P3D Re: Viewers

[Rob <lilindn@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

(Dr. T wrote):
> 
> >what are the different features, and relative pros and cons of the
> >Realist red, green and white button viewers ?  Also, are there
> >less collectible (translation: cheaper) viewers out there that are
> >just as good for the mere user who humbly admits that he wants only
> >to view pictures with it?
> 
> Let me point out that the Realist red button and the Kodaslide II are
> among the most popular viewers.  There are plenty of these around
> so the price reflects more value and less collectability.  People
> buy them to use them.  The high prices (they are as expensive to
> buy as the cameras, even though there were 5-10 times cheaper to buy
> in the 50s) reflect high demand from users.  A good viewer should
> be the next serious investement after the stereo camera.  As one
> great stereo photographer (yeah, I am modest too :-)) once said:
> "You only use the camera once to take the picture, but you use the
> viewer over and over again to enjoy this picture and share it with
> others".
> 
> Important factors to consider when buying viewers:
> 
> - Lenses:  Cheaper viewers have simple lenses (glass or plastic).
>            More expensive viewers have achromatic lenses.
> 
> - Controls:  Cheap lenses have no controls.  Next step up is focusing.
>              One step further up is interocular adjustment.
> 
> - Internal Illumination:  Cheap viewers do not have any.  Next step up
>             is battery operation.  More expensive viewers offer both
>             battery and AC variable illumination.
> 
> This is a general guideline for viewer prices:
> 
>   $3- $10: Simple, non adjustable, no illumination.
>  $30- $80: Simple lenses, focusing, illumination, usually no interocular.
> $100-$200: Achromatic lenses, internal illumination, full adjustments
>    > $200: Sequential, rare or specialty viewers (e.g. De Wijs viewers).
> 
> Popular Realist-format viewers include:
> 
> - Radex: $3.50 (Reel 3-D new).  As simple as it gets but good value for
>   the money. 

     And not really a very bad perfomer at any rate.  By using a long
focal length (disadvantage - the stereo image looks small), the Radex
shows little chromatic abberation, compared to single element types with
a shorter FL, e.g. LifeLike.  
> 
> - Brumberger:  Simple lenses (plastic), screw focusing.  Workhorse produced
>   over many years (known as Star-D when Reel 3-D carried it) $30-$50 used.
>   Other viewers under $80 (used):  Life-Like, Kodaslide I (plastic lenses),
>   Realist Handi viewer, TDC (standard), Sterling.  The Realist white button
>   should be in this group because of single element lenses (glass) but
>   rarity and ignorance has pushed prices as high as the red button.

     Not all single element viewers are equal!  
     For example, the Sterling is better that the Brumberger, which is
better than the Life-Like.  None, however, compare to achromats.
     Some Realist Handi-Viewers have the achromatic lenses, though I
don't know if they came from the factory this way, of if these are
owner-done retrofits.
     Since the button on the Realist Red-Button is an interchangable
loose part, some Red-Button viewers have a white button, some
White-Button viewers have a red button, ans some of each may have a
black button!
> 
> - Usually over $100 (all these have achromatic lenses):  Realist red
>   button, Revere, TDC (Deluxe - with red focusing control).

     Note that the Red-Button cannot use the halogen bulb unless either
the viewer or the bulb is modified (usually by Dr. T)
   
    Rob 
    "Everything I have is Y1.96K compliant"


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