P3D Re: Radex Viewer

[Rob <lilindn@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> 
>   You will get colour fringes from
> the single element lenses. And the
> 50 mm FL will mean that your slides
> look smaller than they should (and
> you get more stretch in the depth
> dimension).
..
..
     The Radex, IMHO, was designed around a 50mm FL in order to avert
color fringing, as color fringing in meniscus lenses occurs away from
the center of the view, and a longer focal length keeps the entire image
closer to the center.  I find that the Radex has far less of a problem
with color fringing than my Life-Like, and that the 50mm FL does offer
some advantages  - grain is less noticable on slides shot on fast film,
and some people actually like the hyperstereo effect (especially the
uninitiated, and especially with respect to scenics).
     I built a lighted Radex a few years back by sawing most of the
original diffuser off (keeping the edges to preserve a film channel) and
attaching it to a plastic box, which also had a hole sawed into it, and
contained a #1487 bulb, an AC transformer, and a reflector made from a
paper plate.  It outperformed the Life-Like in brightness, color
fringing, and end price.
     Eventually, I gave up my resistance to paying more for a viewer
that I did for my camera and bought a Red Button.  The combination of a
bigger image and no color fringing lets one enjoy every detail.
     I might mention that the Taylor-Merchant foldaway viewer has an
even longer FL than the Radex, probably pushing 60mm, and it looks
really sharp as a result.
     Rob


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