P3D twin cameras

[Rod Sage <rsage@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dr. T wrote:
>A stereo camera has three things
>that twin SLRs do not have:

>1. Synchronized shutters
>2. Matching lenses
>3. "Norman" stereo base (interocular of 60 to 70 mm)

>Through trial and error you could get close to achieving 1 and 2.
>#1 is only statistically achieved, i.e. 80% of times the shutters
>are synchronized at 1/500 s speed.  For someone like myself who
>takes slides and mounts them in 41x101 stereo mounts, #3 is never
>achieved.

I would think that twin cameras would more likely sync at slower speeds
because there is more likelihood of some overlap of the times.
Synchronization at 1/500 is only possible if the shutters trip within
1/500 of each other. I almost guarantee that at 1/10 sec you will have
80% synchronization even with a twin manual shutter release. Maybe 20%
synch at 1/60 .

Also, #3 can easily be achieved with base to base cameras and the images
can be cropped to realist format. My Nikon FM's would have a 60mm base.

You might add a #4. Synching flashes is a near impossibility.
Oh, and #5. See if you can stand in a crowd with twin cameras and try to
be anonymous.

However I could easily list a dozen advantages to twin SLRs in certain
situations.
1- quality optics, 2- interchangeable optics, 3- adjustable base, 4-
quick prints, 5- quick slides, 6- wide format, 7- easily found filters,
8- your local camera repairman won't ask you to take a hike, 9- If you
drop your rig you can most likely take 2d pictures, 10- The heavy mass
will allow slower shutter speeds ?, 11- The meticoulous set-up (most
likely on a tripod) will force you to think about your composition, 12-
The heavy camera bag and tripod will give you better traction while
driving your car in snow. :-)
RDS