Pentax stereo
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Nice image of some gorgeous old Pentax gear ...... It would be nice to have an explanation of what the equipment actually did, and its purpose. .....
The camera adapter splits the image into a stereo pair for a 35mm transparency and the viewer lets you look at them, in 3D. Similar theory to the Viewmaster system if you remember that.
A typical slide with a suitable subject appears like this:
Note the gap between flag mast and the yacht to the left of it.
Using 3D glasses and conversion software they can be made viewable digitally but that doesn't come close to viewing the slides in the dedicated viewer.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stitz-sa-1-Universal-Stereo-Adapter-USED-/38238415626...
I've still got one somewhere.
Similar products were used for passport photos to get two shots on a single Polaroid.
--
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
I also have a Stereo Realist 45 which creates pairs of slides. They are, however, of a non-standard format so you have to have the special slide mounts too. The really whacky thing about that camera is the viewfinder is at the bottom and you hold it against your forehead.
Cheers, Kris.
Cheers, Kris.
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
http://www.londonstereo.com/stereophotography.html
Some more Stitz...
http://www.viewmaster.co.uk/htm/stitz.asp
--
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Also this one for people whose eyes are about 150mm apart
I remember seeing some 3D slides done by a shop fitting company they were very good and showed their work very well.
--
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
There were some dedicated cameras that produced Viewmaster format stereo pairs on 35mm slide film but the Pentax solution was pretty clever as it didn't require anything beyond a SLR wit 50mm lens and the stereo adapter kit and the images contained on a single slide transparency.
I had a Viewmaster and a number of the round serated discs .... As a kid in the 70s my favourite disc was a Star Trek one, with great 3D images of the Enterprise and various scenes from the TV series.
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
The Viewmaster system would have required purchasing their dedicated empty reels and mounting the pairs in those. The VM images are roughly the same size as 110 stock so the Pentax system potentially achieved higher quality, albeit a bit quirky due to the vertical format making it more suited to portraits rather than landscape scenes (which the VM system was mainly used for with a large range of reels to purchase dedicated to various cities and resorts globally.)
Did someone seriously say that there was software to view and convert a digital file taken using the adaptor ...? That would be amazing to see, considering the enlargement on screen or even print that could be done now.
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
There's no reason why you couldn't just print any stereo pair and view them with or without a viewer. Some of the best I've ever seen were B&W prints on glossy paper.
The problem with the slide viewers is that it only holds one slide at a time. Very slow.
--
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PENTAX-3D-Image-Viewer-for-Optio-Digital-Cameras-O-3D...
--
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Did someone seriously say that there was software to view and convert a digital file taken using the adaptor ...? That would be amazing to see, considering the enlargement on screen or even print that could be done now.
One I've used is:
http://www.stereoeye.jp/software/index_e.html
See it being used here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f75mop9swTI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wrxbE1LabU
Note: not sure I would trust the links given below them, use the author's site above.
Add Comment
To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.
7612 posts
16 years
Hertfordshire,
mostly.
Pentax stereo adaptor par Kris Lockyear, on ipernity
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.