Hi David, great recount of the history of 3d photography, I had no idea these brands existed except for the viewmaster toy and the carny box viewers. I think there’s a huge issue with 3D photography and it’s half of the entire topic: how do you experience the 3D effect? You showed yours and your dad’s prints, but you didn’t elaborate on how you view them or set up a viewing experience for your family and friends.

I don’t know if you’re familiar with the Nintendo 3DS, it was the first interactive device in the market capable of displaying 3D without glasses, not just games but also photos. It didn’t sell well because Nintendo could never convey what it was like to perceive the 3D first-hand. It’s impossible to know what it’s like by looking at a poster or a YouTube video. It was in no way a commercial disaster like the Virtual Boy, which was a viewmaster-style console released in the 90s.

Back to the point: what’s your opinion about anaglyphic glasses versus Holmes viewers versus enclosed headsets (like the viewmaster)?

It’s possible to experience 3D photos with no additional hardware by crossing the sight, but the eye strain is very bad after a few minutes.