P3D Stereo Base

[Bob_Maxey@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Until just recently, I have never worried about any specific rules
governing the calculation of suitable or appropriate stereo base
separation. At the risk of getting Flamed or even Char Broiled, I
personally believe, and this is just an opinion, not to be considered fact,
so please do not moan and groan, but, It Ain't Worth Worrying About. I
think some people are over analyzing the technicalities to such a fine
degree that it gets in the way of taking a stereo pair.

It is much like the often quoted comment that the Bumblebee should not be
able to fly because of Aerodynamics of the body. I think that if some
people were bumblebees, and they subscribed to the Bumblebee Listserv on
the Bumblebee Intrenet,  and the experts told them they can't fly because
of the laws of aerodynamics, suddenly, the ability to fly would be lost.

I shoot mineral specimens and I have never worried about the separation. I
just figure that if it is a sample In-Situ (In Place in other words) I use
a standard 2 to 2-1/2 inch separation depending on sublect to camera
distance. If it is a lot of specimens say taken in a quarry or abandoned
mine, I use the Realist; well used it until it became damaged. The smaller
the specimen, the less I move the camera from side to side. Sometimes, if
it is a really small subject I move the subject not the camera. I get great
stereo images and from week to week I think my stereo separation is not
that consistent. All I use for this is my Contax RTS and the macro lens. If
there is any sort of consistency, it is in using the scratch lines on the
tripod head or the little moveable table stage.

Just my F2.8 Cents worth!

RM



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