16 THREE-DIMENSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHYThe companion picture with the square mark is placed in the
pocket bearing the same number but with the square index, and
the pictures are mounted correctly. The punch and the reels are
precision made so that correct alignment is assured with no pos-
sibility of obliquity.
The final measure of a camera, however, is the quality of re-
sult. In making well over 1000 exposures with the Personal
camera, over a period of almost a year, the writer found it to be
wholly satisfactory in every respect. For those who distrust their
ability to cope with the intricacies of photographic exposure, the
simplicity of this camera will prove most attractive. No focusing,
no rangefinder, no exposure meter. Preset one dial which is
rarely disturbed; set the other and shoot. It is as simple as that,
yet quality has not been sacrificed to simplicity.
The finder is a direct optical finder. No rangefinder is used
with the fixed-focus lenses of course. The film transport and shut-
ter setting are linked to prevent double exposure.
STEREO VIVID CAMERA. This camera is sold by the makers of
the widely known Stereo Vivid projector. A glance at the two
illustrations will show a certain similarity between this camera
and the Personal. The same foolproof exposure control is used
on both cameras, while the built-in shutter and “squeeze” release
upon the front panel are common to both. In the Stereo Vivid,
the shutter is placed behind the lenses, instead of in front of
them, and lies almost in the focal plane. The shutter has the same
positive synchronization as the true guillotine shutter,
The Stereo Vivid is a 5.5-perforation camera. That is the film
is advanced 5.5 perforations for eaqh picture instead of the five
normally used. This gives a picture roughly two millimeters
wider than the five-perforation advance, or a bit more. This gives
one less picture for each so-exposure magazine, but provides a
picture which is fully square instead of being somewhat narrower
than its height. This is a feature which will appeal to many stere-
ographers who have turned to the extra wide European frame to
avoid having a picture narrower than its height. This is a matter
of personal choice. There is no basis for saying that any of the
three is “best,” but it does make it possible for the purchaser to
choose among three picture widths.