P3D Re: Twining question

["David Lee" <koganlee@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I have a Noblex 6x17 camera. This shoots a panoramic (~140 degree) view by
> swinging the lens and projecting onto a negative that is curved  instead
of
> flat in a normal camera. That is the filmplane follows the same diameter
> curve as the lens swings.
>
I have shot a few stereo images with a camera called a Panon. This camera is
about 6x12 with a 50mm lens (very wide angle) if I recall, with a swinging
lens similar to the Noblex. The images seemed to work out okay, but be aware
that as the lens swings off center the parallax (stereo effect) diminishes
until it would reach zero if it were making a full 180 degrees. This makes
more sense if you think of the lens pointing parallel to the film plane at
the beginning and end of its travel (if it were at 180 degrees). No matter
how much you move the cameras, the lens axes will not have separated so
there can be no stereo. At 140 degrees there will be some stereo, just not
muvh. Neverthless, I suggest you try making some shots while varying the
camera position and see what you get. You might also find that it works
better if you crop the extreme ends where the stereo will be least and just
use 12cm or so. For viewing you may have to use an over/under viewer such as
the ViewMagic.


> Any guesses at how well it will work for stereo? I'm going to give it a
try
> in the next few weeks, but I was curious what the collective wisdom might
> say about trying this. What sorts of distortion (headaches) this would
> cause as you try to look at something in the center or straight ahead in a
> normal camera, while the edges will be like turning your head and looking
> in the direction of the edges? It seems like there might be some strange
> stereo effects there.

Shouldn't cause any headaches.
>
> Note: this list likes to talk about mounting and project and stereo
> windows, on the panorama list the discussion is usually about what
> constitutes a panoramic view. There are cameras like mine, the use a
normal
> lens and swing it to get the horizontal coverage and then there are
cameras
> that use a wide angle lens, but then use a cropped negative to give you a
> long skinny view. This is similar to the 35mm panorama mode or APS
cameras.
>
Who cares what you call it, it's a great camera and makes very interesting
images.

> Anyway, I'm headed for a cross-country photo trip over the next few weeks
> during which I will try a couple of shots like this.
>
Be sure to do some tests before you go on the trip.

David Lee