Stereo camera primer: Which camera has readily available viewers / holders? Interchangeable brands?

kingbuzzie · Mar 24, 2019

For my own amusement and that of the children, I'm thinking of trying to pick up a stereo camera. There are so many different brands out there, which are interchangeable when it comes to holders / viewers? Which holders are still easily available at a fair price? I see that holga stereo cameras are stupid expensive for what they are. I'm referring to the slide viewer route rather than the side by side prints. Does anyone have a favorite 3d / stereo camera primer that is available on the web? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

summicron1 · Mar 24, 2019

Stereo mounts for the Realist format slides are still sold, although they aren't really what you would describe as cheap. The Realist camera is the best camera for the money you will find anywhere -- very solid, premier lenses, very easy to use. The Realist format was as close to an industry standard as you will find -- many companies made the cameras and viewers.

many options here: http://www.igorcamera.com/3D_stereo_cameras.htm

If you want to make prints and produce stereo cards, you can pick up a holmes-type viewer and give the kids a 19th century experience. I make b/w prints in my darkroom. If you pick up a soviet Sputnik you can shoot 120 film and make contact prints, and i've never tried it, but asking a lab to make 3 1/2 inch square prints from the negatives from one would give you ready-to-mount prints.

removed account4 · Mar 24, 2019

Hi kingbuzzie
not sure if you found these 2 places or not
they are to stereo stuff as this site is to analog stuff
http://www.stereoscopy.com
http://www.3dstereo.com/
they have lists and links of people selling the suppplies you
are talking about ( maybe ) ..

good luck !

kingbuzzie · Mar 24, 2019

summicron1 said:
Stereo mounts for the Realist format slides are still sold, although they aren't really what you would describe as cheap. The Realist camera is the best camera for the money you will find anywhere -- very solid, premier lenses, very easy to use. The Realist format was as close to an industry standard as you will find -- many companies made the cameras and viewers.

many options here: http://www.igorcamera.com/3D_stereo_cameras.htm

If you want to make prints and produce stereo cards, you can pick up a holmes-type viewer and give the kids a 19th century experience. I make b/w prints in my darkroom. If you pick up a soviet Sputnik you can shoot 120 film and make contact prints, and i've never tried it, but asking a lab to make 3 1/2 inch square prints from the negatives from one would give you ready-to-mount prints.

I have a darkroom as well. So you are saying I can also scan and print the slides from the stereo camera or run regular film through it and print the negatives for a "holmes-type viewer"?

guangong · Mar 24, 2019

Yep! The Stereo Realist is the gold standard for stereo photography. The equivalent price adjusted for inflation for a new Stereo Realist today would be $1,447.00. Today used they sell for pennies on the dollar...or less. Most of the other stereo cameras are basically copies with some exterior design, usually not as well made.
Almost all stereo cameras are fixed lens cameras. Focal length must be more accurately matched than for a single lens. Somewhere on or in your 50mm lens is inscribed the actual focal length for use by a technician. There is a wide angel supplemental lens for 35 mm stereo cameras, very expensive. I never felt the need for one.
Google for various suppliers.

kingbuzzie · Mar 24, 2019

jnantz said:
Hi kingbuzzie
not sure if you found these 2 places or not
they are to stereo stuff as this site is to analog stuff
http://www.stereoscopy.com
http://www.3dstereo.com/
they have lists and links of people selling the suppplies you
are talking about ( maybe ) ..

good luc

jnantz said:
Hi kingbuzzie
not sure if you found these 2 places or not
they are to stereo stuff as this site is to analog stuff
http://www.stereoscopy.com
http://www.3dstereo.com/
they have lists and links of people selling the suppplies you
are talking about ( maybe ) ..

good luck !

Thanks!

kingbuzzie · Mar 24, 2019

For anyone else interested, I found this thread: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/stereo-camera-recommendations.64866/

summicron1 · Mar 24, 2019

kingbuzzie said:
I have a darkroom as well. So you are saying I can also scan and print the slides from the stereo camera or run regular film through it and print the negatives for a "holmes-type viewer"?

you can use any film you want in a realist -- i shoot ilford hp5 -- be sure to put some tape over the latch end of the back, it tends to leak light there.

From there you can scan and print, or make prints. The stereomaker software -- free stuff -- is also good for making digital pairs.

Truzi · Mar 24, 2019

Something that does the Realist format is probably the most practical direction to go in. I've a Realist 45 and a View Master Personal. I originally wanted a Realist Custom, but they are hard to find and expensive in good shape, and now that I have two stereo cameras, not much of a priority anymore. There are other manufacturers that use the Realist format as well. The standard Realist and Realist Custom have range finders. The 45 does not, but is made from an Iloca Stereo Rapid that does.
I'd suggest a camera with built-in rangefinder, but zone focusing isn't too bad, especially for a stereo camera.

Given the childhood nostalgia, viewing your own View Master reels is magic , but pricey. Original NOS blank View Master reels can be expensive when you can find them, though there are one or two after-market versions (still expensive).
I think it would be easier to make your own slide-mounts for Realist format, and the quality is better with it's larger image size. You can even try to mod the Realist format cameras and viewers for larger images.

