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Subject: Mounting concerns
Date: 2006-08-04 08:06:45
From: jamesbharp

>>The cardboard mounts are not meant for the 3DWorld viewers and do not
>> fit properly in them.

I've already bought two of those viewers and haven't had any difficulties whatsoever
viewing 132mm slides in them as long as they're in plastic sleeves. I've given both of
these viewers away as gifts (with 132 mm slide mounts in them). I will certainly be buying
at least one more of those viewers, especially if 140mm wide mounts start showing up in
the folios (or if I decide to buy that "Thai Ladygirl" slide set 3D world is offering.)

>> Those Saturn viewers are a well established format, at least in my world.

>It is regrettably a relatively small world. .. 3DWorld has little interest in
>accomodating a 3D community that only buys a few 100 mounts a year

So who do they think their market is, if not our little 3D community?

If they can succeed in spreading interest in Medium Format 3D to thousands of new users
then they will have my profound gratitude. (I will also be quite surprised.) Nevertheless
I'll still be using those handy cardboard 132mm mounts that fit in my viewers, as long as I
can get them for 50 cents a piece in various sizes.

>.How difficult could it be to modify a wooden viewer to use 140mm mounts?

Very easy...if you're someone who is skilled enough to rip cameras apart and build new
ones. I doubt many of the less experienced people who spent hours assembling their
Saturn viewers are anxious to take them apart again and widen them by 8mm, especially
when the compatible mounts they've been using for years are still readily available.

>One of the biggest concerns I had heard in the MF3D community was the
>difficulty in mounting and the lack of a reliable source of mounts.

I just don't see what's so difficult about mounting MF slides. I find those tiny 35mm
slides a pain, but I can mount medium format mostly with my naked eye and then quickly
make fine adjustments using a pair of loupes. Time will tell how reliable the supply of
mounts and other MF3D gear from China is. In the meantime Dalia seems to have plenty
of cardboard mounts, and even gives away 10 of them with each 3D world viewer she sells
at her ebay store.

>Sorry Jim, it was a "Little Wonder" you bought and not a Regal. It is
>possible to revise the LW, but nobody has inquired. If enough people
>prefer a 140mm LW, I would pursue it.

I love that little folding viewer, and wouldn't want you to change a thing about it. I
especially appreciate that you designed it to be compatible with the 132mm wide mounts
that I and every other 3D MF shooter I know has been using for years.

Jim Harp

Subject: Re: Mounting concerns
Date: 2006-08-04 10:28:23
From: Sam Smith

--- In MF3D-group@yahoogroups.com, "jamesbharp" wrote:
I will certainly be buying
> at least one more of those viewers, especially if 140mm wide mounts
start showing up in
> the folios (or if I decide to buy that "Thai Ladygirl" slide set 3D
world is offering.)

I have this set. Great images, but they will require window adjustment
for some.

>
> >> Those Saturn viewers are a well established format, at least in
my world.
>
> >It is regrettably a relatively small world. .. 3DWorld has little
interest in
> >accomodating a 3D community that only buys a few 100 mounts a year
>
> So who do they think their market is, if not our little 3D community?

They've really made a big splash in China, but are expanding their
customer list internationally. They will also be at Photokina next month.

Nevertheless
> I'll still be using those handy cardboard 132mm mounts that fit in
my viewers, as long as I
> can get them for 50 cents a piece in various sizes.

And rightly you should Jim. Your mounting and stereography has always
been extraordinary, and use whatever works best. Still jealous of your
Stereflektscop!

> >.How difficult could it be to modify a wooden viewer to use 140mm
mounts?
>
> Very easy...if you're someone who is skilled enough to rip cameras
apart and build new > ones. I doubt many of the less experienced
people who spent hours assembling their > Saturn viewers are anxious
to take them apart again and widen them by 8mm, especially > when the
compatible mounts they've been using for years are still readily
available.

Do you think there will be a demand for modifying older viewers? I
would certainly be willing to help anyone who could not do the
conversion themself.

