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Subject: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-20 07:30:51
From: Steven Lederman

I'm putting together a twin rig with a couple of cheap folder cameras so that I can have an adjustable stereo base.

For those of you who have twin rigs, have you purchased double cable releases or have you made them yourself?

Any recommendations for cable releases or for bars to hold the cameras?

Regards,

Steven

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-20 10:18:05
From: bob_karambelas

Attachments :

Others have more experience with cable releases, but I think some of the twin releases are adjustable, which sounds like a good feature.

I'm not sure how big a stereo base you want. For twin DSLR's, I use Arca-Swiss quick releases mounted on a focusing rail.

That solution can get expensive and you're limited to about a 15" base. So with folding cameras, it wouldn't allow much adjustment, but it's very slick for small-base use.

For a larger base, I've attached a beam that I made, and at least one hyper shooter friend has seen fit to copy it. This is made of 80/20 extruded aluminum parts, about $100 worth. I use the quick releases, but there are 1/4-20 holes so you could mount the cameras however you want. It's very confusing to shop with them, so if somebody is interested, I'll try and pull together a parts list and Amazon/eBay links.

Mine used 18" beams, and adjusts about 19"-32", but you can choose your base by choosing different lengths. I also made one that went 3'-6', but it's a little too heavy to be practical. I think my friend made his 24"-48", he basically wanted the longest one he could pack on a plane.

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release [2 Att
Date: 2015-05-20 11:46:32
From: George Themelis

Bob, I have hard time visualizing how this adjustable twin camera bar works, based on the two pictures.

George

From: mailto:MF3D-group@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 12:18 PM

To: MF3D-group@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [MF3D-group] Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release [2 Attachments]

Others have more experience with cable releases, but I think some of the twin releases are adjustable, which sounds like a good feature.

I'm not sure how big a stereo base you want. For twin DSLR's, I use Arca-Swiss quick releases mounted on a focusing rail.

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-20 21:57:24
From: Bob Venezia

I have 2 Hasselblads. I use a dual cable release that I believe was made by Linhof. One of the cables is adjustable.

I have two bars for mounting. Both are made of maple, both have levels attached. One of them is for when I am close to the subject and I want my cameras as close together as they can get. There are stays on the side to help ensure the cameras are parallel.

My other bar is about 2 feet long and I can vary the spaces between the cameras. That bar has four stays -- two toward the middle and two toward the ends.

They attach with either bolts and washers or a knobbed bolt.

Bob Venezia

Seattle, Washington

Sent from my iPhone

On May 20, 2015, at 6:28 AM, Steven Lederman gongadin@rogers.com [MF3D-group] <MF3D-group@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

I'm putting together a twin rig with a couple of cheap folder cameras so that I can have an adjustable stereo base.
For those of you who have twin rigs, have you purchased double cable releases or have you made them yourself?
Any recommendations for cable releases or for bars to hold the cameras?
Regards,
Steven

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-21 06:38:51
From: bob_karambelas

Bad photos, I know. Basically, there are two rails joined by linear bearings. The bearings allow the rails to slide to adjust the separation. When the beam is fully extended, the bearings are both at the center.

Hard to see, but the crank handle is a "brake"- a half-turn will loosen or lock the rails.

Since one rail is in front of the other, I offset the mounting nubs to keep the film planes aligned.

It took several hours to scour the catalog, learn the system, and figure out the exact parts to order and how to order them... then about 10 minutes to assemble it. It works very well. Weighs about 3 pounds, I think.

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-21 07:28:36
From: Timo Puhakka

I use two cable releases and hold one in each hand. I haven't tried with a twin cable release, so I am not sure if my method is better or worse. I have had pretty good luck freezing wavy water and even birds in flight, but I wouldn't try it purposely on a fast moving subject.

Timo

On 20-May-15, at 9:28 AM, Steven Lederman gongadin@rogers.com [MF3D-group] wrote:

I'm putting together a twin rig with a couple of cheap folder cameras so that I can have an adjustable stereo base.
For those of you who have twin rigs, have you purchased double cable releases or have you made them yourself?
Any recommendations for cable releases or for bars to hold the cameras?
Regards,
Steven

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-21 08:25:26
From: bob_karambelas

So much depends on the subject... if you're shooting scenic hyperstereo, there's rarely any movement that's too fast for finger-synch.... a bird flying through the frame or something like that.

