P3D Re: PHOTO-3D digest 2679

["Jeff Jessee" <jeffjess@xxxxxxx>]

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I applaud Jeff for experimenting with the HP scanner
adapter, but I
think that his statements both under estimate the deceptivly
elegant
engineering, and perhaps over state expectations for the
device.

The device is more sophisticated than it looks. Although it
appears to
be a simple "45-45-90 plactic" pyramid with crude mirrors,
the patent on
this device is 36 pages long!
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No, it doesn't take the place of a $1000 slide scanner.
DUH! HP didn't get where they are by cutting their
own throats. As for the patent being 36 pages long,
they probably spent more time justifying a patent
than they did in designing the device. (Lets make 2
mirrors at right angles to reflect the light back thru
the slide, and tilt them a bit to compensate for the
light not being even with the sensor.)

Anyway, it's OK for $5. ($10 for stereo)
I would have been mad if I had paid $50.

Don't even bother trying to scan negatives with it. If
you have a negative, get a print and scan that. Several
orders of magnitude better.

And if you don't like the results, if you bought 2, you
can make a cheap periscope for the kids!

Jeff Jessee







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