I have also gotten prints from negative film in the Realist (scanned, used GIMP to combine, then uploaded to Shutterfly to get RA4 prints - but will eventually wet-print on my own). When I first tested the View Master I used negative film, but the frames are so small that a print from those would not be very good.

View Master viewers are still made new (though the quality is poor). Older ones are built like tanks and plentiful on ebay - and you probably have one already. Two years ago I bought new viewers for a niece and nephew, and also made them a couple reels each with images of them and family - they were thrilled (made reels for my mom, too, but she uses a 50s era viewer). I found it difficult to get the 3D effect in the modern viewers, but have no problems with viewers from the 1980s and earlier.

Realist-format viewers are fairly easy to find on ebay.
Stereo projectors are expensive and require special screens and glasses. Realist format stereo projectors appear to be easier to find than View Master. It's difficult to find a stereo View Master projector, most simply project one image (2D).

There are more esoteric options out there, like lens attachments that split and image onto one 35mm frame, but they are not nearly as common, can be expensive, and I'm not sure of the quality.

kingbuzzie · Mar 24, 2019

Truzi said:
Something that does the Realist format is probably the most practical direction to go in. I've a Realist 45 and a View Master Personal. I originally wanted a Realist Custom, but they are hard to find and expensive in good shape, and now that I have two stereo cameras, not much of a priority anymore. There are other manufacturers that use the Realist format as well. The standard Realist and Realist Custom have range finders. The 45 does not, but is made from an Iloca Stereo Rapid that does.
I'd suggest a camera with built-in rangefinder, but zone focusing isn't too bad, especially for a stereo camera.

Given the childhood nostalgia, viewing your own View Master reels is magic , but pricey. Original NOS blank View Master reels can be expensive when you can find them, though there are one or two after-market versions (still expensive).
I think it would be easier to make your own slide-mounts for Realist format, and the quality is better with it's larger image size. You can even try to mod the Realist format cameras and viewers for larger images.

I have also gotten prints from negative film in the Realist (scanned, used GIMP to combine, then uploaded to Shutterfly to get RA4 prints - but will eventually wet-print on my own). When I first tested the View Master I used negative film, but the frames are so small that a print from those would not be very good.

View Master viewers are still made new (though the quality is poor). Older ones are built like tanks and plentiful on ebay - and you probably have one already. Two years ago I bought new viewers for a niece and nephew, and also made them a couple reels each with images of them and family - they were thrilled (made reels for my mom, too, but she uses a 50s era viewer). I found it difficult to get the 3D effect in the modern viewers, but have no problems with viewers from the 1980s and earlier.

Realist-format viewers are fairly easy to find on ebay.
Stereo projectors are expensive and require special screens and glasses. Realist format stereo projectors appear to be easier to find than View Master. It's difficult to find a stereo View Master projector, most simply project one image (2D).

There are more esoteric options out there, like lens attachments that split and image onto one 35mm frame, but they are not nearly as common, can be expensive, and I'm not sure of the quality.

Do I really need a slide viewer with focus adjustment or is the cheap non-electric kind fine?

Truzi · Mar 24, 2019

I am not knowledgeable on this, just verbose, lol. When I wanted to get a stereo camera I read a lot, so it only appears that I have some knowledge.

Focus is nice, otherwise you may have to adjust how far away you hold the viewer from your eyes. I thought most let you adjust the plane of focus, or are you referring to the diopter (much like binoculars usually have one adjustable eyepiece so you can balance the eyes). Perhaps you mean something like this:
http://www.3dstereo.com/viewmaster/sldvn.html

I've not used one of those, but I imagine they would be okay to start with or if you have really young kids that may break things accidentally. I imagine it would be similar to a non-focusing View Master. If you get hooked, though, you'll eventually upgrade.
Getting a cheap, non-focusing viewer just to get started, while patiently searching for a good deal, would probably be fine. I basically monitor sites like ebay regularly for things I want to buy. Every now and then a really good deal pops up.
I have a Kodaslide viewer, and after a few years of watching, found a great price on a barely used Realist Green Button (which I've not used yet either, lol).

My Realist 45 was a gamble, after watching for over a year. The photos on ebay didn't show the condition well, and the seller was new with little feedback, so I got it for $50. When it arrived I was pleased to see it was practically new. It functioned well, and was probably only used a few times; the bottom plate still had it's luster (and I'd like to keep it that way, so haven't purchased an ever-ready case for it), and the paint on the pivot-point of the removable back had not scratched off yet. I doubt that camera had seen more than 6 rolls before coming to me.

Do the minimum (within reason) to get started, then actively and patiently watch for the better items.

Oh, another thing on Realist versus View Master... you can cut Realist slides easily for mounting. The View Master requires a special cutter, though I'm sure you can use a craft knife if you really want to frustrate yourself.

knj · Mar 24, 2019

I just got a Stereo Realist from Dr. T, aka George Themelis. He has an eBay presence but I purchased it directly from him. He CLA them before he ships/sells. It now winds smooth and viewfinders are crisp and clear. I also have a green button viewer purchased year ago, still a joy to use.

