Verascope stereoscopic camera, viewer

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Jules Richards, Verascope stereoscopic camera, viewer and sample image gallery

Stereo Viewer

This is the sort of device that is required to view the pictures from the Verascope. The best subjects are ones with strong perspectives and foreground interest. As the Verascope is fixed focus, anything that's required to be in focus needs to be at least 3 - 4 metres away. The nose of the viewer is accommodated by the convenient cutout in this device. This viewer is not of Jules Richards manufacture, but one of thousands commonly available during the 20s and 30s.

In order that online viewers may be able to see the images in 3D, a few have been converted to anaglyphs, that is blue/red separated. In order to appreciate the images you will need an appropriate set of blue red 3D glasses . Click on any of the images below to view the anaglyph in a new window.

	This is interesting. The designer of this camera did not equip it with any form of focus control, despite fitting it with aperture and shutter speed controls. The reason for this may well be apparent in this picture. In the foreground is a fence post which is clearly out of focus. When viewed in stereo the fence post cannot be resolved by the brain, but a little further out, at about 3 metres, the offset isn't so great and resolves correctly in the brain. It may not be a coincidence that this is where the Verascope's depth of field starts. This picture was taken using 127 roll film.
Copyright T.Rothwell 2001	Now this picture was not taken by the Verascope in the Living Image collection. However it was taken by an identical camera from another owner. This particular example was used in France at the time of the First World War and permission to use this picture has kindly been granted by T. Rothwell of New York. This Picture depicts the Place du Tertre, in Montmartre just behind the Basilique Sacre Coeur in Paris. Now famous for the artists, but it looks a little quieter back in those days. Further pictures from this particular camera date it to the 1914 - 18 war.
	Exactly the same scene 90 years later in March 2003, but taken with our Verascope this time. As you can see the Place du Tertre is a tad busier these days. The sense of depth on the stereo version is really quite amazing.
	Eiffel Tower, taken in March 2003 during the Verascope's second return to it's birthplace. On this trip the roll film magazine was used, loaded with Jessops 127 200 ASA film as this has been more reliable than the plates we have been making. 127 film needs to be rewound onto wider spindled spools with recessed ends to be used in this camera. This photo was taken to exploit the foreground trees.
	The Grand Staircase to the first class reception area on board the RMS Titanic. Well okay not quite, this is actually a knock down replica made for a mobile exhibition, but it is reasonably convincing. The stereo version works quite well here too.