re: medium format Stereo cameras One consideration is the actual aiming point of the two lens-this of course affects the configuration of the backs. They theorectically will not be on the same plane.
Couple of things I've learned about 3D or stereo. The standard 2 3/8" between the eyes that is quoted in most sources is not usually the best seperation. This is the distance between your eyes, but there are multiple factors in how we perceive depth. At something like 6' or 8' or maybe it is 20' to the subject this seperation doesn't impart any significant information. (This is of course distance between axis) I've found that taking one shot and then moving slightly and taking the second shot is more effective than building a camera or even using any of the available commercial cameras. The one rule is to decide what your vanishing point will be and keeping that centered in each shot. Your eyes in the stereo magnifier will overlap these two points and then every seperation will be perceived as depth information. A more effective 'rig' would be some sort of bracket on a tripod. Limitiations: It's not 'instantaneous' movement cannot be 'stopped' I tried two 35mm camera bodies on a single bracket which worked great, except when I tossed a rock and tried to capture it--there was no way to click both cameras at an effective 'instant'. Birds become annoying flickers. Secondly by varying the seperation distance between the lenses you can enhance the 3D effect. Part of playing with small toys is the depth perception. Your eyes really get a work out with small objects. Distnace between them are easily perceived. It's simple Triginometry. The change in angle is greater the closer you are. I find that close objects about 4' away its best to have no more than about 4" seperation but distant mountains work best yards apart. Foreground scenery becomes a consideration with large seperations. Also you can consider taking multiple exposures at varying seperations and then decide later which you prefer. What I decided is that 3D-stereography is definitely a good thing that is not utilized as much as it should be, and that it was not worth it to me to construct a sepcial camera. At best use two bodies with matching lenses--meaning I would rent the second lens. (Don't try to match a zoom with a prime like a 55mm with a 28-70mm it'll create all kinds of mismatches especially along the edges.) If I could offer advice on 'building' a camera? I would ask how much experience do you have with 3D-have you already done all the experimenting that I have and you've decided you need something better? What types of subjects are you planning to shoot? If it's people, or animals, or crowds or something moving-then you need to sync . (I just had the thought that sports would be a great subject. Two 300mm lenses on a couple of 35mm bodies about two feet apart set up so they 'converge 100 yards away. This would put you right in the pile.) Another point. most of the Double cable releases available are designed for use with bellows. One pin will shut down the lens diaphragm before the second pin clicks the camera. They will never sync two cameras. Also with medium format and two bodies shooting distant objects if you decide you need to cliock them at the same time it might be ok to have one bodie above the other as well as the side to side offset. The vertical displacement probably won't matter. CORRECTION: I posted here a couple of months back about a panorama deguerrotype of San Francisco displayed at the Huntington Gardens. I got the size exactly wrong. Someone else posted a size slightly larger than 4 x6" as being the largest plate size for deguerrotype. I went back and you were correct. Thank you for the information and I apologize for getting it wrong. Also in the NYTimes today Friday 9/28/01 there's a review of the Paltinum prints of Kenro Izu. He shoots a 14 x 20 inch neg. (this is right out of the paper--I'm not familiar with the size). The work is impressive. I don't know what model camera he uses, but the show is at Howard Greenberg Gallery 120 Wooster St SoHo New York City. I've also come up with a few web pages: http://www.pem.org/izu/ http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/dialogs/dialogs_a-m/kenro_izu.html http://www.pem.org/izu/index_intro.html _______________________________________________ Cameramakers mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
