P3D Kansai Stereo Photographers' Club meeting (report)

["John Goodman" <jgood@xxxxxxxx>]

As one of two foreigners (both American) present at the 
May 7th event, here's a capsule report of a very pleasant 
gathering of 18 (all male) stereo enthusiasts from Osaka, 
Kobe, Nara, and Kyoto cities and their surrounding areas.

We started with individual introductions and short 
explanations of current invistigations, during which some 
equipment was briefly demonstrated or passed around. 
Several members are pursuing macro stereos and showed 
their equipment (and, later, the superb results obtained). 
One camera was a new TX-1 (the Japanese issue of a 
Fuji/Hasselblad 35mm camera taking both 24x36 and 
24x65 frames) with a custom-mounted set of macro lenses 
based on a FED. Beautiful flower macros were later 
shown, taken with a Minolta body (mirror locked up, 
custom cetenr baffle) and macro lens sets based on 
disposable camera lenses, in closeup strengths zero to 
four. Also, a 40 inch slide bar was demonstrated, with a 
two meter version spoken of.

Two dozen or so 645 (medium format) slides could be 
enjoyed with a fine custom viewer based on a pair of 
Mamiya waistlevel finders, but I was the only one to take 
advantage. Perhaps the regulars all have enjoyed this 
"spoiler" type of experience, for the wealth of detail offered 
by the increased chip area was mouthwatering. As for 
viewers, a Comby I brought was universally admired for its 
clarity and breadth of view, its versatility, and despite the 
cost, a couple of members are likely to seek possession of 
same in the near future.

After talk, the latter half of the meeting involved projection 
of slides, first 2.x2s with a pair of Cabin projectors, then 
Realist format with a TDC 116 cum Selectray. Especially 
memorable to my (greenhorn) eyes were a number of 
fireworks hypers (some with a .wired. twin-camera base of 
200 meters), and delectable macros of ebullient flowers. 
The TDC was rather loud, but the results were very good.

I was grati\fied that mounting "to the window" did not lead 
to embarrassment when pairs that looked okay in a hand 
viewer were projected for the first time. The plasticity of 
the projected on-screen image as viewed from different 
positions was a novel experience, and a number of views 
that were interesting with a viewer were less so when 
projected, due to stretch (at least from my vantage point, 
behind the projectionist).

The meeting ended soon after the last slides were 
projected. Rather abruptly, I felt, with not enough time for 
recapitulation, discussion, or fraternizing. There was a lot 
to digest, I thought, and the next meeting will be in a few 
months' time. 

Respectfully,

John Goodman


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