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 stereo cameras, as happened to all cameras, led to most 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, lens separations as wide as 4”, 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.

Join me as we recreate a stereo lens board with variable separation in the traditional way. Each board will comprise of 37 pieces of brass, mahogany, and plywood (for the joints).

Starting point: I have a Gandolfi Half Plate Camera, Watson stereo camera, Thornton Pickard shutter, German Thornton Pickard style shutter, and various lenses.

The goal is to end up with at least two stereo lens boards that can work in combination with the above equipment.

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

I have had the stereo separation adjustment screws custom made to my design.

Here is the progress so far: