Re: [photo-3d] alternative 3D slide viewers...

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Elliot wrote:
> I remember Steve Berezin saying something about making some good
> quality full frame viewers-- don't know if he's done it yet. Steve?
> 

He has a Super Sharp Stereo viewer (a Pinsharp viewer with achromats)
and the Real Twin (an achromat conversion of the Franka) listed on his
pages.

I have the original Franka (not the one Steve Berezin is selling), and
I'm not very impressed by it.  There isn't enough focus range for my
tastes and there is no inter-ocular adjustment.  I have somewhat naer
eye spacing (60mm) and the Franks is annoying.  The Saturn MF viewer
doesn't have inter-ocular adjustment either, but the lenses are much
bigger.  I do like that it can handle several 35mm formats, although
I've only ever used it with 2x2x2.

> However, you can fairly easily just make one yourself using Edmund
> achromats.
> 

Edmunds is definitely not the place to go for inexpensive optics.  You
can often find the same items from other suppliers (Surplus Shack,
American Science & Surplus, etc.) for much less.  Edmund's is
currently listing 30mm dia., 50mm fl. coated achromat lenses for about
$55 each.  That is probably pretty reasonable (especially for
Edmunds).

Of course I'd still have to find the time to design and build a
viewer.  Don't bother asking me about the lighting kit for my Saturn
MF viewer.  And the twin Pentaxes would still be heavier and bulkier
than either of my MF setups.  They might not be too bad in portrait
mode.

I don't think 2x2x2 is a bad format, it's just that I'm already up and
running on something else (which gives me better resolution) and don't
want to complicate things anymore.  Someday I may twin my K-1000SE and
ME Super now that I have a really nice home made twin cable release.
Of course I'd still have to figure out a way to hold the camera while
fiddling with the cable release.

Given a good application I think that 2x2x2 could be great.  The Moon
stereos that have been mentioned recently is one example.  Having a
bigger film frame isn't going to buy much given the huge focal lengths
need to fill the frame.  A pair of 35mm shots of the Moon (or planets,
or Sun) could be very nice.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
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http://www.panix.com/~reynolds  |    -- Dexter and Dee Dee
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