DrT's Favorite 3D Toys
"A man is judged by his toys"
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These are things I have found useful, in the approximate order by which they appeared into my life. This list first appeared in photo-3d on 6/24/98.
- H.C. McKay: I was lucky to find his 1949 book at the Northwestern U. Library. That's how I became aware of the "Stereo Realist". He remains my favorite stereo writer.
- Reel 3-D: So, you think you are alone in your passion for 3d... And then comes Reel-3d. A new world of wonderful resources opens for you. Stereo Heaven. Mastercard/Visa accepted. Reel 3-D has now closed but they are forever open in my memory.
- Stereo Realist 3.5: Yeap! It's at the top. $85 in a garage sale. It is amazing that a camera from 1947 can take such wonderful stereo pictures!
- Fujichrome 100: Inexpensive, easy to get, convenient (E6 processing). Yes, it might not last 100 years... I won't either.
- Sunny-day rule: Hey, light is not a mystery any more.
- Slip-in mounts: Let's stop kidding here. You just cut your first roll. Slip-ins is where you are going to stick the chips. Until you know better...
- Radex viewer: It gets you started and going... and going... until you are ready for something better.
- EMDE mounts: Believe it or not, these are the best mounts for a beginner. Accurate mounting in a flash. Too bad they are not available any more!
- Stereo World: After all, it is "The Magazine of 3-Dimensional Imaging, Past & Present"
- NSA conventions: Yes, they are a blast!!! Don't miss the next one! See ya there!
- Freeviewing: Wow!!! I can do that?!?! I will never forget the feeling when I was first able to freeview. I imagine, this is how Charles Wheatstone must have felt when he saw his first stereo pairs.
- Realist red button viewer: There is only one viewing device better than a Realist red button viewer: A 7p Realist red button viewer (preferably, modified by DrT :-)) Now, it is an 8p too!
- B&H: Finally!!! A *reliable* mail order company from NY! Stock up on film!
- Flash-on-a-Realist: A bright idea. Who needs the sun? (check my Realist page on how to modify the camera for electronic flash).
- Squeeze-bubble cable release or mechanical self- timer: You must get yourself in some of these pictures too! Especially the ones of you holding your newborn. Perfect for single people or those married to an uncooperative spouse. ;-)
- Stereo Realist Manual (book) and Piper's Technical Pages: Education, education, education... Or, how about my Stereo Tutorials???
- SLR(s): Definitely the best thing after the Realist. A whole new world of creative stereo photography opens immediately.
- Hyperstereos: Is there any one not amazed by their first hyperstereos?
- Macro lens: You've got an SLR? You need a macro lens!
- Slide bar: With SLR and macro lens, you better have a slide bar! Which one? Check here for the answer!
- Albion mounts: EMDE is dead. Long live Albion!!! I have spent the best hours of my life mounting in Albion mounts. Freedom to position the window in 5p mounts was a revelation for me, thanks to Albion mounts. Not to mention storing 1000 of them in a small box :-)
- SSA (Stereoscopic Society of America) folios: Best way to share your work and make long-lasting friendships.
- Photo-3d: Possibly best thing ever happened in my life. Lots of friends and thought-provoking ideas/discussions.
- TDC 116, a.k.a. "the workhorse"! What a beast!!!
- 70" Da-Lite screen. Yes, it can fit in the basement! Where to get it from? B&H of course! But make sure it is the "lenticular" type.
- Your Stereo Club: For me, it was Detroit. For you it might be something else. If you are lucky to have a stereo club within 180 miles from your area (I call this "driving distance") then consider yourself lucky. Through Detroit I became serious about stereo photography for exhibition and we got the knowledge and courage to start a stereo club in our area (Cleveland).
- PSA: Valuable resources available for the stereo photographer. And these "salons"! What fun!!!! The heart is ticking when the voting report is spotted in the mailbox.
- Stereoscope with Achromatic lenses: Throw the rest away! :-)
- Freeviewer's Assistant: How!!! I am into computer 3d now!
- Frosted halogen bulbs: First it was just halogen bulbs. Bright consistent viewer illumination. Now, we add the word "even".
- RBT Mounts: The fast food of accurate stereo projection. Like fast food it is convenient and expensive. But unlike fast food, it is good for your health!
- 7p Realist. Belplasca? What's a Belplasca? :-)
- Slide storage pages: Who needs a shoe box?
- Brackett Dissolver: If I am going to dissolve, I’d rather dissolve in stereo with my Brackett!
- Spicer mounts (and alignment jig): So many different sizes!!!
- de Wijs stereo viewers: Double achromatic lenses, aluminum body, serial number? The Rolls Royce of viewers.
- RBT S1: Po$$$itively, the best stereo camera ever made!
A few things have changed since then... But not much. I still shoot film (Fujichrome 100 is my film of choice). I use my RBT S1 for 90% of my stereo photography, even though I also own 2 more RBT cameras (RBT X3 with macro attachment, for example). I have now acquired not one, but two RBT 101 stereo projectors. Our stereo club is going strong. I am the Editor of Stereogram since 1997. I work on 3d full time since 2001.... Long live stereo photography!!!
Updated: May 2006