P3D It is a question of format...

[George Themelis <gthemelis@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- Greg Wageman <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>There's no reason that you couldn't, like many of
>us do, mount one pair in "Realist-format" mounts and
>another pair in 2x2's.  

Sure, but what would the point be?  The way I see it,
people use the 2x2 over the 41x101 format for two basic
reasons:

1. Convenience (when using single/twin SLR cameras or-
   now- RBT 75 mm stereo SLR cameras) because of the
   availability of commercial mounting of full frame
   slides, which makes *previewing* a snap.  Still
   it takes some work to align the two chips in their
   mounts properly and for some people this is less
   convenient or quick than using, say, RBT mounts.

2. Stereo projection (to get the benefits of twin
   projector stereo projection as you and others have
   explained)

No. 1 is not an issue with me because my main stereo
camera (was Realist, then 7p Realist, now RBT S1) does
not use a standard full frame format.  I get all my
film unmounted and I (must confess) enjoy cutting it
and mounting it in stereo mounts.

No. 2 has not been a serious issue... I understand
how and why many of the "professional level" stereo
photographers and stereo presenters use 2x2 projection
but I also see very good presentations with Brackett
Dissolvers, RBT projectors, etc.  

As long as the 41x101 format is supported in mounts,
viewers and projectors and enjoys widespread use, it
will take some very good reasons to get me into 2x2
and I don't see these reasons in the near future.

> Oh, by the way, 2x2 folios exist as well.  The
> format is NOT a barrier to participating in such 
> things.

Yes, there is one 2x2 folio in SSA and might be one
in PSA (I am not sure) but there 3 "Realist" folios
in SSA and half a dozen in PSA.  Very few International
Stereo Exhibitions accept 2x2s.  The Detroit and
Cleveland stereo clubs do not use 2x2 projection in
their everyday operation.  This is the situation today.
It usually takes an individual (or a group of people)
with a strong interest in 2x2 to make a change inside
a club.  If that interest does not exist then most
beginners get "sucked" into the 41x101 and the cycle
continues.  This is the nature of the beast... It will
really take something very drastic (appearance of
inexpensive full-frame stereo camera, inability to get
41x101 mounts, etc.) to change this situation.  But
this is very unlikely... Most likely digital 
photography will eliminate the use of slide film and
digital stereo projection and stereo prints will be
the way of the future, so 41x101 vs. 2x2 will no longer
be an issue.

George Themelis
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