P3D Re: INTRO TO THIS LIST

[George Themelis <gthemelis@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Steve and welcome to photo-3d!  Boy, it seems that we are
seeing some new names lately.  That's great!  It was kinda of
boring until Teri showed up! :-)

I read your story and can certainly appreciate your point of
view.  I remember seeing View-Master reels as a kid (cartoons)
and being impressed by the feeling of depth. I was blocking the
light from one side trying to make the depth disappear. I must
have felt that you need two eyes to see depth but did not pursue
it further.

Move forward to 1988.  I bumped into 3d during my research study
in Materials Science.  Taking stereo pairs with the Scanning
Electron Microscope is a well-established technique and I found
it fascinating.  Soon I was learning everything there is to know
about it and wanted more.  A few months later I ran into a
Realist 3.5 in a garage sale and the rest, as they say, is
history!!!

My first Realist roll was a success and I was hooked for life
since then.

As it turns out, looking at other people's stereo images is fun
but it is only when you take your very own pictures that stereo
reveals all its magic.  That's why I try to convince people to
borrow one of my stereo cameras.  Here is the camera, here are
the instructions.  Go out and shoot!  Most people get hooked
when they see their very own images in 3d.

Freeviewing for the first time was another memorial event.  I
was at the University's library but instead of doing my
research, I was trying to freeview.  Armed with good images and
instructions, I finally made it!  I felt like Wheatstone must
have felt when he saw his first stereo pairs.  What a moment! 
Everyone should try to freeview!  You will never forget the
first time and will always have a tool built in you.

Steve, you wrote:

>I now have 3-Realist 3.5's and the trusty Kodak and a
> Realist Red Button viewer but my poor, sad Nikons are whining
> and languishing in my camera case. I guess I've got the bug.

Yes, you do!  But why let the Nikons languishing in the camera
case?  Take them out and shoot stereo with them!  Two together
or one on a slide bar (did I mention the Bogen slide bar I sell?
:-))  A whole new world is hiding in there...  Something to have
in mind perhaps for later...

>I'm looking for a 2.8 Realist but have heard they're not
>much different from the 3.5 variety. Any comments?

You need a copy of my Realist book! :-)  I discuss this issue
there, explaining the differences between the 3.5 and 2.8
lenses.  In my opinion, the differences are small for most of
the pictures that you take.  Two direct advantages of the 2.8
lenses:  The do not vignette at small apertures and they work
better with attachments like the Steinheil wide angle
attachment.

> I look forward to expanding my knowledge and interest in 3D
> here..

And we look forward to hearing more about your pictures and your
thoughts!

Take care,

George Themelis



=====
George Themelis (DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
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