectively, the same field of view?  For example, could one put a
> 35mm lens on the rear camera, and a 28mm on the foreward one?  Or 35
> and 50?

Funny this subject to come up at this time.  I've *just* now gotten 
a setup like this made up.  I'm experimenting doing it "on the cheap"
with a pair of $30 Pentax Spotmatic's (SP-1000 vintage w/screwmounts)
plus an assortment of lenses (which for the screwmount are quite thrifty
and widely available as well, even when buying Pentax lenses).  At a 
camera show last weekend I picked up a Topcon single-button-double-cable 
thingie to fire the shutters (it's made for a bellows unit, but is 
adjustable so I can make the cameras fire together). I may try it 
out for the first time, uh, tommorrow.  :-)  If it doesn't rain too much.  

I understand the small front/back difference in distance between the 
two cameras shouldn't make a noticeable difference unless the subject 
is really close (to make the distance difference significant).  If 
the subject is that close (macro or semi-macro), then it's 
super-duper-hyper anyway and we'd want to use a single camera and 
mini-shift.  Or some other camera setup.

The other idea I was thinking is that if my pair of lenses aren't
matched all that perfectly (I haven't the foggiest as yet) that
I could put the wider angle one in front.  Note that I'm talking
nuance differences in focal length.  I've pairs of 28mm's, 55mm,
and 135mm lenses (and a pair of 2X telextenders).  If I keep track
of things I should be able to pick the "optimum" pairing of lens
and camera.

Does this sound reasonable?  Hope so, I'm just now at the 
testing stage, too late to back out now!  :-)


Mike K.


P.S. - If looking at the top, I've got mine setup in the opposite
       way from the picture.  The winder is on the right side so
       the left one has to be the rear camera so that I can wind'em
       both.  Still pretty unsophisticated, but at least they have
       an internal TTL lightmeter (and the Spotmatic's used a bridge
       circuit so it doesn't depend on the battery being mercury).  :-)

P.P.S. - The front-back difference is the thickness of the camera body
         which is only about one inch.  These don't have the self-timer
         do-hicky sticking out of the front (which would be in the way
         and add another eighth inch or so).












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