I've found I can use cameras that are less than perfect if I match their capabilities to the shot. Film cameras are good for close subjects, twin DSLR's are better for telephoto or higher ISO, twin film cameras are ideal for scenics, and I'm testing a mirrorless rig that has imperfect synch but seems to work well with flash.

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-21 08:39:29
From: Steven Lederman

Thanks guys - Bob, I've enjoyed the twin Hasselblad images you've submitted to the MF3D Folios. They are fantastic. Are the maple bars of your own design or did you purchase them ready made?
Regards,
Steven

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-21 08:58:15
From: Bob Venezia

Hi Steve,

Thanks very much. My maple bars (mmmmmm...maple bars...) were made by my best friend, who is a genius designer/fabricator. We talked about everything I wanted in them and he came up with these.

It looks like one of the photos, of the smaller bar upright, didn't make it through. I'm resending.

Also, you can see some gaffers tape wrapped around the bar. That has nothing to do with the design. Whenever I have an extra strip of gaffers tape I tend to wrap it around something, like a tripod leg, just in case I have a use for it in the field.

Bob
Sent from my iPhone

On May 21, 2015, at 7:39 AM, Steven Lederman gongadin@rogers.com [MF3D-group] <MF3D-group@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Thanks guys - Bob, I've enjoyed the twin Hasselblad images you've submitted to the MF3D Folios. They are fantastic. Are the maple bars of your own design or did you purchase them ready made?
Regards,
Steven

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-21 10:19:19
From: Joe Staus

I have had good luck with a pair of Cannon A1 cameras. These cameras have a contact for the auto film winder. One of these connects directly to the shutter. I made spring loaded pins to electrically connect the two together. I also had to partially depress the release button to turn on the cameras computers. This was accomplished with two pneumatic shutter releases tied together with a Y fitting to one bulb (parts from Dr. T). Note: for this to work, both cameras need to work freely. the old cameras I had worked fairly well except one was slower than the other (gummed up lubricant???) I used Abilene Camera repair (A.K.A. ACR camera; Abilenecamera.com) to go thru both cameras. Works like a charm.
If anyone is interested I can supply some Pics and/or more details.

From: "Timo Puhakka tpuhakka@ymail.com [MF3D-group]"
To: MF3D-group@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2015 8:28 AM
Subject: Re: [MF3D-group] Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release

Timo

On 20-May-15, at 9:28 AM, Steven Lederman gongadin@rogers.com [MF3D-group] wrote:

I'm putting together a twin rig with a couple of cheap folder cameras so that I can have an adjustable stereo base.
For those of you who have twin rigs, have you purchased double cable releases or have you made them yourself?
Any recommendations for cable releases or for bars to hold the cameras?
Regards,
Steven

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-22 09:01:45
From: jamesbharp

I recently put together a twin Mamiya C-220 rig, for now with 135mm lenses. (This stuff has gotten so cheap that it's hard to resist, the whole rig cost less than $500.)

I use an adjustable twin cable release. What I do is very slowly depress the plunger, note which shutter fires first and keep adjusting the twin release until I get simultaneous firing no matter how slowly I press. I use colored tape to match the releases to the cameras. I've had no problem with synchronizing at 1/125 on numerous shots featuring moving cars and walking pedestrians.

MF hypers with telephoto lenses are a blast. I'm planning on picking up some 55mm wide angle lenses next.

Jim Harp

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-22 12:36:14
From: Don Mattox

Timo,

I use dual cable releases on a stereo camera I built on a Toyo 5X7 with a 4X5 back and 2 Nikkor SW 75/4.5 lenses. It gives the stereo pair on a 4X5 format film. They work great as you said. Don Mattox

On 5/21/15 7:28 AM, Timo Puhakka tpuhakka@ymail.com [MF3D-group] wrote:

I use two cable releases and hold one in each hand. I haven't tried with a twin cable release, so I am not sure if my method is better or worse. I have had pretty good luck freezing wavy water and even birds in flight, but I wouldn't try it purposely on a fast moving subject.

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-22 16:52:34
From: Don Lopp

Hi Don,

I have, for many, many years been curious as to why anyone would go to the expense of buying such large Nikkor WA lenses, to shoot large image 3D images, which would be very difficult to view, as contact images, considering the fact that they could only be viewed as contact 3D images, not allowing for any magnification, because our eyes will not only allow for any magnification due to the limited eye spacing of our eyeballs, usually limited to an eye spacing of less than 65mm. Do you have any answers to my questions ? I consider that MF format 3D slides do provide the optimum format size, not any images that are any larger than what I and many others are shooting today, which do allow for viewing with, optimum magnification ?

