[photo-3d] Re: Beamsplitter

[King3ddd@xxxxxxx]

From: King3ddd@xxxxxxx

In a message dated 00-03-27 22:45:29 EST, Sergio writes:

<<  http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=285822916 makes me
 > curious, but it's going too expensive for me. Can anybody tell me more
 about
 > such a strange splitter?
 > Sergio
This is a Tri - Delta Beam Splitter.  In my opinion it is the highest quality 
beamsplitter available - but it is not compatible with any other system.  It 
is a highly engineered piece which uses mirrors and prisms - and you need the 
special viewer that comes with the beamsplitter attachment because the 
resulting slide has 2 pictures which are 180 degrees reversed from each 
other..  There is also an attachment for projection.  The slide is notched 
with a special punch for proper viewing allignment.  I have not used this 
beamsplitter for over 15 years, but I recall seeing them at camera shows back 
then for about $50 - $100. Prior to that It sold at Olden Camera  - whom I 
believe was the exclusive distributor -  for about $59.00.  The beamsplitter 
was developed by the Mainardi brothers, who were engineers, at their company 
in, I believe, Fair Lawn, N.J. and much of the work was done in the basement 
of one of the brothers, who is now in his high eighties.  I have not spoken 
to him in about five years, but I remember him showing me his workshop and I 
regret passing up the opportunity to purchase any amount of beamsplitters 
from him directly at no more than $50 each.  The beamsplitter was available 
with one or more of the numerous adaptor rings so one could use it with 
virtually any 35mm camera.  It was a little awkward at first, but once you 
got used to it, there was no problem.   I think I will dig mine out and use 
it again - but I remember comparing my results 15 years ago to that of the 
Pentax and other beamsplitters and the Tri-Delta was far superior.  This is a 
precision instrument unlike any conventional beamsplitter and well worth, in 
my opinion, at least $500.  I don't know how many were originally sold - but 
it is rare to see one for sale today.  I took realist pictures of Mr. 
Mainardi in his lab - and though it is now midnight, I will look for those 
pictures for as long as I can keep awake.   
Sheldon Aronowitz

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