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Advice on Setting up a Stereo Camera

Started Mar 29, 2017 | Questions thread
Sailor Blue
Sailor Blue Forum Pro • Posts: 15,536
Re: Advice on Setting up a Stereo Camera

Search this forum and you will find a number of posts about using two Canon cameras and how to simultaneously trigger them. There are also a number of posts on using two GoPro cameras. For most uses it is simply easier and better to just buy a Fuji Real 3D W3 camera.

If you want to use a camera with a higher resolution sensor or variable focal lenghts there is the cha-cha method where you take one photo then sway to the side and take the second image. StereoPhoto Maker does an excellent job of aligning the two images. With practice you can sway more for distant objects and less for closeups.

StereoPhoto Maker (English)

In order to be able to use my Canon 7D for stereo I bought a cheap slide, kept the slide clamp and removed the worm gear mechanism. A Bulldog type clip is positioned at the desired stereo base (see images below). This allows me to release the clamp, slide the rail quickly, then reclamp it. This is much faster than using the worm gear to move the slide.

eBay - 2 way Macro Shot Focusing Focus Rail Slider for CANON NIKON SONY Camera D-SLR

I mounted a Stroboframe 300-115 Vertaflip on the modified rail so I can use my Canon 7D either in horizontal or vertical orientation while keeping the lens centered over the tripod screw in the slide.

Amazon.com: Stroboframe 300-115 Vertaflip PHD Camera Platform (Black): Camera & Photo

The desired stereo base depends on focal length and subject distance.

Lens Interaxial Distance: 3D and Stereo Photography Forum: Digital Photography Review

Stereo Base Mathematics

BaseCalc: A free pocket-sized stereo base calculator - www.stereoscopie.fr

There is an android application called "BaseCalc" that I keep on my phone that can give you the stereo base in either metric or English measurements.

BaseCalc - Android Apps on Google Play

This rig works well for inanimate non-moving subjects but not for any subject that moves.

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Living and loving it in Pattaya, Thailand. Canon 7D - See the gear list for the rest.

 Sailor Blue's gear list:Sailor Blue's gear list
Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3 Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 5DS R Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro Tokina AT-X 16-28mm f/2.8 Pro FX +9 more
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