T3D Re: Medium Format viewer

[Greg Erker <erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>    I am getting close to building a medium format viewer.  After looking at
>the excellent Kiewa Valley stereo site I see the 80 mm achromatic doublet,
>40 mm diameter lenses are recommended.   I am wondering if these are still
>the lenses of choice.  Looking in my Edmund catalogue I see a price of
>$77.60 each.  Is this price OK?
>
>Thanks
>
>Dale Walsh

  Some of their surplus achromats might work
for you. I bought some 36mm dia by 82mm FL
grade 2 coated lenses from them a couple of
years ago. Price was $35 a lens or so.
They still list a lens with the same specs
though the first letter of the part number
has changed. If you are interested in getting
some from Edmund I can dig up my part number
and order date and you can ask them if the
new part is the same lens or not.

  I found these lenses to be excellent though
the diameter is a tiny bit small for glasses
wearers.

  Another option is the Alan Lewis Viewer kit
that Joel Alpers (Rocky Mountain Memories) sells.
It comes with 40x84mm coated achromats that
are quite good too. (I have these lenses but
not the kit). More pincushion distortion than
the surplus Edmund lenses I have but acceptable.
More than the $77 ones I hear too.

  Anyway, the kit is $125 US, so for the price
of the Edmund lenses you could get the whole kit
and buy some varnish or extra film.

Greg E.


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