[photo-3d] first 3d roll

["Joseph Petrarca" <jpetrarca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul Young wrote:
Subject: First 3D roll

Hey all,

I go my Reel3D heatseal mounts in the mail last night and decided I
couldn't resist mounting just one pair from the first roll I shot
with my "new" Realist (A10277).  This exercise has convinced me that
I need to procure a cutter and a light box before I try any more.
This one was mounted by holding it up to a lamp (shade removed) using
scissors, while sitting on the couch holding everything in my lap
(would've been funny on video, I'm sure).  The pair, surprisingly,
turned out good enough to see in 3D in my Red Button (I am convinced
that this was luck, or God taking pity on a pitiful soul who needed
to see the fruits of his labor).  I got my fix and now can wait for
the rest of the necessary equipment.

What I noticed while doing this, that I had not noticed previously,
is that there is a slight overlap between every other frame, and
alternatively, a slight space between frames.  By "slight" I mean
about 1/32" or so.  I know that I have read somewhere that this is
not an uncommon problem because there is almost zero "extra" film in
the realist format (frames butt up against each other).

I'm looking for some comfort from other Realist users, that they've
used their cameras successfully regardless of this slight annoyance,
and that it hasn't infringed on the enjoyment of taking and mounting
pairs with their Realist.

I am determined to ignore this "problem", and maybe even embrace it
as it adds to my knowledge of the animal.  Something I can spout off
as an "interesting quality" of MY camera.

By the way.  All the contortions I went through to mount this first
pair was worth it.  It may not be the best 3D shot I've ever seen,
but its in 3D, and I shot it.  It lit up in my Red Button, and there
it was... the backyard.  I even got to share this first viewing with
my wife, which doubled the enjoyment I got out of it.  I'm hooked....
again.

Paul Young
Paul-
I have found on a couple of Realists that the space between frames varies
from zero to just under a milimeter.  This variation can happen on the same
roll.  If you are having significant overlap problems, you may need to have
the unit adjusted.  If you haven't had it cleaned and calibrated yet, you
might plan on doing it.  Zak does good work, but there are others as well.
The focus, shutter timing, film advance and light sealing will all be
checked.  Another problem I have run into is a light leak which shows up as
a fuzzy red band running vertically on the right side of the right chip.
This will show up is the camera is exposed to bright sun without the leather
case bottom attached to the camera.  Keeping the camera in the case will
solve this.  Yeah-I can remember my first roll or two.  It's very exciting
to see those first images.  At first, it's ALL pretty new- "hey look, its a
3d rock on the ground!"  The thing that has amazed me is that so many people
have such a strong positive reaction to seing 3d images for the first time
but almost no-one (out of perhaps a couple hundred by now) has taken up 3d
photography, even though it is so much simpler than much of the computer
stuff that people seem to deal with every day.  Go figure.  One other note,
I have found cutting by hand with sharp new X-acto blades and small 6"
stainless steel rule on a piece of glass is very straightforward, cheap and
effective.  Good luck with the process.
Joseph