P3D Re: Realist viewer - obligatory to spend big bucks?

[michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Michael Kersenbrock)]

> If I buy a Realist (I'm working on it - thanks to everyone who's replied
> with advice and/or offers), do I really need one of those vintage $100
> realist viewers? If so, it makes the purchase seem a lot less attractive. 

Go for it....

> Do people buy the viewers because they're that much more superior than 
> less expensive viewers 

Yes, some of them are that much "more superior", but it isn't necessary
to start at that level.  You can invest in one of those $3 viewers
and then graduate to the $100 ones if/when YOU think it's worth it
(assuming you can see one in person before buying).  Until it seems
worth it to you, it won't be cost effective.  :-)

It's just predicted that you will at some point.  :-)


> (however much those cost...) or because of the name/
> nostalgia/warm fuzzy feelings/etc. 

Well, after the first few viewers, it then becomes those
reasons (gee, I don't have one of those!....).

> I just need something that works 
> reasonably well. Thanks!

As you get more experience and have a wider variety of images to 
view, your requirements increase.

Sharp edges between black and white, for instance, tend to have
little rainbows on the edges on some viewers more than others.
My Kodak-I seems to be worse in doing this than in my (cheaper)
Brumburger viewer, so price isn't always a telling factor.  I've
been meaning to use one of my worst-case slides and do a ranking
of my various viewers, just for fun.

Even with a viewer that rainbow's, at first you'll be so excited
about the image that it won't bother you even if you notice it.
Later on you get pickier -- as well as having more images where
such blatant abberations are evident.  Note that they're 
"rainbowing" even if one doesn't see an explicit rainbow, but
it's easier to talk about the visible rainbow.

If you start with a $3 viewer, the worst you could be out is
$3 -- and as for me, even with red button viewers, I still buy
$3 viewers to give away (and to make previewers... still working
on an improved version) for reasons Boris has talked about at
length.  So it won't be wasted.

Mike K.




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