P3D Universal Stere-All

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom Deering writes:

>Please don't hate me, but I bought a Universal Stere-All today.

Aha!  Welcome to the fascinating world of Realist-format stereo
photography! :-)

>My question is, what kind of film was it designed for. I realize I can use
>any 35mm film I choose, but I'm wondering what film they had in mind when
>they printed the exposure guide: Bright sunlight, f8; hazy sun, f4.5,
>overcast f3.5, and so on.  Just curious, really.

According to the book, "Stereo Cameras since 1930" by Prof. Werner
Weiser (copies available from Dalia), the Universal Stere-All camera
was manufactured by Universal Camera Corporation, NY, circa 1954.
It has 35 mm FIXED FOCUS lenses, continuously variable diaphragm
from f/3.5 to f/16 and a FIXED shutter speed of 1/50s.  It is a
Realist-format camera.  Offers a hot shoe too.

So, recommended "sunny day" exposure (Bright Sunlight) printed in
the camera's rear cover is 1/50 at f8 or 1/25 at f11 or 1/12 at
f16.  So the camera's listed exposure is based on ASA 12 which is
the speed that Kodachrome had for many years in the late 40s,
and through the 50s. 

(Reminder, "sunny day or f16 rule" = on a sunny day set f16 and
1/ASA shutter speed - ASA is the speed of the film)

Today, if you use ASA 100 film, the sunny day exposure is 1/100
at f16 and since your camera has 1/50 fixed shutter speed, you
should avoid 100 ASA film.  Better use Kodachrome 64, Velvia 50
or other 50 ASA films.  Then use f16 on a sunny day, f11 with
hazy sun, and so no....

Have fun!!!

-- George Themelis


------------------------------