Stereo viewers made by Hugo de Wijs and son Jeroen in The Netherlands are known for the extremely fine quality of their optics, machining, and design. The View-Master “Master” viewer, and the “Combi” (for use with both Realist and 2x2x2 format stereo) are available, as are specialized stereo viewers for display installations. A dedicated light attachment made by de Wijs for the Master viewer is not currently on the market, however an excellent halogen lamp attachment is produced by J. van Ekeren and sold by third parties (cost is about US$ 275 ).

     Several companies sell cold cathode fluorescent flat panel lights, designed for previewing slides or transparencies, in various sizes and qualities. After becoming used to the more “natural” type of 5000° K. light, compared with warmer-appearing incandescent lamps, one can enjoy the cool operation, uniformity of illumination, and lamp longevity that certain panel lights offer when used as stereo viewer light sources. If powered by a transformer from household current, such viewer lights can be economically left on for as long as one desires.

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      The M70 flat panel happens to fit the Master viewer in all the right places. There are several locations where a slight difference would have made using it as a stereo viewer light much more difficult. Only two 3 millimeter diameter holes need to be drilled through the entire panel to enable attachment.

      The M70 comes with a clear plastic slide retainer affair that rotates open and closed. This can simply be pried off, without removing any fasteners. After drilling the two holes that will receive the attachment bolts, the four #0 Phillips head self-tapping screws that hold the two halves of the light panel together can be unscrewed, so the plastic halves can be parted and the swarf inside cleaned away.

      This view is from above looking down. The blue sliding ON/OFF switch at the right is partially obscured by the viewer body, but can be easily moved with a fingernail.

      Here’s the back view. Above the blue and yellow labels and below the battery compartment cover, you can see the two heads of the truss head 3x20 millimeter bolts that attach the M70 panel to the viewer. Near the bottom, just inside the two lowest bolts that keep the viewer halves together, there are two of the three transparent silicone rubber feet that protect the aluminum viewer bottom when the bare viewer is placed on a flat surface.

      Close to the bottom edge of the image, a vacant 3mm tapped hole is visible, one of three originally provided. Since the M70 panel light is attached at only two points, there is some flexure if force is applied at the cantilevered edge, but still it is quite secure. The halogen light attachment made by J. van Ekeren takes advantage of all three attachment points, is more aesthetic than this simple combination and provides adjustable illumination intensity, but is more than three times the cost of the M70.

Circled is the silicone rubber foot that makes it necessary to fit spacing washers.

One stack of washers can be seen at the lower left corner, while the other is at the blue ON/OFF switch toward the top, appearing out of focus.

     Above is the Hakuba M70 fluorescent light, detached from the viewer. The two added bolts are plainly visible. Note that the panel is upside down, relative to the orientation for which it was originally designed.

     Close-ups showing the locations of the added stainless steel bolts. The 3mm holes were drilled straight through the panel, using a drill press. The internal circuit board was perforated in two locations, but component damage is avoidable. After drilling, the panel can be taken apart for cleaning. The area of the sliding switch that must be made flat to accommodate the washers can be clearly seen.

     This shows the gap between the bottom edge of the light panel and the viewer body. If the viewer and attached light were to be handled rather than supported on a tripod or other mount, this gap can be bridged with rubber pads or spacers, to block the bending moment at the fastener points. The bottom edge of the illuminated panel is slightly above the bottom edge of the viewer’s diffuser windows, but the illumination appears uniform when stereo images are viewed through the ocular centers, as is normally the case.

     A video macro shot through one of the oculars gives the general idea but does not do justice to the clarity of the achromatic lenses. Fitting the fluorescent panel has made using this precision viewer even more enjoyable and convenient. The illumination is bright and even, and the panel remains lit without keeping a button depressed, which is a pleasing feature.

     For tethered use of the light, in lieu of four AAA batteries that will power the light for more than two hours, a dedicated Hakuba AC adapter is sold (Japanese part number 422344). However, a Sony AC-E60A AC power adapter seems to work fine, as should any source of 6 volt DC power, 500 mA or so, with the correct miniature plug (and positive center polarity). The E60A is a solid state device, lighter than typical copper wire transformer-type adapters, and can be used worldwide (100~240 volt).