[photo-3d] Re: Beamsplitter Device

[mramstad@xxxxxxxxxx]

Andre,

I have spent quite a bit of time optimizing the dimensions of a
beamsplitter for use with a Canon Optura digital video camera.  This
camera has a horizontal angle of view of about 50 degrees which
I found to be wider than my camcorder.  The dimensions for the
mirrors that work for me are
        inner mirrors:    1.7" x 2.1 "
        outer mirrors:    3" x 4"
The inner mirrors are first surface mirrors 1/8" thick and have a ground
40 degree sharp edge.  The sharpness of the edge allows me to
experiment with different mirror angles.  The outer mirrors are
ordinary second surface mirrors.

The beamsplitters I have made using these dimensions are about 7.5"
wide and have stereo bases around 5".

When collecting stereo video with a beamsplitter, you end up with a
lot of files to edit.  But luckily, the files typically need very similar types
of editing functions.  I wrote a program, the "PokeScope Image
Manager" to batch process stereo images while performing stereo
editing functions including cropping out a center blurry region between
the images, setting the stereo window, correcting for vertical offsets,
keystone correction, and stereo rotations.  I also added color editing.
I wrote the program so that you could output the images in any stereo
format you wanted including analgyph, parallel, and cross-eyed formats.

In order to use the software with a web cam, someone would have to
periodically process the images produced by the camera.  I haven't
been fortunate enough try this yet so I don't know what the possibilities
for improving my software for use with a web cam are.

You can visit my web site www.pokescope.com to learn a little more
about the software.  If you would like first surface mirrors with the
dimensions given above, contact me off list and maybe we can make a
deal.

It's good to hear from someone who is interested in stereo web cams.

Good luck!

Dr. Monte Ramstad
507-263-4611
www.pokescope.com

>
> I have also looked at making a beamsplitter, thanks to a member on site I
> can now get my hands on the right type of mirror and experiments in this
> nature has proven successfull but what size should the mirrors be, or should
> there be a different size between the inner and outer mirrors. Also at what
> degree would the outer mirrors be placed to allow for seperation and not
> reflect the opposite wall. Once the video is on computer which program could
> combine the footage or do I have to do this one frame at a time.
>
> Any other ideas in this area will be greatly appreciated. Lastly I noticed a
> lovely stereoscopic web cam site at a company called "stereosis" but has
> anybody successfully used one webcam or one computer to generate web cam
> images in various formats and any ideas on how to do this.
>


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