Chris's camera pages
Kodak Stereo Camera
Manufactured around 1954, this is a well-made, and robust camera from Kodak to take stereoscopic pictures. The format is what is known as the Stereo-Realist format, producing paired exposures of 23mm by 24mm in size.
Generally, most photographers would use a slide film, to produce images for viewing in a hand-held viewer, or for the well-heeled, through a stereo projector, with all the fun of polarised glasses. You may also use a negative film, either colour or black & white, and then make paired prints to use in a print viewer.
This camera is fitted with Kodak Anaston 35mm f/3.5 lenses, which are coupled so that rotating either sets the focus on both lenses. The right-hand lens has the focus scale calibrated in feet in the normal way, while the other has simple zone settings, for Close-up, Groups, and Scenes.
The viewfinder is a periscope arrangement, with the front lens for the finder actually being between the taking lenses on the front of the camera body. The finder has an integral spirit level, handy to help you avoid those disturbing off-level stereoscopic pictures.
Generally, most photographers would use a slide film, to produce images for viewing in a hand-held viewer, or for the well-heeled, through a stereo projector, with all the fun of polarised glasses. You may also use a negative film, either colour or black & white, and then make paired prints to use in a print viewer.
This camera is fitted with Kodak Anaston 35mm f/3.5 lenses, which are coupled so that rotating either sets the focus on both lenses. The right-hand lens has the focus scale calibrated in feet in the normal way, while the other has simple zone settings, for Close-up, Groups, and Scenes.
The viewfinder is a periscope arrangement, with the front lens for the finder actually being between the taking lenses on the front of the camera body. The finder has an integral spirit level, handy to help you avoid those disturbing off-level stereoscopic pictures.
The camera is convenient to use, the film is advanced by rotating the knob at the right-hand end of the top cover. The twin shutters are cocked automatically when the film is advanced.
The film rewind knob has a fold-out crank to speed the job up, and the rewind button is on the base of the camera, and it is worth noting that you must hold the rewind button across throughout the rewinding process, it doesn't lock in place.
The shutter speeds, which run from 1/25 to 1/200 second are set by sliding the speed scale left or right, as required, to bring the chosen speed setting against the stationary red arrowhead pointer in the centre.
Aperture settings are made by moving the small knob at the back of the aperture scale to align the moving black pointer with the chosen setting on the stationary aperture scale.
I find the Kodak Stereo camera more convenient to use than my Stereo-Realist, mostly because the film advance, shutter release and viewfinder are all located where you would expect to find them.
Of course, once you have the camera to take stereoscopic pictures, you then need a suitable viewer to enjoy the output. This Kodak Stereo Viewer II is great for the job. An illuminated viewer, it can run off batteries or from the mains power adapter as shown here.