[photo-3d] Re: OM1 twins

["Ray Moxom" <raymoxom@xxxxxxxxxx>]

John Ladd asked:
> I'd like to use my Olympus OM-1s to shoot simultaneously
> but I wonder if the fact that they cannot be synced electronically
> would be too big an obstacle to overcome.
> If I were to use a cable release would that be precise
> enough for, say, landscapes?
> Also, any suggestions on what camera I should buy if
> I wanted to setup a twin rig? I'd like something at the
> lower end cost-wise.

Close to 20 years ago, my first twin rig was a pair of Olympus OM1s
electrically synced via the optional electric winders that Olympus made.
They were great for most landscapes, except where there was rapid movement
such as waterfalls using high shutter speeds or where strong wind on
foreground trees caused movement of leaves. A twin cable release properly
set up will also be suitable for static landscape shots.

Even with the electric winders, my OM1s were never synchronised well enough
for action shots. A club member even made me an electronic sync unit to
adjust the delay of one camera over the other, however even that was
unsuccessful. I could set the sync matched perfectly before loading the film
and find that the sync had drifted after a few shots. Due to all the
mechanical linkages in the OM1s they do not sync as well as some of the more
electronic SLR cameras.

SLR Cameras with built in motor winders and electric shutters, such as the
Ricoh KR-10M (called the XR-10M in some markets) will give better
synchronisation. If it is twin SLRs that you are interested in, try to get
hold of a copy of the excellent 'Twin SLR Stereo' series that was published
in Stereoscopy starting with the September 1999 issue. (ISU Country rep for
the US, Shab Levy  shab@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx can provide information on ISU
membership and Stereoscopy back issues).

For some initial information on synchronising Olympus XA compact cameras,
download the sample September 1999 copy of 3D Window from the Newsletter
area of the SSCC website at http://www.sscc.asn.au/sscc/index.htm

I hope that this info is of some help.

Ray Moxom