The very best,

DON

On 5/22/2015 11:36 AM, Don Mattox donmattox@mpinm.com [MF3D-group] wrote:

Timo,

I use dual cable releases on a stereo camera I built on a Toyo 5X7 with a 4X5 back and 2 Nikkor SW 75/4.5 lenses. It gives the stereo pair on a 4X5 format film. They work great as you said. Don Mattox

On 5/21/15 7:28 AM, Timo Puhakka tpuhakka@ymail.com [MF3D-group] wrote:

I use two cable releases and hold one in each hand. I haven't tried with a twin cable release, so I am not sure if my method is better or worse. I have had pretty good luck freezing wavy water and even birds in flight, but I wouldn't try it purposely on a fast moving subject.

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-05-22 18:17:08
From: Don Mattox

There are two images on the 4X5 film (the positions are reversed for viewing). Center-to-center is about the interocular separation - about like Keystone stereoview cards. I shoot color transparencies and view them with a modified (for backlighting) Keystone Telebinocular (visual survey). Don

On 5/22/15 4:52 PM, Don Lopp dlopp@rainier-web.com [MF3D-group] wrote:

Hi Don,

I have, for many, many years been curious as to why anyone would go to the expense of buying such large Nikkor WA lenses, to shoot large image 3D images, which would be very difficult to view, as contact images, considering the fact that they could only be viewed as contact 3D images, not allowing for any magnification, because our eyes will not only allow for any magnification due to the limited eye spacing of our eyeballs, usually limited to an eye spacing of less than 65mm. Do you have any answers to my questions ? I consider that MF format 3D slides do provide the optimum format size, not any images that are any larger than what I and many others are shooting today, which do allow for viewing with, optimum magnification ?

The very best,

DON

On 5/22/2015 11:36 AM, Don Mattox donmattox@mpinm.com [MF3D-group] wrote:

Timo,

I use dual cable releases on a stereo camera I built on a Toyo 5X7 with a 4X5 back and 2 Nikkor SW 75/4.5 lenses. It gives the stereo pair on a 4X5 format film. They work great as you said. Don Mattox

On 5/21/15 7:28 AM, Timo Puhakka tpuhakka@ymail.com [MF3D-group] wrote:

I use two cable releases and hold one in each hand. I haven't tried with a twin cable release, so I am not sure if my method is better or worse. I have had pretty good luck freezing wavy water and even birds in flight, but I wouldn't try it purposely on a fast moving subject.

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-06-05 11:30:40
From: Timo Puhakka

Do you have any recommendations for using 120 film in a 220 labeled Mamiya TLR? The internet is all over the place on this issue. These Mamiyas do look like a great upgrade for my Lubitel rig.

Timo

On 22-May-15, at 11:01 AM, jamesbharp@verizon.net [MF3D-group] wrote:

I recently put together a twin Mamiya C-220 rig, for now with 135mm lenses. (This stuff has gotten so cheap that it's hard to resist, the whole rig cost less than $500.)

I use an adjustable twin cable release. What I do is very slowly depress the plunger, note which shutter fires first and keep adjusting the twin release until I get simultaneous firing no matter how slowly I press. I use colored tape to match the releases to the cameras. I've had no problem with synchronizing at 1/125 on numerous shots featuring moving cars and walking pedestrians.

MF hypers with telephoto lenses are a blast. I'm planning on picking up some 55mm wide angle lenses next.

Jim Harp

Subject: Re: Recommendations - Twin Camera Bars / Double Cable Release
Date: 2015-06-06 08:59:37
From: jamesbharp

I don't know anything about the 220-labeled TLR issue. I do miss 220 film. It was great being able to shoot 24 pairs on my twin Yashica-Mat 124 rig before reloading

I do think the Mamiya C220s are quite a bargain these days. Clean bodies are readily available for less than $100 and cameras with various lenses seldom fetch more than $250. It's easy to change lenses mid-roll.

I chose the C220 because it doesn't have the C330's auto shutter-cocking mechanism. The last thing I need when working with a twin rig is to have the shutter activated anytime other than when I'm about to fire it.

Jim Harp