P3D Re: TDC Vivid

[Mary Ann & Wolfgang Sell <vmmasell@xxxxxxxxx>]

Darren Gunderson wrote:
> Anyway, I just wanted to get feedback from others who have used this
> camera.  How does it compare in quality with Kodaks and Realists( My
> main users)  I am going to get a roll through it as soon as I get a
> chance.   One thing I can tell is that this one has to have one of the
> weirder film transport systems I have seen.

It is my favorie of the 50's cameras, and the results I get a great.
You even use it without a light meter with fairly accurate results
thanks to the "Expo-sure" readings off the top of the camera. This is
based on the sunny 16 rule.

The transport system is strange, as well as its story. The camera was
designed by Stereocraft Engineering the same people who made the
ViewMaster camera.
This camera was designed as a seven perf. not the 5 perf. final version
that made the mass production. ( I have been told a few of these exist
somewhere, but I have not seen one.) They were stamping the parts for
the Vivid when Kodak came out with their camera. A complete surprise to
Stereocraft. Stereocraft had wanted Kodak to do the processing but knew
that Kodak would not do the 7 perf. since they now had a camera of their
own. A frantic redesign was done, using as many of the already stamped
parts as possible. The take up was changed from the 1-3 and somehow the
extra space needed to be taken up to fit the 5 perf. format, thus the
dip in the film under the roller. It is still a great camera, and I love
mine. I think the 7 perf. version would have been fantastic. Had Kodak
come out 3 months later we would have had it. This info came form one of
the engineers on the project.

Good luck with yours.
Wolfgang Sell


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