P3D Re: info needed for new 3D camera

[Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dr. George A. Themelis wrote:

> The "Realist" (and most stereo cameras from the 50s) will yield
> negatives (or slides) that are of a non-standard (today) size.
> Making prints from this non-standard size can be a problem but
> there are places that will do it.

I might add that there is one in particular that does it exceptionally
well.  First a bit of background.  When I first shot negative film
in Realist format, I knew I had at least two mail-order choices for
having prints made.  The information I had seen on the list indicated
a significant difference in price between the two, so to start out
I tried the less expensive place.  It was not a fair price comparison,
however, because the higher prices mentioned here were for the more
expensive "monolith" process from Grand Photo.   What I did not
realize was that GP *also* does the separate L/R pairs.  I had about
7 rolls of film processed by the less expensive lab, and although I
thought they were OK at first, I later became unhappy with the poor
color balance.  When I needed reprints made for APEC, I decided to try
Grand Photo.  By this time I had seen their prices for separate L/R
prints in addition to the monolith process, and realized they were
more reasonable than the monolith.  The difference in the quality of
the prints was immediately obvious!  Although I shoot mostly stereo
slides, I was so impressed that GP is now my first choice for printing
negatives, whether stereo or not!  I just received back from them 1
roll of Realist prints and 5 rolls of flattie prints that my wife
took with the SLR, and WOW!  It has been many years since I have
seen photographic prints of this quality.  (I do have to note as a
caveat that I also used a different brand of negative film; I still
think the printing is the main difference, though.)

This recent experience with great prints from Grand Photo opens
up a lot of additional photographic options for me.  Although
I'm sure stereo slides will remain my #1 preferred medium, it
is nice to know there are again other options to take advantage
of in appropriate circumstances.

Disclosure:  I have no affiliation whatsoever with Grand Photo,
I'm just a delighted customer.

Paul Talbot


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