P3D Re: About cheap stereo cameras...

[Watters <mdwatters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

How about a different variation on the "cheap camera" theme...

What's the cheapest stereo camera?  Preferably it would be one that gave 
a lot of bang for the buck, not just junky.

Here's my entry:
   I've mentioned this camera before, but this topic reminded me of it.  
It's a pair of Argus C3's that have been siamesed together.  They are 
now a single body (one roll of film) with linked shutters.  Focus and 
apeture are set seperatly though.  Most people don't realize that 
additional lenses were available for the C3's, so in addition to the 
stock 50mm it can be fitted with either a 35mm WA or 100mm Telephoto 
lens.
   The original two cameras cost me something like $1-$5 each.  Add 
another $10 for extra bits, epoxy etc.  In all, it probably cost me 
about $20 for the cameras and parts to make the linkage.  The result was 
a full-frame, manual stereo camera with a 76mm interoccular.  I ended up 
picking up pairs of 35mm and 100mm lenses, which cost much more than the 
cameras of course.  In all, the whole thing probably ended up costing me 
a total of about $100.  For that I've got: manual exposure, manual (and 
variable) focus, full-frame, near-normal interoccular and interchangable 
lenses.  I've come up with some cheaper cameras, and some that are 
easier to use, but this is the one that provides the most performance 
for the lowest cost.

mike
watters



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