[photo-3d] Re: high end viewers

["John Goodman" <jgood@xxxxxxxx>]

Michael Galazin wrote:

> Can someone tell me what the lens diameters and focal
> lengths are for the DeWijs and Van Ekeren viewers for Realist
> format?  Also, how are their eye relief and their coverage of
> wider images (7p, full frame)?

I'll take a stab at the de Wijs portion of your question.

For the Combi, an absolute peach of a viewer, regardless of the 
cost, the 32mm diameter double achromat oculars are 
available in 45mm and 50mm focal lengths. The 45mm offers 
5.6X magnification and is said to be ideal for 5P or smaller. The 
50mm, 5X, is best for wider coverage, 7P to full frame. The 
viewer will also accommodate twin MF superslides (40mm X 
40mm chips in 2x2 mounts). Switching between 41x101 and 
2x2x2 formats is trivial, taking but a few seconds.

The de Wijs Easy, alas, is no longer manufactured. It has 
60mm focal length, 23mm diameter achromat lenses, 
adjustable interocular, and can accommodate both the 41x101 
and 2x22 formats, but switching formats requires disassembly 
and reassembly of the viewer. Does full frame 35mm 
landscape with either format. Folk who desire viewers with 
ocular focal length matching camera lens focal length will not 
be thrilled, but the Easy is another splendid viewer, superbly 
crafted, with high-performance optics.

The fit and finish of all the de Wijs viewers I've handled is 
impeccable, CNC machined aluminum, brass, and black Delrin 
(?) at its finest. Dedicated light attachments are available, but 
good fluorescent panels such as the Cabin 5000 can be also 
adapted. As for eye relief, I think the de Wijs viewers must be 
pretty good. While they are not provided with eye cups or 
devices to minimize back reflections, the glass elements facing 
one's eyes are only slightly recessed in their housings.

Not having experienced any of the van Ekeren models yet, I 
can't offer any comparisons. I think you'd be hard pressed to 
find nicer viewers than the de Wijs, but both makers no doubt 
are first class. With any high-end and expensive creations, 
though, you'd probably want to try them out before making a 
decision.

jeg

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/