Re: [photo-3d] Medium format viewer

[Paul Talbot <list_post@xxxxxxxxx>]

Nielsen wrote:

> I'm new to the list. My name is Niela, I'm from Brazil.

Hello and welcome!  :-)

> (Any other folks from Brazil there?)

Funny you should ask!  That's exactly the type of question
that the free 3D Photo FriendFinder(sm) service is designed
to answer.  This is a new service and we are still in the
process of collecting listings for the database.  Unfortunately
we're still just "a little bit shy" ;-) of the goal of listing
every stereo photo hobbyist in the known universe!  But you
should visit http://www.rmm3d.com/friend-finder/register.shtml
to register yourself so the next time someone asks that question
the info will be instantly available.

> II'm planning to make stereo slides in 6x6 format...

Splendid!  It's a fabulous format.  A small but rapidly growing
number of 3D photographers are working in medium format ("MF3D").
There is even a discussion list devoted to that specialty.  See
the archives at http://www.pauck.de/archive/mailinglist/mf3d/mf3d.html
and http://www.pauck.de/archive/mailinglist/mf3d/info.html for
subscription instructions.

> but I
> can't find a viewer. I already have 2 old Bronicas, but I am
> having trouble in viewing the slides.

Many MF3D photographers build their own viewer.  For some examples
see http://www.skep.com/3d/gallery.htm (but note that several of
the links on that page for contacting the creators of the viewers
don't work anymore).  Two of the viewers discussed on that site are
among the more popular commercially available viewers: the King Inn
(inexpensive, but many find the quality of the lenses inadequate
and opt for the extra-cost lens upgrade panel); and the "assembly
required" SaturnSlide(tm) medium format viewer kit distributed by
Rocky Mountain Memories (which happens to be run by me).  See
http://www.rmm3d.com/viewers/satslide.html

> Does anyone have the plans for me to build my own viewer?

If you want to start with "blueprints" instead of the kit, visit
http://home.mira.net/~kiewavly/Misc/6x6vwr.gif for the plans that
were utilized to build the  kiewa Valley stereo viewer shown on
the gallery page mentioned above.

> I'd like the image to be ____really *big*_____ ... like if the
> person viewing feels inside the scene.
> 
> Could you help me on that?

Well, now you are going down a difficult avenue.  Many newcomers
to 3D photography believe that moving up in film format size will
result in enormous increases in apparent image size when the 3D
image is viewed.  A number of technical issues prevent this ideal
from being fully realized.  In stereo photography it is usually
important to match the focal length of the viewer lenses to the
FL of the camera's lenses (to avoid the distortions known as
stretch and squash).  That means you usually view a MF3D image
under lower magnification than is used for smaller formats like
Realist and Viewmaster.  Yet it *is* true there is usually some
increase in apparent image size with MF3D compared to the smaller
formats.  That is because in MF3D it is relatively easy to use
the correct amount of magnification, whereas the smaller formats
generally use LESS magnification than is needed to achieve "ortho"
conditions.

Most people who are used to looking at Realist (or especially
Viewmaster) format 3D do experience a far greater "WOW" reaction
when they get their first stunning taste of medium format 3D.  Part
of that is due to larger apparent image size (from using the right
amount of magnification), but there is another important part:
viewing the image from a greater distance means that grain, dust,
scratches, etc., are much less obvious.  It is easier to lose
yourself in the fantasy that you really are seeing the real scene,
instead of a photograph, under MF3D viewing conditions.  But
there will still be a stereo window, meaning the observer will
not feel *inside* the scene, just think they are looking through
a (perfectly clear) window *at* the scene.

Well, I've covered a lot already, so I'll stop for now.  Niels, what
is your experience level with other forms of 3D photography?

Paul Talbot

SaturnSlide is a trademark of Alan Lewis.