All posts by 3DM

Cameras, Editing, Lighting, Technical

Is a 10-bit video codec always way better than an 8-bit codec?

It depends:

“As long as you have the right 8-bit, youre fine." DSLRs like the 5D Mark III have 14-bit sensors, but for video capture, they’re converted down to 8-bit. Its this 8-bit “secret sauce” that the experienced engineers are able to pull off.  “If the engineers are getting the right 8-bit in that final codec, its visibly lossless,”

via Misinformation: The Right 8 Bits | HDVideoPro.com.

It also depends on the lighting in the scene. If the scene has a high dynamic range, more bits are better. If the scene’s dynamic range is shallow, fewer bits are needed to capture the full range. And, like the above, it also depends on how the codec itself works to capture in 14-bits but mix down to 8-bits.

3D, Business

New 3D-capable Set Top Boxes Coming from ZTE

Says the new STBs will support Internet content:

ZTE Corp. 763, China’s second-largest maker of telephone equipment, plans to release digital set-top boxes for 3D television services that will run Google Inc. GOOG’s Android operating system.

via ZTE Plans 3D Digital-TV Boxes Operating Google’s Android – Bloomberg.

Which is why I think 3D is going to occur via the Internet more than the traditional broadcast pipes, particularly while 3D is a growing niche.

Videos

Video: Pvt. Hugh McLaughlin (1835-1906)

A mini documentary I produced today. Was invited to record an honorary ceremony and headstone dedication for Pvt. Hugh McLaughlin (b.1835-d.1906). He was buried in Greenwood Memorial Terrace in 1906 but his grave was unmarked and his Civil War service was unknown. Local Civil War history enthusiasts, re-enactors, and others took part in a graveside ceremony to honor Hugh McLaughlin. In attendance were a granddaughter, great granddaughter, great great granddaughter and other extended family members. Photographed using a Canon XH A1 and AT-835b shotgun directional mic. I also shot some 3D any may edit that at a later date.

Local news story on the ceremony is here and background on how the grave was discovered and the many people who researched the genealogy, the history and worked to obtain a new headstone.

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3D, Business

Powerpoint slide shows in #3D

Interesting idea:

Presente3D is an easy to use add-on for Microsoft PowerPoint that allows you to easily take any existing MS PowerPoint slide and make it 3D in minutes.

via Presente 3D adds Stereo to PowerPoint for $59.

For now, a niche market, but an interesting idea as glass free displays begin to become common. Although, if this takes off, undoubtedly Microsoft would add similar 3D support directly to Powerpoint – or by up this company 🙂