[photo-3d] The average beginner?

["Jim Harp" <matmail2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>You are also asuming that the average beginner
>in stereo starts with a manual stereo camera.

Recents posts have made clear that there is no such thing as an "average"
beginner.   I assume that anyone who posts a question on this list can
operate a computer and  e-mail software and also has some interest in the
topic of 3D photography.  Not someone who I'd recommend the Loreo to.  As a
gift for a person who would find trimming prints from twinned
point-and-shoots  to be too much trouble the Loreo does make sense.  The low
price doesn't hurt either.  Back in '96 I think I paid $115 for my Loreo!
If I'd known better I might have been able to find a Kodak stereo for close
to that (I also would have been able to resell the Kodak for more money
today.)  I would be happy to own a camera with the Loreo's basic design but
better optics and some aperture and exposure control.  Beyond painting all
those reflective surfaces, has anyone found other hacks that improve the
image quality from Loreos?  Would better mirrors make a difference?  I've
also been wondering if anyone would bring up beamsplitters as an alternative
for 3D beginners who already have SLRs and some photographic knowledge.
Jim Harp