P3D 2x2 vs Realist - The debate continues

[Ronald Beck <ronald-beck@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, I just have to throw my  $0.02 in here now.  Boris says the
Realist is just not for him, he prefers 2x2.  George says the Realist is
great for hobbyists and amateur photographers.

Back several years ago (pre 3-D for me) our dive club had a presentation
from someone who's name I wish I could remember now.  Although his talk
was diving related, the slide show he did had nothing to do with
diving.  It was a 3D presentation of the Big Bend area of Texas.  It was
done with four Kodak slide projectors using a fader between the two
pair.  Afterwards I talked with the gentleman for a bit to learn that he
used (if I remember right) twin Nikons to take the photos and, of
course, polarizers on the projectors.

So, when I got home I looked at what camera gear I had and set up a twin
SLR rig of my own.  I used my trusty but old Rolleiflex 35m with a 50mm
lens and my new, somewhat shiny Konica FT-1, again with a 50mm lens. 
Both were mounted on an old strobe bar I had.  I attached my trusty
camera strap to the whole thing, grabbed my tripod and headed out to the
annual Hot Air Balloon festival that happened to be that weekend.

Two rolls of 24 exposure and mega bucks for one hour (well three hour)
developing and mounting and I had my first 3D slides!  Now, how to view
them! What a dilema.

Eventually I discovered this mailing list and Reel-3D.  So, I purchased
one of their steal-the-light 2x2 viewers, stuck in my slides and voila,
3D photos!  Of course some of them really looked strange and I couldn't
get them to "snap" into focus, but about half of the shots I took were
(IMHO) pretty darned good.

Later, through this list, I've discovered that the cameras probably
weren't level which is one problem.  Mounting was yet another.  And
synchronizing the shutter (i.e. pushing both buttons) still another
problem.  In all though, it got me started.

So, feeling pretty good about my Balloon Festival shots, I entered them
in the Expo II thinking that they were pretty hot.  I also entered some
dual disposable shots because by this time I had met Tim Klein (remember
him?) who had introduced me to the ViewMagic.

When I finally received the Expo II, I realized how talented the other
members of this list really are.  So I started my quest for a "realist
style" camera.  I borrowed a Realist for a time and enjoyed using that
camera.  I eventually purchases a Kodak Stereo camera because the
opportunity and the money occured simultaneously.

I like shooting the Kodak because, like George, I'm a hobbyist and
amateur photographer and like to record personal memories.  Were I
shooting for profit and reproduction, I would probably look into a 2x2
format rig.

I say all this because I've pretty much run the gambit on stereo
photography options out there.  Still, I would love to borrow a
Viewmaster setup and make a couple of reels for my kids (4 & 1).  They
love to look at daddy's slides in my current realist sized viewer and,
for me, that's the whole reason I shoot 3D in the first place.  

I've also enjoyed viewing the slides my grandfather took back in the
late 50's.  I know the time frame because a few of the shots are of my
parent's wedding, family Christmas shots with a little baby in the scene
(me!) and other family members I vaguely remember as they left us many
years ago.  I've come to realize that I'm very much like the grandfather
I never knew as it seems we had a lot of the same hobbies.

Keep shooting 3D, whatever your format!

Ron


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