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About Subject: Heydascope, first impressionsDate: 2014-01-28 00:25:45From: John Thurston
Sorry for dropping the first shoe last week and then falling silent. I
was heading out of town and had just stopped long enough to open the
mailing box and fondle my new viewer. I've now returned and can share
some more impressions.
This is not intended to be an 'out of five stars' review. This is not a
'thumbs-up/down' review. What is offered below are my observations of my
viewer. There are no measurements offered. They will probably come
later. This is a purely subjective commentary.
It is a very solid feeling viewer. Unlike the MFPV/3D-World STL viewer,
the Heydascope is dense. It has big lenses, and a lot of cast plastic.
It is very comfortable in my hands. The thumb switch falls easily to
hand after picking up the viewer. I'm not going to miss thrashing around
on the top of the viewer for a 'red button'
The focus lever is on the right side and also falls immediately to hand.
It seem perfectly natural to me (a right handed user) and it seemed to
present no problems to the south-paw in my family. There is an
inconsistent amount of back-lash in the mechanism. I have found my best
results come when treating it like a microscope and focusing 'on the
pull'. If I overshoot, I back it way down and 'pull' it again. Once
comfortable, I don't have any problem with it walking (or pushing) back
in. The focus seems a bit stiff to me. I'm considering opening the
viewer up and applying a little Nye damping grease to the slides, but am
afraid this might make it too slippery. I'm going to let it ride and see
how it wears in.
The viewer does not say Heydascope anywhere on it. This, I think, is an
oversight which should be corrected.
The fixed interocular is a blessing after dealing with the lens assembly
on the 3D-World lit viewer.
The light panel is positioned pretty far behind the slide. I don't think
dust on that surface is going to be a problem for me. It is possible to
get the lenses to almost focus on the panel, but it is way beyond where
I focus for the slide.
The slot handles my 80x140 slide mounts well. My protective sleeves push
the slide up a bit, putting the center of the slide a bit higher than
center. This is not a problem, and I notice it less than on the 3D World
lit viewer.
There is no center thumb-dimple for removing the slide. But, because of
the curve on the outer surfaces, the corners of the slide stand proud
and are easy to grab.
80x132 carboard mounts work just fine. They have more freedom to move in
the slot, but nothing a little shim won't fix.
The slot is much better built than either of the 3D World viewers which
always seem to have parts bowing or grabbing at my slides. Larry has put
a lot of time into this viewer.
The viewer hood is excellent. It makes for a much larger viewer than the
3D World models, but it really reduces distraction. Again, there is
plenty of space in there for glasses.
The lighting is bright and surprisingly even. Like the 3D World
illuminated viewer, the Heydascope uses an LED edge-lit panel. Unlike
the 3D World, the difference in light across the panel is very small.
I'm not prepared to offer a measurement of the difference, but I will
say is is _way_ better than the 3D World (which I found to be noticeable
but acceptable).
The power system driving the panel, however, is not up to the standard
of the rest of the viewer. The Heydascope relies on a simple
battery/switch to directly drive the LED panel. This is very inefficient
and doesn't allow the panel to be driven to its full potential. I have
communicated with Larry on this subject, and I'm not sure where he'll go
with this. What is here will work, but it is sub-optimal and I'm pretty
sure I'm going to try to improve this part of the system. If I do, and
if I succeed, I'll offer Larry (and anyone else) information on what I
change.
The lenses are big hunks of glass and I label them a success. I like
getting up close to them, but they are also the first viewer lenses I've
found to be usable with my reading glasses. They present very little
edge distortion and have good contrast.
Before you ask, I'm not giving up my Heydascope. If you want one, you
need to ask Larry to make on for you :)
--
John Thurston
Juneau Alaska
http://stereo.thurstons.us
was heading out of town and had just stopped long enough to open the
mailing box and fondle my new viewer. I've now returned and can share
some more impressions.
This is not intended to be an 'out of five stars' review. This is not a
'thumbs-up/down' review. What is offered below are my observations of my
viewer. There are no measurements offered. They will probably come
later. This is a purely subjective commentary.
It is a very solid feeling viewer. Unlike the MFPV/3D-World STL viewer,
the Heydascope is dense. It has big lenses, and a lot of cast plastic.
It is very comfortable in my hands. The thumb switch falls easily to
hand after picking up the viewer. I'm not going to miss thrashing around
on the top of the viewer for a 'red button'
The focus lever is on the right side and also falls immediately to hand.
It seem perfectly natural to me (a right handed user) and it seemed to
present no problems to the south-paw in my family. There is an
inconsistent amount of back-lash in the mechanism. I have found my best
results come when treating it like a microscope and focusing 'on the
pull'. If I overshoot, I back it way down and 'pull' it again. Once
comfortable, I don't have any problem with it walking (or pushing) back
in. The focus seems a bit stiff to me. I'm considering opening the
viewer up and applying a little Nye damping grease to the slides, but am
afraid this might make it too slippery. I'm going to let it ride and see
how it wears in.
The viewer does not say Heydascope anywhere on it. This, I think, is an
oversight which should be corrected.
The fixed interocular is a blessing after dealing with the lens assembly
on the 3D-World lit viewer.
The light panel is positioned pretty far behind the slide. I don't think
dust on that surface is going to be a problem for me. It is possible to
get the lenses to almost focus on the panel, but it is way beyond where
I focus for the slide.
The slot handles my 80x140 slide mounts well. My protective sleeves push
the slide up a bit, putting the center of the slide a bit higher than
center. This is not a problem, and I notice it less than on the 3D World
lit viewer.
There is no center thumb-dimple for removing the slide. But, because of
the curve on the outer surfaces, the corners of the slide stand proud
and are easy to grab.
80x132 carboard mounts work just fine. They have more freedom to move in
the slot, but nothing a little shim won't fix.
The slot is much better built than either of the 3D World viewers which
always seem to have parts bowing or grabbing at my slides. Larry has put
a lot of time into this viewer.
The viewer hood is excellent. It makes for a much larger viewer than the
3D World models, but it really reduces distraction. Again, there is
plenty of space in there for glasses.
The lighting is bright and surprisingly even. Like the 3D World
illuminated viewer, the Heydascope uses an LED edge-lit panel. Unlike
the 3D World, the difference in light across the panel is very small.
I'm not prepared to offer a measurement of the difference, but I will
say is is _way_ better than the 3D World (which I found to be noticeable
but acceptable).
The power system driving the panel, however, is not up to the standard
of the rest of the viewer. The Heydascope relies on a simple
battery/switch to directly drive the LED panel. This is very inefficient
and doesn't allow the panel to be driven to its full potential. I have
communicated with Larry on this subject, and I'm not sure where he'll go
with this. What is here will work, but it is sub-optimal and I'm pretty
sure I'm going to try to improve this part of the system. If I do, and
if I succeed, I'll offer Larry (and anyone else) information on what I
change.
The lenses are big hunks of glass and I label them a success. I like
getting up close to them, but they are also the first viewer lenses I've
found to be usable with my reading glasses. They present very little
edge distortion and have good contrast.
Before you ask, I'm not giving up my Heydascope. If you want one, you
need to ask Larry to make on for you :)
--
John Thurston
Juneau Alaska
http://stereo.thurstons.us
