Owl Viewer
(Version 2)
Updated OWL 1 (Version 2)
features a wider aperture in the back plate (increased from 14cm to 15.5cm)
making it compatible with viewing larger format Stereocards and for use with
iPads
The OWL, designed by Queen Guitarist Brian May, is a unique, high quality,
stereo focusing viewer, which packs into a space only 1/3 inch thick, yet
assembles in 15 seconds into a rigid precision instrument which is equally at
home sitting on a page to view stereo illustrations in a book, or used in the
hand as the perfect viewer for stereo cards - classic or modern. It has
extra large lenses so anyone can use it regardless of eye spacing. It has
a slot to hold views in the viewer or since the back has an opening it can be
placed over a stereo image in a book for high quality viewing. 
The new version of the OWL features a wider aperture in the back plate - as
suggested by Stereo World editor John Dennis. This makes no difference to
the OWL's performance in viewing stereo cards, but it enables the viewer to
cover the whole area of larger format cards when they are illustrated life-size
in book and magazines. Usually these are cards made much later than the
"Scenes in Our Village" and "Diableries" cards … for
instance Keystone Views, and Underwood and Underwood, and many 21st century
stereo pairs now being offered. So the OWL now covers more formats
than ever.
But perhaps the most significant advantage of the new Version 2 OWL is that
it is perfect for viewing side-by-side stereos on the iPAD. The geometry
of the Brewster system - which is really what we are all using, dictates strict
limits for the size of our images. Well, we shall see - but in the
meantime our OWLs will be a great tool for enjoying electronic stereos on our
iPads.
