P3D Re: View Magic

[jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Gabriel Jacob)]

Steve Berezin writes:

>I recently bought a viewmagic and had a few questions about it. I have
>used it in conjunction with a set of twinned Vivitar P&S cameras and
>have been happy with the results.  I took 36 exposures and even though I
>fired them with my fingers all but one shot looked to be perfectly
>synchronized.  Just for fun, though, I am working on hooking up a
>solenoid system to insure that the cameras fire at the same time.  

Reminder, there is a nice circuit describing how to do this at,
http://werple.net.au/~kiewavly/pentax_rig.html

Interestingly enough, in the Red Head Outdoors Hunting Catalog
(Fall 1998) page 237, they sell a solonoid activated by infrared.
You supply the P&S camera and set it up wherever you want. This
is intended for tracking animals and not only automatically
activates the solonoid (which in turn shoots a picture) but also
the time it was activated. The interesting thing when I saw this
was I thought, it might be possible (with some modification) to
trigger two cameras simultaneously. In case anyone is wondering,
I only shoot animals photograhically.

>One thing I thought was interesting is that the manual recommended
>toeing in on all shots. I imagine this is because most people use
>cameras with some sort of autofocus and it insures that both pictures
>would be in focus.  The dissatisfaction from the bad effects of toeing
>in would probably be less than would be for a roll of blurry shots.

Your right about the autofocus. They mention in the manual (see top
page 6), to toe-in specifically for auto-focus. 

>I wondered whether people have had better results using 3 1/2 by 5 or 4
>by 6 prints?

Definitely 4x6!
 
>I always get the smaller prints but I can't find albums
>which hold them.

These are still commonly available. Albeit less common than
4x6. Check the better photographic stores.

>Also what mounting system/album do people feel work the best?

Standard 4x6 albums that hold 4 images per page. Actually 8
per page if you count the other side. Also albums that hold
2 per page works quite well. It's really only a personal
preference. The 4 image per page is a bit more bulky but hold
more.

Others mount their 4x6 stereo images on cardboard similiar to
traditional side by side stereocards but in the (of course)
up/down orientation.
 
>Also, when I show the prints to friends they seem to get their
>fingerprints all over the viewer, has anyone successfully put a
>handle on the viewer to make it easier to hold?

I don't remember but didn't Bill Davis have a handle/protective
cover on his? I do remember he had stuck reading glasses that
worked very well! Not only does it protect the mirrors (at least
one side) but also magnifies the image magnificently!

I had tried this with short focal length magnifying glasses
but gave up when it didn't work (was out of focus), but when I
saw Bill's modified View-Magic viewer (at his workshop at Richmond)
I was pleasantly surprised. Use (any diopter rated) reading
glasses. If you have long f.l. magnifying lenses this of course
will work also. 

Another option is to buy a table stand for the viewer. Rocky
Mountain sell these. Or you can make your own. Bill Davis had a
homemade one on display at his workshop. Incidentally I never
realized that he was my kind of guy, 3D project wise! :-)
  
>Overall it seems to be a great method for viewing prints.

You bet! And the best deal in the market. Might one day it'll
supplant the traditional Holmes viewers!
 
Gabriel who doesn't filter anybody! Greetings Marvin, Dr.T, Tom
(can you hear me? or rather read me), Andrea, and everyone else!!!


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