P3D V-M virtual viewer

["Mr.Lizard" <mrlizard@xxxxxxxx>]

    I have mixed feelings about the new viewer.  Sure, a wonderful viewer
could have been designed and sold for less than 20 bucks. On the other hand,
this viewer is still being sold as a toy, by a toy company.  At least Mattel
is trying to breathe new life into a product that was getting very little
attention.
    My problem is that I have an astigmatism.  Everythings blurry,
regardless of the distance from my eyes.  When I wear my glasses, the viewer
won't come close enough to my face.  The views don't merge properly.
Without the glasses, the views merge into a nice 3D image that's anything
BUT sharp.  Not because of any fault in the lenses, but, because of the
mishapen, deformed, discombobulated eyeballs in my head.
    I have the same problem with my favorite circa 1900 stereoscope.  My
glasses hit the hood.  If I remove them... the photos are blurrier than....
than... well... they're blurry.
I fixed the viewer by taking some lenses out of an old pair of glasses.  I
glued them to a piece of flat foam that I'd cut two holes into. I trimmed
the foam so that it was just a hair larger than the inside measurements of
the stereoscope hood.  This lens adapter friction fits into the viewer, and
allows me to see reasonably clear antique views, without damaging the
viewer.
    I can't see how I'd be able to do anything like that, with the new and
improved VM.
    Personally, I'd like to see Mattel offer a better version and bring back
the travel and educational reels.  I'm sick of cartoon drawings. I think
more movie tie-ins would be cool, too, especially if pictures are taken on
the set.  Think of how cool a set of three "The Matrix" reels would have
been.  Or even, "Star Wars Episode One."
    my 3 (D) cents worth,
   Chuck Fielddd


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End of PHOTO-3D Digest 3402
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