Sputnik MF stereo and viewers

[x-ray]

My wife gave me a FSU Sputnik 6x6 stereo camera a few years ago. It's a nice camera made of bakelite and has 2 OK lenses but focusing can be an issue. When i finally learned how to use it I've had some really great results. It came with the rare stereo no frills viewer. I'm thinking of using this camera for part of a documentary that I'm shooting. The images will be of religious snake handlers handling deadly eastern diamondback rattlesnakes. These should be fairly dramatic shots given the nature of the subjects. The images will be incorporated in two museum shows that will travel the US. I will need a number of stereo viewers, one for each image, that can be incorporated in the show. Any suggestions on viewers? I've thought about getting a few antique victorian viewers and using them but finding six nice onescan be a problem.

 

[RML]

How about some viewing boxes? I mean, a stereo viewer in box shape instead of (breakable) handheld viewers. The boxes can be hung on a wall to make it "interactive". I saw this setup once in an exhibtion here in Amsterdam. No-one needs to fight over any viewers, they don't break or get lost.

 

[x-ray]

I was thinking about something where viewers could'nt handle the hardward too but hadn't thought of a viewing box. I'm trying to find something ready made that could be put into an envlosure that would keep hands off. I did find some $35 6x6 stereo viewers that might work if enclosed with a lightsource behind them.

 

[Abbazz]

Check this link (beware: slow site).

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[x-ray]

What a monster! I saw that while doing a search and had a good laugh. It looks like the took two motorized rolleiflexes and glued them together .

I did a test with my sputnik and 3200 Ilford. No light leaks and no problems. I scanned the negs and meds a set of prints that worked great.

 

[TL120-1]

Medium format viewers

Medium format viewers

The Sputnik can take some terrifc photographs and if you are going to take the trouble to use it, you really should display the resulting slides rather than printing the resulting images for use in a Holmes viewer.

The viewer I'd recommend to you is the 3D-World viewer. It's sold by several vendors. Dr-T is one. 3DStereo is another. Steve Berezin is another. I don't work for any of these people, nor do I have a commercial interest in their businesses.

I sometimes refer to the 3D-World as the MFPV and have actually used one to exhibit some work in a museum. I took the viewer described in this project and mounted it on an articulated arm.

As for the 3D-World stereo 120 camera, I can assure you it is nothing like "two motorized rolleiflexes". While not a rangefinder, it's a darned nice camera. My web pages have some more of my views on the unit.

John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska

 

[x-ray]

Thanks John, I'll take a look. The sputnik does make nice images but like most FSU cameras it was forged on an anvil.