P3D Re: Stitz beamsplitter

[Peter Davis <pd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 04:10 PM 1/18/00 , Mark Shields wrote:

>I believe a 55mm lens would probably be a better choice all
>the way around. Someone else who wanted to use the Stitz told
>me that, for his camera anyway, they weren't all that expensive--
>you just have to hunt around a bit. I would think that for a
>Nikon you should have several choices. The optical quality and
>lens speed are going to be much better than using a tele-converter,
>and it would only add to the Stitz bulk (see below).

Unfortunately, there just aren't many (any?) 55mm lenses for the Nikon.


>For all-around use it is hard to beat the Pentax--compact,
>light, reasonably sturdy, well-made, and gives reasonable
>choice (IMHO) of f/stops. If you learn to deal with the
>idiosyncrasies of a beamslitter, results are excellent
>and repeatable. I think it is no accident that they
>still make it, despite the unpopularity of the device
>in general.

I've owned and sold two of these in my life ... I liked it, but I *thought* 
the Stitz would be better.  Oh well!  I guess I'll have to keep an eye out 
for another one.

By the way, one of the persistent problems I've had with beamsplitter 
slides is that they were always very uncomfortable to view.  I'd tried 
Stereotach, Pentax, and Stitz viewers, but none would give me a good image 
at a comfortable eye spacing.  (My eye spacing is 69mm.)

Then I found a Zeiss Ikon viewer for beamsplitter slides.  This thing is 
amazing!  I find it's about as comfortable, and image quality is about as 
good as Realist slides through my Kodaslide II.  Also, the Zeiss viewer 
splits in two, so you can use it as a "steal the light" viewer, or snap on 
the light attachment for a full lighted viewer effect.  It's completely 
renewed my interest in the beamsplitter format.

-pd


--------
                              Peter Davis
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