If one Lumix GX 7 is not enough why not put two together?

A project I have had in mind for some time. Getting two planar digital cameras with lenses that can be close

enough to shoot stereoscopic images. This will be a work in progress. A few members shot stereo on film. And

others are now using the Fuji W 3 which is decent enough. The flexibility of the GX 7 has possibilities. I

already had two lenses of same type. The GX 7 sells for $400.00 now in top condition. And one of Panasonics

achievements in my experience. So, I offer this image of what I have got so far in building a rig. And welcome

any and all ideas from the mechanically or engineering inclined and not needing a machine shop rate... Lenses can be about 2-7/8 interaxial, three at most and vertical images are fine with me, used to that format for lots of what I do. And cameras can each

be triggered by simple DIN plugs on the ends as remote cabling, close enough for me. I guess what I like as much as shooting stuff is

JURY RIGGING stuff. How about you?

 

I had one L shaped gizmo for some time, now out of production, that is adjustable (shown). Now I am foraging e Bay for

another one to mount the fixed camera alongside and a flat bar in my junk draw to hold them. ( and I convince

myself that two of this model is worth having anyway...self motivating thought in my dotage :-) Of course the goal is to make something not too too inelegant, I mean for carrying to the park and all.<div></div>

<p>I always preferred prisms & mirrors mounted on one body for 3D shots, but your technique looks like it would work as well as long as there wasn't fast action in the shot (due to the need to release 2 shutters simultaneously).</p>

<p>He aims to release the shutters electrically. I'd imagine that synchronising focus will be the bigger problem.</p>

I plan to focus manually. And will use two 20mm lenses. I think I have an idea to move this forward. Will add to it when I get to that point. Yes, electrical remotes are easy to access. Focus will need to allow some leeway, but that is sine qua non in stereo work.

I needed a quick release plate for the other used GX 7 so I ordered it with an L configuration. The bolt on kind. That should yield a flat bottom section. Then I have a grip bracket that is long enough for the whole works if I can line it all up. And thread the bottom remote plug through. I know I know. Another grown up toy. But I sure love to rig these things. Reminds me of my 13 year old self wrapping together two Brownie box cameras with a belt. It worked!

<p>https://www.stereoscopy.com/jasper/slide-bars.html</p>

Point of information. Harold, that web site is old and should be taken down actually...Owner of Jasper Engineering told me personally two years ago that he no longer makes or offers his products. There may be a few relics around of course at Berezin or eBay. Too bad. He made some pretty good material at fair price and sold at trade fairs a lot. One might, if inclined, look at products by Dr T, George Themelis who has crafted some pairing bars that are relatively affordable , makes them from web sourced parts. I have no link to offer right now, but I have dealt with Dr T who has a Dr T store on eBay with stereo gear. Good seller.

I got my L plate for the GX 7 today. Nice sculptured metal. Mounted it on a Sunpak legacy flash bracket with a metal horizontal piece ( not shown and grip realigned after this to left side). Now the lenses line up well enough. The L bracket is adjustable so there should be room for the shutter release wire on bottom and top. Consider it a status report. I have also ordered a dual bracket, for longer horizontal spacing from Dr T, George Themelis, who sells his products on eBay. This is a status report for anyone interested. I could not find a 3-D stereo forum cause there is none in PN. I know. I know. Having fun in my second life, all the girls stop me on the sidewalk :-) hah hah I wish...<div></div>

Progress. First off, I must report that the micro four thirds GX 7 is a good choice. And with the current used price and volume of them out there, it is a bargain item. As well as the excellent 20mm lens. KEH even offers a six month warranty. Now, the idea was to get something I could actually carry for 3-D photos. And one where the interaxial separation was close enough so that faces in mid range would not be odd looking. The choice of vertical was obvious for that purpose. Plus, I used to shoot in Realist format and used to that from film era. ( One can buy or build a horizontal platform. Dr T sells one for under $100.00 complete on eBay if you do not want to hack one yourself. So the next step is synching. I am sure we can splice with a siamese wire contraption, but for now I am using the Vello transmitter and two receivers with Pana/Leica compatible cables that I happen to own. And so far so good. Viewing them is a next step. And that should offer many learning experiences. As the de facto software /freeware is geared to Windows. I use MAC and do not want to mess with dual booting. No problem. I have thought of a cheap Windows laptop. Or get my wife to let me play with her HP desktop. Two planar cameras has always been the most interesting way to shoot stereo 3-D.

The thing that got me into photography way back instead of continuing my sketching and painting. Latest mod of the rig, with a metal vice plastic base plate and grip on left side..<div></div>

Just a progress report to complete this entry in the long lasting data base. I have got my two cameras synched by means of two Vello receivers and a single transmitter using the RF signal and the mini plug inputs on the ends of the cameras. I have been asked why not put them side by side and use the length of the image. Answer: Too easy. I want to get close to eye spacing and I am now at 76mm, close enough. The lenses are not the same version of the 20mm. I bought the second version which has a black shell but is optically identical. George Themelis is a user of GX 7 for 3-D and sells a wired coupling for Lumixes,which may be my next buy. he writes that a simple splice will not do the job re resistance ... (about fifty dollars). As long as the Fuji W3 has no successor, I am thinking that home made rigs like this will be popular among stereoscopic fans..besides having and extra GX 7 is a mild indulgence. Darn good camera. And handholdable though it looks like War of the Worlds, Not really! Any questions?<div></div>