Build a Twin-Camera Stereo Rig (and Finish the Pairs in SPM)
A twin-camera rig is two cameras mounted side by side, fired together — the classic way to shoot stereo of anything that moves. StereoPhoto Maker is where the pairs end up, but the quality of the final image is decided on the bar, in the geometry you build. This workflow covers setup through SPM finishing.
Geometry first
- Parallel axes, not toe-in. Converging the cameras creates keystone distortion that alignment must then fight. Mount both cameras pointing straight ahead and let the stereo window do the framing in SPM.
- Baseline = subject-dependent. Around eye spacing (≈65 mm) for people and rooms; wider for landscapes, narrower for close subjects. Too wide is the classic beginner error — depth becomes unviewable, not dramatic.
- Matched height and level. A millimetre of height difference is vertical misalignment in every frame. Shim, level, lock.
Sync: the honest options
- Simultaneous release cables / IR — two shutters fired by one control; good enough for most scenes.
- Firmware solutions — some camera families support linked operation or precision sync accessories; check your models.
- “Close enough” hand sync — pressing both releases together works for static subjects and fails exactly when motion matters. Know which game you are playing.
Camera settings discipline
Lock everything the pair shares: focal length (same zoom position, taped if necessary), focus distance, exposure mode and white balance. Any difference between the two frames becomes work — or waste — in post.
Finishing in SPM
- Copy both cards; pair the frames by timestamp/filename and keep originals untouched.
- Run auto alignment (or StereoAutoAlign over the folder) and inspect the corrections — big recurring corrections mean the rig needs adjustment, not the software.
- Set the window, save SBS masters, export viewing copies (Quest, anaglyph, print).