My college age kids love to look at the slides I took 20 years ago. Shot Kodachrome then. Provia now. Bought a little hot show adapter and use a vivitar 283 a lot.

Have fun

Ken

kingbuzzie · Mar 24, 2019

knj said:
I just got a Stereo Realist from Dr. T, aka George Themelis. He has an eBay presence but I purchased it directly from him. He CLA them before he ships/sells. It now winds smooth and viewfinders are crisp and clear. I also have a green button viewer purchased year ago, still a joy to use.

My college age kids love to look at the slides I took 20 years ago. Shot Kodachrome then. Provia now. Bought a little hot show adapter and use a vivitar 283 a lot.

Have fun

Ken

I just bought a very cheap kodak stereo camera that looks to be a-ok. I'll take it apart and clean it up if the shutters work. I didn't want to pay over $50, because once I added a cheap viewer and empty mounts I was in over $100. Quite enough already!

Dan0001 · Mar 25, 2019

The Kodak 3D camera is no slouch and I doubt anyone could really see a major difference between that camera and a Realist. If anything the Kodak IMHO is more user friendly. Beware of losing the lens cap(s) as I have done it twice.

kingbuzzie · Mar 25, 2019

Dan0001 said:
The Kodak 3D camera is no slouch and I doubt anyone could really see a major difference between that camera and a Realist. If anything the Kodak IMHO is more user friendly. Beware of losing the lens cap(s) as I have done it twice.

I could almost buy another one looking at the cost of an asa bayonet to pc sync adapter.

Deleted member 88956 · Mar 26, 2019

Why not try stereo attachment for many 35 mm cameras instead? Pentax had one and you can get full set (lens attachment and viewer) often for well under $100, and it is put on a high quality glass to boot.

kingbuzzie · Mar 26, 2019

Witold said:
Why not try stereo attachment for many 35 mm cameras instead? Pentax had one and you can get full set (lens attachment and viewer) often for well under $100, and it is put on a high quality glass to boot.

I enjoy slides better than the holmes method, and I shoot with canon fd!

Steve Roberts · Mar 26, 2019

Hello,

I have a Realist, Revere and Kodak. The Kodak is probably the most fragile of the three, the body being made of Bakelite or a similar plastic, but presumably Kodak realised that for the amount of use it would be likely to see, the money invested would be far better spent on the optics than on the body/mechanics and as has been said above the lens is regarded as being at least the equal of the other two. Like the Revere, it has a level, which is essential for effective results. It also has by far the best film rewind of the three.

I generally print stereo pairs for use in a Holmes viewer, but sometimes take transparencies and mount them for use in a Revere viewer. (Mounting for use in a projector is another matter altogether according to what I've read). I've also experimented with tinting , which all adds to the fun!

The Holmes-type viewer is very effective, but I did run into a problem recently when showing some stereo shots to a relative with particularly long sightedness. Normally the card holder sits about two thirds the length of the supporting stick away from the lenses. Unfortunately, this person found the perfect focal point for her was about half as far away again as the length of the stick. No permutations of spectacles, no spectacles, someone else's spectacles etc. could get around this and the session was aborted before it began.

Stereo photography is a lot of fun - enjoy!

Steve

John51 · Mar 27, 2019

There is a Russian stereo attachment that has a built in slide viewer. It's made for a 58mm lens but afaik, 50mm will work.

jim10219 · Mar 27, 2019

The Revere 33, TDC Stereo, Kodak, and Realist are all pretty much level in terms of image quality. There might be a few minor differences, but remember with stereo images, you want to stop the camera down a good bit, so that takes a lot of the quality of the lens out of play. You could make your own from two 35mm cameras mounted right next to each other (but that would be a pain to operate in the field), or you could buy an adapter for regular 35mm cameras, though they won't look as 3D due to the parallax effect not being utilized as well (the openings are closer together on the adapter than the lenses are on the stereo camera). Plus, the mirrors used in them aren't usually all that great, which will effect image quality more than a cheap lens design like a triplet (because we're stopping down a whole bunch anyway). They're still a good way to get the effect cheaply, but I'd opt for a true stereo camera if possible.

I came across a David White Stereo Realist at a great price that was in great condition, and I couldn't be happier. It worked flawlessly from the beginning. It takes great photos. It's easy to use and has a hyperfocal chart on the lens cover. The good thing about these is that they made millions of them, so you can usually find one for a decent price if you don't mind being patient. They're also built like tanks. If you keep your eyes out for a while, I'm sure one of those stereo 35mm cameras I listed will pop up at a decent price sooner or later. Their supply far exceeds their demand in this market.

As for mounting the film, I do it myself. I just have the local shop develop the film for me and tell them not to cut it down. I bought some carboard mounts from a website (can't remember which now) that sells new ones, and they're easy to install (they have mounting guides built in) so long as you remember to put the right exposure into the left side of the mount. I bought a Brumberger slide viewer, and it works really well, and looks cool (like a spaceship or something). Lots of companies made slide viewers, so you should be able to find one in decent shape for not too much money, once again, if you're patient.

Stereo camera primer: Which camera has readily available viewers / holders? Interchangeable brands?

Deleted member 88956

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