P3D New Viewers for the New Year?

[Eric Goldstein <egoldste@xxxxxx>]

George Themelis wrote:

> Another dream:  A modern
> 2x2 viewer with internal illumination and achromatic lenses
> for $100-$150.

and Alan Lewis wrote:

> Geeezz...I'm working on it, don't rush me.  :-)


Here's 2 cents worth...

I've got several viewers whose apertures cover 7+ perf with decent
internal illumination and achromatic lenses... didn't pay more than 100
bucks for any of 'em. The problem is that optically they are not NEARLY
the equal of the camera glass and do not cover the field.

Sorry, but the Red Buttons DO NOT cover 7 perf, and typically have
marginal contrast (haze). Kodaslide IIs and Reveres better on contrast
but no improvement in coverage. Wollensaks seem to have best wide
coverage, but do it with less mag/longer fl. And how about people with
different eye corrections, which is exceedingly common?

We spend a lot of time discussing camera optics, but frankly viewer
optics suck. I'm looking forward to what Jon Golden will be offering in
the next few weeks; from what he's told me there'll likely be some
relief there. Alan, if you're going to take the trouble of designing a
modern 1990s viewer, I'd wish it will at least be the equal of our 1950s
camera lenses...

Eric G.


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