Re: [photo-3d] LEEP camera / architectural 3d

[Paul Talbot <list_post@xxxxxxxxx>]

boris@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Paul Wing has a LEEP, right?  Anyone else?

Scarcely.  My understanding is it never got past something
akin to the prototype stage and only about 9 were made.

> But I also recall some talk that the
> LEEP does not have good image quality.

I've heard that as well, but perhaps not everyone thinks so.  

> (Blast that I missed my chance at
> looking at Paul Wing's in Mesa).

DITTO!  I heard he had it and wanted to see some shots, but
with all the hectic activity of the convention, forgot to
make sure I did so.  :-(

> Might there be a
> LEEP camera and viewer system available for my use anywhere?

You never know...but see above.  If you've won the lottery
maybe you talk an owner into selling one.  ;-)

> Can the LEEP
> viewer be reconstructed for permanent or semi-permanent public installation
> (such as in a museum) once film is shot?

Could be a big challenge.  I'm told the camera lenses used
were known to be flawed.  The intent was to compensate for
the shooting lens flaws with counterbalancing flaws in the
viewing lenses.  (Does the logic sound flawed?)  But I'm
just passing on "things I've heard" and don't profess to be
an expert--or even, necessarily, to know what the bLEEP I'm
talking about.  ;-)

> What is the film format of the LEEP.

I would guess 120, and that's what it's listed as on Ralph
Johnston's page:
http://www.phsne.org/stereocameras/35mm-rollfilm/35mm-rollfilm.htm
(WARNING: lots of graphics; download time is over 15 minutes
at 28.8!)

> Otherwise I am thinking of just plain old medium format transparencies for
> this project - shift/tilt capability would be useful, I think.  Has anyone
> shot with shift/tilt in stereo and what pitfalls await me there?  Does 3d
> viewing make shift/tilted images look even more strange than they already
> do flat?

The "general wisdom" as I understand it is that shift/tilt
adjustments should NOT be used for 3D photos.  The distortion
of the lines from tilting the stereo camera looks perfectly
normal when viewed in 3D.  If you straighten the lines in the
scene it sends confusing signals to our brains when viewing
the photo in 3D!

> Installation/display of imagery would be either large format anaglyph
> print, StereoJet print, transparency projection, optical transparency
> viewers, or a combination of these.

I think the shift/tilt advice will hold for all viewing
methods, but can't speak from experience.

Hope this helps...and that someone who knows more will help
educate both of us.  :-)

Paul Talbot