P3D Viewer confusion

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

Boris writes:

>1.  Comparing viewers of similar cost within the two systems, the 2x2
>system produces orthoscopic images of apparent size twice as large.
>Conversely, the Radix (Realist format) produces an unacceptably distorted
>spatial field in an image half the size.

None of these statements stands alone without taking the recording lens
into account.  

"The 2x2 system produces orthoscopic images" only if 50 mm lenses are used.
 How about the fellow who uses 28 mm lenses in his SLRs?   "The Radix
(Realist format) produces an unacceptably distorted spatial field"... The
name of the viewer is Radex  and this distortion (perfectly acceptable for
many) results from using wider than 50 mm lenses.  How about using the
Radex for viewing slides from SLRs w/50 mm lenses, mounted in Realist-type
mounts?  

What are you attempting to describe above is a combination of taking and
viewing and not just viewing.  Just to make things worse there is such
thing as a wide angle attachment for a Realist and also telephoto
attachments (I have used one and have sold one set too)  So, the fact that
a Realist camera is used does not say anything conclusive regarding the
lenses that took the pictures!

>2. Comparing expensive Realist viewers with inexpensive 2x2 viewers, the
>Realist comes a little closer, having better optical image quality, but
>still producing a slightly smaller, and slightly non-ortho view.

Same comment as above.  I use my Realist red button viewer to view 2x2
(original) slides taken with my 45 mm lenses in my Minolta x-700 twin rig. 
Ortho-paradise! ... well.. almost ... it was not for the fact that the
closest I can get those cameras, side-by-side, is about 6"!!!  

You cannot draw conclusions about the VIEWERS by what people use them to
view.  Your ONLY objection is that the Realist stereo camera has 35 mm lenses,
while it has failed to provide an inexpensive viewer with 35 mm lenses. 
Had Realist come with 45 mm lenses instead, you would have no grounds to
criticize the system.  So, get a Realist and a pair of telephoto 
attachments and keep using your cheap Radex viewers.

There is very little difference between the Pinsharp and Radex viewers,
both being made out of plastic, having plastic lenses, no internal
illumination, no focusing,..., and both having 50 mm lenses!!!!  The only
real operational difference is that the Pinsharp will accept 2x2 slides
while the Radex will accept slides mounted in 101x40 mm mounts.  What is in
these mounts is anyone's guess.

-- George Themelis

PS. "Radex" is the viewer that Reel 3-D sells for $3.25.


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End of PHOTO-3D Digest 2587
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