Although focus was fixed, the camera supported both variable aperture settings and shutter speeds.

This dial rotates as shutter speed and aperture are adjusted to indicate proper exposure in conditions of bright sun, hazy sun, cloudy bright, and cloudy dull for dark, average and light subjects.

The View-Master Personal film cutter cut the chips to a tolerance of .001 inch, well within the requirements of the mounts.

The Stereomatic 500 was much like other 50's stereo projectors except that it had a carriage and lens system designed for View-Master reels.

Sawyer's also offered a leather case, the bottom of which could be left on except when loading and unloading film.

Though the camera was a bit pricey compared to most consumer level cameras of the time, the cost of film and processing was relatively inexpensive leading to the phrase, used on promotional reels, "Take pictures like this for less cost than snapshots.

This camera had fixed focus and was designed to produce images for View-Master reels, but that is where the similarity ends.

Instead of separate shutter speed and aperture settings, the Mark II features a single dial that sets exposure values:[12] _ feet to infinity Like the View-Master Personal, the Mark II features an exposure table adjustable for different film speeds.

View-Master Personal and Mark II cameras are still actively traded through market places such as eBay and occasionally show up in estate sales.

Because of the ease of use of the VM cameras, many of the original owners were not technically inclined and had their pictures mounted professionally rather than doing it themselves.

[14] Though the Cameras weren't made anymore, the various companies that owned the VM line over the years continued to manufacture and sell the blank reel mounts until the machine broke and Fischer Price decided not to fix it.

For those interested in making their own reels but don't want to bother mounting them themselves this could be worth looking into.