Mercury Works announces the Mercury Stereo 12, the world’s first medium format stereoscopic camera that takes interchangeable lenses and interchangeable backs.
Update: The camera system, including the Mercury stereo viewer, is now available on Kickstarter!
The Stereo 12 is the result of five years of engineering and testing, designed to bring 3D shooting to high end photography, and a professional, highly versatile camera to 3D shooters. It has benefitted from the past eight years of development and worldwide customer feedback on the Mercury Universal Camera System.
The Stereo 12’s native format is 6×6, like the classic Hasselblad V system. However, it shoots two frames side by side, from slightly different perspectives, matching the distance of the human eyes.
The Mercury Stereo 12 uses an electronic actuation system to precisely sync, to the millisecond, its two shutters, yet maintain compatibility with a wide array of existing shutters and lenses. The Stereo 12 system includes different electronic lensboards for popular leaf shutters, readily available from medium format and large format camera systems. It is compatible with hundreds of lenses. Some notable ones include the Mamiya TLR line of lenses (and shutters), the legendary Super Angulon 47mm, Rodenstock lenses including the classic Grandagon 65mm f/4.5 and Heligon 80mm f/2.8 and current high-end HR Digiron-W 70mm f/5.6, most APO-Digitar lenses, and countless more in-between, from all eras of photography.
The Mercury Stereo 12 features removable backs and is compatible with all Graflok/International 45 standard backs, as well as 4×5 sheet film holders. Compatible Graflok 45 backs include the Horseman 6×12 120 back, the DaYi 6×12 120 back, 3D printable 120 backs, the Grafmatic 45, 4×5 sheet film holders, and full frame instant backs.
In addition, Mercury Works is developing a batch of re-engineered 70mm backs, exclusive to this Kickstarter, capable of shooting the 70mm panorama format needed for the Stereo 12. This follows Mercury Works’ 70mm initiative, launched earlier this year, which includes a pledge to release new film stocks in 70mm (see www.shoot70mm.com). Mercury Works has also developed a 135 extreme pano back to shoot 35mm film in a panoramic orientation with the Stereo 12.
The Stereo 12 is thus currently compatible with 120 roll film, 70mm film, 135 film, 4×5 sheet film, and 4×5 instant film. It is also compatible with medium format digital backs, but not for instantaneous capture of moving subjects.
The Mercury Stereo 12 also features a Ground Glass back system that is particularly useful to stereo photographers as it allows both the left and right views to be independently previewed for precise framing, edge evaluation, and evaluation of stereoscopic deviation at various depth planes. This enables the stereographer to precisely compose in 3D. There are multiple ground glass backs available for different budgets, including a complete rail-mount system with various accessories such as a sliding magnifying viewer.
As a fully modular system, the Stereo 12 can be configured to any need and any budget. It is the most versatile and feature-packed stereo camera ever released. Its modularity also enables many ergonomic benefits, such as a quick-removable left-hand grip, quick-release camera straps, four cold shoe mounts, a built-in Arca-Swiss style QR foot (with an additional standard tripod mount), and much more. We have been refining our cameras since 2015 for a worldwide clientele, and that design experience and feedback has been poured into this camera.
As an additional bonus, unlike most stereo cameras, the Mercury Stereo 12 can shoot mono (flat) images as well as stereoscopic ones, on a shot-by-shot basis. When shooting mono, you will use half as much film.
Mercury Works launched in 2015 and pioneered the use of 3D printing to create modular camera systems. The Mercury Universal Camera system is the most extensive camera system in the history of photography, with over 500 modules, thousands of possible configurations, and compatibility with many hundreds of lenses. The Stereo 12 builds on that tradition with the most advanced stereo camera system in history.
The Mercury Stereo 12 Kickstarter will launch on June 26. The crowdfunding campaign will feature the basic camera system for approximately $500 (not including lenses or film back), with a discounted version available for makers who are comfortable 3D printing the camera’s non-electronic accessories, and deluxe kits available that include Mercury Works’ stereoscopes for high-end viewing of stereo images as both slides and digital, our exclusive 70mm back, and much more.
As a fully manual film camera that embraces stereography, the Mercury Stereo 12 champions photographic history, while as a fully modular, reconfigurable, professional camera, it leads the way into the future of stereography.
Back the Kickstarter campaign here:
5 thoughts on “Announcing the Mercury Stereo 12 camera system”
where is this camera available for sale?
The camera is now available to pre-order here!
I just learned about this project from Dominik at Oszko stereo. I have been using a Sputnik stereocamera, and there are a lot of problems with it so I am very intrigued by this Mercury project. I’m a little unclear about what package I would need to order. I am interested in doing 6×6 medium format pairs, and maybe also 35mm. I have a Bronica GS1 with a variety of lenses, and also a variety of 4×5 lenses. Can you clarify exactly what lenses can be adapted to your camera, hopefully I would be able to use some of what I have so would only need to buy one additional lens not two, but it’s not clear from the description exactly what lenses can be used. Thanks!
We are still refining/testing the list of compatible lenses. We have about 33 on the list of recommended ones at this point. Soon it will all be posted, with all other details, on a new site devoted entirely to the Mercury Stereo system. In general, most view lenses (large format or medium format) that are in a 0 or 00 sized shutter and don’t have a front element with a larger diameter than 60mm (i.e., usually a filter size of 58mm) are compatible. Many Bronica lens elements can be re-mounted in a Copal 0 shutter, making them compatible as well. This is something we’re still experimenting with. But in short, probably a number of your lenses are compatible! I’ll email you directly with more info.
Thanks Zach. I think all my large format lenses are copal 1 or 2 sizes, but I will check. I’m not sure how the Bronica lenses would fit in a copal shutter though. I await more details, then I will place a pre-order.
Mark