>
> I love that little folding viewer, and wouldn't want you to change a
thing about it. I
> especially appreciate that you designed it to be compatible with the
132mm wide mounts
> that I and every other 3D MF shooter I know has been using for years.

Thanks, I try to offer what the 3D Shooters want.

Sam

Subject: MF3D in China?
Date: 2006-08-04 19:53:14
From: jamesbharp

> > So who do they think their market is, if not our little 3D community?
>
> They've really made a big splash in China, but are expanding their
> customer list internationally. They will also be at Photokina next month.

When you say they've made a big splash, are you referring to their sales of slides and
viewers, or have you heard anything about the sales of their camera in China? I was under
the impression that sales of the camera in China had just commenced. It would be
amazing if these guys could generate some interest in MF3D photography in that
enormous and growing market. Do you suppose there would be any possibility of a
Chinese/Western international folio? I'd sure buy some of those 140mm mounts to be
able to participate in something like that.

Mainstream photography magazines like "Shutterbug" seem to view stereo as a gimmick.
It will be interesting to see what sort of coverage if any the 3DWorld Photokina presence
garners.

> >Nevertheless
> > I'll still be using those handy cardboard 132mm mounts that fit in
> my viewers, as long as I can get them for 50 cents a piece in various sizes.
>
> And rightly you should Jim. Your mounting and stereography has always
> been extraordinary, and use whatever works best. Still jealous of your
> Stereflektscop!

Thanks very much for the kind words Sam, but as a stereographer I consider myself to be
just about at the point where I could maybe be your assistant.

Are you referring to the Stereflektoscop that was on ebay the other night? I got outsniped
on that one, someone else got it for $405 (It was a 6X13 camera with a plate back). My
top bid had been $305, I guess it was too much to hope that someone else out there
wouldn't grasp the value of that camera. There have been a lot of Rolleidoscops showing
up lately, but my sense is I'd be better off waiting for the 3DWorld camera than spending
$1800 for one of those. Until then I have my trusty Sputnik and a pair of YashicaMat
124s to shoot with.

> Do you think there will be a demand for modifying older viewers? I
> would certainly be willing to help anyone who could not do the
> conversion themself.

I don't perceive a demand for that currently. Perhaps the 3D world system will get so
many new people involved in MF3D that those of us with the older style viewers will feel
left out if we don't get them modified. I hope so, I would love to see this whole endeavor
be a big success. It would be an interesting challenge to come up with a mod for the
Saturn viewer that would let it work with both 140mm and 132mm mounts. For years I've
been saying that I didn't think this camera would ever make it to the market. I still find it
hard to believe that an entirely new film based stereo camera, let alone a medium format
one, would be manufactured in the midst of the supposed demise of film.

Jim Harp

Subject: Re: MF3D in China?
Date: 2006-08-09 09:28:48
From: Sam Smith

--- In MF3D-group@yahoogroups.com, "jamesbharp" wrote:

>
>
> > > So who do they think their market is, if not our little 3D

community?
Here's a quote from Cuca Lin from 3DWorld:

"our products are designed not only for 3D enthusiasts, but also
ordinary people, since the 3D lover market is too small either home
and abroad. "

Do you suppose there would be any possibility of a

> Chinese/Western international folio? I'd sure buy some of those

140mm mounts to be

> able to participate in something like that.

I have been looking into this possibility. I have already emailed
folio members about the inclusion of plastic mounts in the folios. The
IMFSF members are in favor, but some slight resistance from Americans.

In 2005 the IMFSF went to China with disasterous results, but this was
through a distributor and not directly connected to 3DWorld. I suspect
the only plausible means of sharing with the Chinese community would
be through a set of dupes in an Expo.

Sam

Subject: Re: MF3D in China?
Date: 2006-08-09 19:51:53
From: DrT (George Themelis)

> "our products are designed not only for 3D enthusiasts, but also
> ordinary people, since the 3D lover market is too small either home
> and abroad. "

How I wish that this camera had come 10 years ago. This would have been a
great boost for Medium Format Stereo. Right now, this development is
great... a complete system, camera, mounts, viewers... I hope it is met with
considerable success, but I am not overly optimistic, unfortunately....

George Themelis