P3D Twinned XR-10Ms

["Jim Harp" <matmail2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ray Moxom writes:
>
><< I have found with the older Ricoh KR10Ms that the sync is better if a 4 
>wire connection is used. This requires opening the camera top...

Sheldon Aronowitz writes:
>I have been shooting with this system for a few years and just use a very 
>simple connection.  Two mono earphone plugs from radio shack (about $2 each) 
>with a sub mini plug and 10 minutes of work should do the trick. 
>I first learned of this system from my friend, Photo 3D member,
accomplished 3D photographer, 
>and 3D collector, Gary Schacker.  Since then seven other people to whom I 
>have shown this system are now using it and are all very pleased with the 
>results.

I'm one of the people you turned on to twinning the Ricoh XR-10Ms Sheldon -
thanks again! I was getting some camera motion from pressing the shutters on
long exposures so I bought an electronic shutter release and wired it to two
of the Radio shack connectors. I've found that as long as the cameras aren't
in power saving mode the synchronization is perfect.  I'm currently
vacationing in New Zealand and just got back two rolls featuring seagulls in
flight and waterfalls shot at 1/250  (I've never claimed to be innovative in
my choice of subject matter)  Every shot is perfectly in sync with lots of
floating droplets of water in the waterfalls and birds eerily frozen in
flight.  If you spend any time at all composing the shot after setting the
shutter speed at least one of the cameras will go into power saving mode. 
What works for me is to turn the cameras off after setting the shutter speed
and then take my time composing and focusing.  Just before firing the
shutter release I turn the cameras back on (the shutter speed setting is
remembered) and I never miss.

>I may be wrong, but I am not aware of any other camera which can be synched 
>so quickly, easily, and cheaply (about $5!) and provide such great results.

I agree - as long as you have a Radio Shack nearby you can get this rig up
and running in no time at all.  If you ever need a single SLR for copying or
slide bar work the individual cameras remain unaltered. I've also had a lot
of fun doing hypers as wide as 12 feet with perfect synchronization (I went
back to Radio Shack and got some extension cables.)   One question - is
there any difference between the Ricoh KR-10M and XR-10M?  Are these the
same cameras with different designations?  
Jim Harp