P3D Re: Hummingbird-type shots

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>> If one was using a twin-rig setup to capture high-speed 3D images such as
>> that of a hummingbird in flight, what type of cameras would you suggest?  I
>> assume they would need to be electronically linked and have extraordinarily
>> precise timing to simultaneoulsy capture the exact split-second shot.

Most people use the short duration of the fash to do the stopping
of the action.  So, the cameras do not have to be synchronized
at high speeds to achieve that.  I can tell you for a fact that Dr.
Stell's Konica's are synchronized up to 1/125 s and not 1/250 s.

Paul Milligan's device that Paul Talbot mentioned:

>     ...a device that incorporates a semi-permeable mirror,
>     an optical mirror, two Minolta X700 cameras, two 100mm
>     Minolta macro lenses, and a solenoid that closes the
>     shutter releases of both cameras simultaneously. 

is an exception rather than the rule... I know Paul Milligan
has used it for a few close-ups but he has done most of his
bird and nature photography with regular twin SLRs with longer 
lenses.

And, as Paul mentioned, the "action freezing" comes from the flash,
not the camera.  Franklin Flocks had published an article on Stereo
World a few years ago on how to trigger the fash with sound...
In his setup the camera(s) are open in the dark... waiting for the
sound of the dropping drop of milk to fire the flash and capture
the image...

George Themelis


------------------------------