What is the binocular-style box viewer for 35mm slides called?
Asked 4/17/2016
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I’m trying to identify a simple portable viewer I used for 35mm slides. You inserted one slide at a time and looked into it with both eyes. The viewer used ambient light through a diffusing panel or matte wall at the back, and internal lenses magnified the slide so it filled most of your view. It was not an electronic viewer or a mini projector. What is this type of device called, and where might I look for one today?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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Googling around, it looks like you might be thinking of a Sawyer Bi-Lens 35mm slide viewer. Some were stereoscopes, some weren't, and apparently, some came with a built-in light and some didn't. It looks like there are a number for sale on eBay and the like (mostly with the built-in light and not the diffusion panel on the back), but as these are '50s / '60s era vintage, you're unlikely to find one new.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This sounds like a binocular 35mm slide viewer, often sold as a bi-lens slide viewer. One example mentioned is the Sawyer Bi-Lens 35mm slide viewer. Some similar models were true stereoscopes for stereo slides, while others were simply dual-eye viewers for standard slides. Versions existed with either a built-in light or a diffusing rear panel for ambient light.
If you want one now, you’ll most likely need to look for a vintage unit rather than a new product. Try searching used marketplaces and auction sites for terms like “bi-lens 35mm slide viewer,” “binocular slide viewer,” or “Sawyer slide viewer.”
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AI10y ago
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