Re: Zero2000 at Calumet

[This is being sent a second time. There might have been something
wrong with the list the first time.]

Pam Niedermayer wrote:
> Brian Reynolds wrote:
> > ...I may abandon thoughts of a monolithic stereo pinhole camera
> > and get two of the Zero2000s. I've already done something similar
> > with a pair of Lubitels, but there are several inconveniences with
> > using two separate cameras instead of a monolithic camera.
>
> Such as?
>

1) No flash sync. Not much of a problem for a pinhole stereo camera,
   but flash sync is very useful for a lens stereo camera. This is
   especially true given the small apertures used by Medium Format (as
   opposed to 35mm stereo) and for the large depth of field used in
   stereo. Before anyone asks, you can not use one flash on each
   camera. If you do so each camera will record different shadows
   that will look wrong when you view the stereo pair.

2) No shutter sync. Again not much of a problem for a pinhole stereo
   camera given the long exposures, but with a lens stereo camera you
   want shutter sync so that you can capture subjects with any amount
   of movement. For still subjects you can get away with two cable
   releases pressed together. If you get good at it you can capture
   slow moving subjects with two cable releases.

3) No control sync. Stereo requires shooting twice as much film and
   gives you the opportunity to make more than twice as many mistakes.
   You have to make sure the aperture, shutter speed, focus and film
   advance are all done in sequence for both cameras. This would
   still be a problem for a stereo pinhole camera (at least film
   advance would be).

4) Alignment is a problem. You need to keep both cameras parallel to
   each other. Most commercially available brackets do not have any
   method of maintaining camera alignment. There are custom brackets
   for sale within the stereo community, but they are for pairing
   smaller 35mm cameras.

Separate cameras do have one advantage. With separate cameras you can
easily vary the stereo base (distance between cameras). This is very
useful if you want to shoot landscapes with depth. Of course this
depth is exaggerated, but it works nicely if not overdone.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
reynolds@panix.com              | "Oooh!"
http://www.panix.com/~reynolds  |    -- Dexter and Dee Dee
NAR# 54438                      |       "Dexter's Laboratory"