Re: [photo-3d] Revere Stereo Lens

["John A. Rupkalvis" <stereoscope@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. George A. Themelis" <drt-3d@xxxxxxx>
To: <photo-3d@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2000 6:07 PM
Subject: Re: [photo-3d] Revere Stereo Lens


> >Just curious, how come these lens
> >keep showing up in the surplus market? Are they of any use
> >in hacking?
> ...
> >Removed from equipment."
> >price $16.95
>
> This explains the plethora of these lens assemblies in
> ebay!
>
> I don't think they are removed from equipment.  They
> were made like that to be installed in Revere cameras
> but stereo started going down the hill.  Revere
> discontinued the stereo cameras and these assemblies
> found their way in surplus. I have also seen a few
> Wollensak assemblies but are not as common as the
> Revere.
>
> I know the same happened with Revere (and Wollensak)
> stereo viewer lenses.
>
> You could use either camera or viewer lenses for
> hacking.  Viewer lenses can replace Realist red
> button lenses and have been used for a number of
> other lens replacement. Also, to construct custom
> made viewers.
>
> George Themelis
>
>

Just got back in town, so I don't know where this thread started (I don't
have time to go back and read all of the messages since I left).

Anyway, these lens boards have been floating around for a long time.  Edmund
Scientific sold them around ten years or so ago, if I recall for about $8.
I have seen them on tables at camera shows for about $2.   Some of them had
Revere logos on the front, some Wollensak, and some did not have any.
Otherwise, they all seemed identical.

Keep in mind that the lenses just barely covered the Realist size (5 perf.)
frame, with only about a millimeter to spare at each corner before
vignetting, so they would not be suitable for full frame or even 7 perf.
film applications.  Might be useful for Nimslo type two-lens conversions, if
you are not planning on opening up the chambers [check the centers; it might
be necessary to open up the chambers (remove the outer septums) and install
new dividing septums, or, alternatively leave them out and do your cropping
with the slide mounts].  The advantage here would be that they seem to be of
very good optical quality, and being mounted in a single board (with sync
shutters!), a focusing design would be rather simple.  The
Nimslo/Nishika/whatever body would just be used for a film transport.

The thought occurred to me that these might also make a nice starting point
for someone who wants to build their own digital stereo camera...

JR