Medium format stereo

nokia2010 · Feb 22, 2021

Why to assciate medium format stereo with 8 track?
B.t.w., I wonder how hard it's to modifiy from plate to packfilm or rollfilm a stereo camer that was made only for plates. Or from film pack to roll film. Geah, some 1900-1940 stereo cameras are very nice!
I will take a look on a Romanian book about stereo photography.

grat · Feb 22, 2021

It's bigger than a cassette, and smaller than an LP. And it was notable for being stereo.

choiliefan · Feb 23, 2021

We need quadraphonic cameras next!

nokia2010 · Feb 24, 2021

But why this camera had such a big back? https://www.ebay.ie/itm/ICA-POLYSCO...MERA-ZEISS-9CM-6-3-W-PLATE-BACK-/112271182896

inglis · Feb 24, 2021

Heidoscop with 120 roll film back.
image of camera in action
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicolas-lamborelle/20462565038/in/photolist-xbcZFu-6798BJ-ixZnAL
link to some shots taken with camera
https://www.flickr.com/photos/38771238@N07/albums/72157661836301195

nokia2010 · Feb 24, 2021

Nice. And for such and old camera... the images are good. So I wish me a old stereo camera.
But with rollfilm back can it take picture with different sizes the 6 x 6? Like 4,5 x 6 or 6 x 9?

Donald Qualls · Feb 24, 2021

@nokia2010 The Soviet-made Sputnik isn't too hard to come by, nor is it exorbitantly priced. It's like two Lubitels grafted together, so image quality isn't Rolleiflex level, but it's also accessible.

nokia2010 · Feb 24, 2021

Probably true. But in Romania recently I found just one fore sale. At around 220 Euros...
Curiosity: anyone makes film paks today?

iandvaag · Feb 25, 2021

nokia2010 said:
But there where any medium format stereo cameras that had flash sync?

The Sputnik has flash sync!

Honestly, I think the Sputnik represents the best value in medium format stereo. Older cameras like the Heidoscop, Polyskop and Rolleidoscop are much pricier and often have mechanical problems. Cheaper ones are usually missing a 120 roll film back (designed for 6x13 cm dry plates) or are a "baby" version for 127 film (or 45x107 mm plates). On the other hand, Sputniks usually work as poorly as the day they came off the factory floor!

Jokes aside, the difference between a "mono camera" and poor quality stereo camera is large, while the difference between a poor quality stereo camera and a high quality stereo camera is smaller. I know lots of people who are not able to distinguish a Sputnik stereo slide from a Rolleidoscop stereo slide when viewed in a handheld viewer. The Sputnik can really make some impressive images, especially if you work within its limitations (e.g. use lens hoods, flock the inside chambers, use a tripod, use a small aperture and don't shoot into the sun). But really those are good tips for shooting with any stereo camera.

The Sputnik is also very light and small compared to other cameras. Easy to carry and walk around with. I enjoy shooting with my Sputnik more than any other camera.

nokia2010 · Feb 25, 2021

But with a stereo camera (other then "Sputnik") you can shoot into the Sun? And how come don't shut into the Sun?

nokia2010 · Feb 25, 2021

Plus: "Sputnik" is 6 x 6 and I don't like square format.

iandvaag · Feb 25, 2021

No, you shouldn't shoot into the sun or any bright light source with any stereo stereo camera. But a camera with modern lens coatings will handle it better. Lens flare almost always ruins a stereo image.

As for the square format, in stereo, the frame almost becomes irrelevant when looking at a stereo image in high magnification. Really, stereo photography is almost like another medium, compared to mono photography. Traditional composition rules don't really apply.

In my opinion, 6 x 6 is the best possible stereo format since it is the largest format for which a simple backlit Brewster-style stereo viewer can be made. If you go larger, you will need a more complicated (larger and heavier) viewer with mirrors. That type of viewer will have to be custom made. It will also be challenging to mount stereo images and align them correctly in such a viewer.

If you really hate square format for stereo (I would be surprised if you feel this way after seeing a stereo slide in a handheld viewer), then you can still use a Sputnik and crop the image down to 6x4.5, which will improve the image quality be cropping out the vignetted, soft corners of the frame.

I believe all mass-produced medium format stereo cameras have a square format.

nokia2010 · Feb 25, 2021

But on a summer day with bright Sun (not necesarly at noon) can you shoot with an old stereo camera?
I guess 35 m.m. stereo cameras, more modern, like the "Revere" Stereo 33 don't have this problem.

hsandler · Feb 25, 2021

Medium format in stereo, but not medium format stereo.

Moskva-5 and matryoshka by Howard Sandler, on Flickr

AgX · Feb 25, 2021

nokia2010 said:
But on a summer day with bright Sun (not necesarly at noon) can you shoot with an old stereo camera?
I guess 35 m.m. stereo cameras, more modern, like the "Revere" Stereo 33 don't have this problem.

What problem?

nokia2010 · Feb 25, 2021

iandvaag sayed that in bright light old stereo cameras had light problems. But I guess it was because of lenses.
Again I ask: what kind of back this camera had? https://www.ebay.ie/itm/ICA-POLYSCO...d=link&campid=5338260023&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

Donald Qualls · Feb 25, 2021

The problem with shooting against the light in stereo is that the flare may not be the same in both lenses, which damages the image fusion. Like having objects move between "cha-cha" exposures, or having shutters that don't quite match so the image for one eye is brighter than the other.

This is the same issue with any stereo camera, no matter how modern.

nokia2010 · Feb 25, 2021

But if the light comes from behind?

Donald Qualls · Feb 25, 2021

Then it's not shining into the lens and causing flare and internal reflections. Light over your shoulder has been the preferred condition as long as there's been hand-held photography.

iandvaag · Feb 25, 2021

Yes, Donald has it right. Bright light isn't a problem, it actually is a benefit by allowing you to use faster shutter speeds up when using the small apertures required for stereo. But pointing the camera directly at a light source seldom gives good results.

nokia2010 · Feb 28, 2021

@inglis that rollfilm back camed with the camera or is of later manufacture?

Arthurwg · Mar 3, 2021

Have a look at the Kickstarter for a multi-format stereo pinhole camera, MINUTA Stereo, by Dominik Oczkowski. Also has a viewer. Very interesting.

nokia2010 · Mar 4, 2021

But this glasses can be used for 6 x 9 slides?

Donald Qualls · Mar 4, 2021

nokia2010 said:
But this glasses can be used for 6 x 9 slides?

View attachment 268182

Sure looks that way. The frame openings looks like 6x9 (or 6.5x9 or 2x3 sheet film format, but most such were made for prints which would be slightly cropped to fit the frames). The lenses probably incorporate prisms to avoid having to go wall-eyed to fuse the images.

hsandler · Mar 4, 2021

nokia2010 said:
But this glasses can be used for 6 x 9 slides?

I don’t think so. I think the frames are for 6x6 slides or contact prints and look rectangular due to the perspective of the photo. You can see the example card at the bottom of the photo looks like it has square photos. Most medium format stereo photos are square or verical so as to minimize the centre-centre separation so the eye can fuse the images without strain or prism arrangements. 6x9, at least in landscape format, would not be popular for stereo.

Medium format stereo

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