Making a Stereo Lens Board with Variable Separation

A Work in Progress

A stereo lens board with variable separation allows one to minimise or maximise the stereo effect depending on the scene, or to obey the various rules and recommendations of stereophotography (book recommendations here - resources).

The miniturisation of cameras that came with the introduction of roll film led to stereo cameras adopting eye-width lens separation or smaller. Stronger stereo effects nowadays are usually obtained using two cameras placed far apart. In the early days of stereo, plate cameras with lens separations as wide as 4-4.5”, and plate sizes as large as 5x8”, 5x7”, Half Plate, 4.5x7.25” etc. were used. Typically stereo pairs measuring roughly 3x3” each were created from contact prints of these wet and dry plate images.

Starting point: I have a Gandolfi Half Plate Camera, Watson stereo camera, two Thornton Pickard shutters and various lenses. I have had the stereo separation adjustment screws custom made to my own design.

Key considerations: Lens diameters, width of camera opening, max and min separation possible, etc.

The goal is to end up with at least two stereo lens boards that can work in combination with the above equipment. Each stereo board will comprise of approximately 37 pieces of brass, mahogany, and plywood (for the joints).

This is my (work in progress) recreation of a stereo lens board with variable separation made in the traditional way:

There is still a lot of work to do. The next steps will be to:

• Attach the runners to the top and bottom of the lens boards to allow the boards to travel smoothly side-to-side.

• Rout a recess to trap the separation screw

• Rout grooves to accept the velvet light trapping ribbon.

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