Yes, RAW video (12-bit) and m43 lens compatibility for just $995: Blackmagic official press release for the Pocket Cinema MFT Camera! Coming on market in July. | 43 Rumors.
The idea sounds weird but there is a reason for it and it makes sense: 3D to 2D glasses (reverse conversion) | 3D Film Tutorials.
With our interest in 3D photography and video, we can get stuck on thinking 3D is just
about photography or movies.
But the future of 3D is vastly larger. As 3D monitors and 3D TVs become wide spread – which is likely a few years out yet – consider the impact this could have on line shopping. And especially when glasses-free displays are common on computers, tablets, phones and HDTVs and the use of 3D is no longer a gimmick but the ordinary.
No longer would we expect to look at a little photo on the web site when choosing a product. Instead, we will likely look at a large 3D view or 3D model that we can rotate and examine, almost as if it were in our hands.
True 3D is also coming. Think “Holodeck” at a small scale. I know people working on this type of technology and for now, the goal is desktop sized “Holodeck” perspectives that enable engineers to design parts in their CAD system and then create a view – not just a mapping of 3D to a 2D display (like the image that accompanies this article) – but a volumetric display which you can walk around and see from all sides.
Add in 3D scanning technology – its available off the shelf today from Microsoft and its called Kinect. Use future 3D scanners to capture information about parts and components or the layout of a kitchen that is to be re-modeled. Or to capture a 3D model of yourself to then use in a virtual clothes fitting exercise where 3D modeled clothes are mapped to your body and checked for size, before you purchase online. So much for retail show rooms? And of course, this can all tie in to 3D printing. Or deliver a 3D virtual world to use from our remotely controlled 3D-seeing robot.
Even traditional 3D imaging can provide us with new perspectives. I enjoy shooting macro 3D – which is close ups of small objects in 3D. Because they are so small we have to get our face so close to the subject that we lose 3D depth perspective. But our camera can capture 3D depth at close range and enlarge it for our viewing.
Similarly, what about slow motion 3D? While we are used to seeing 2D slow motion in sports, 3D slow motion may reveal new insights. And then, what about slow motion macro 3D? Now we may be able to see things that we miss entirely today because we cannot see depth at close range, and definitely not in slow motion.
A comparison of inexpensive, consumer level 3D cameras in terms of the specifications that matter for 3D photography and video. There are other cameras besides these but these are affordable and available from many vendors. Another day I will look in to specifications of higher end cameras, such as the Sony TD10/TD20 3D video cameras.
Update: Since posting this item it appears that most of these cameras are in the process of being discontinued and you can find some great half price deals right now. It is likely that new 3D cameras will be introduced in a few weeks at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show.
| Fujifilm W3 | Lumix 3D1 | Toshiba Camileo Z100 | |
| Stereobase | 6.5 cm | 3.0 cm | 3.0 cm |
| Focal length | 35-105mm 35mm equivalent | 25-100mm 35mm equivalent | Fixed lens, 4x digital zoom in 3D, 35mm equivalent unknown |
| Stills | 2x 10.0 MP Sensor3D Resolution 7.2 MP in 16:9 ratio 8.9 MP in 3:2 ratio 10.0 MP in 4:3 ratio Stills recorded in full size side by side MPO format |
2x 12 MP Sensor3D Resolution 6 MP @ 16:9 8 MP @ 4:3 Stills recorded as full size |
2x 5 MP sensor3D Resolution 4 MP @ 16:9 (2D 5M 2592 x 1944, and an “interpolated” 16 MP 4608×3456) Stills recorded in full side-by-side JPEG |
| Video | Video 1280×720/24p MP4 encoding3D HD Resolution two separate video streams recorded as 1280×720/24p for left 1280×720/24p for rightEncoding AVCHD or MJPEG 3D-AVI format |
Video 1,920×1,080/30F in either AVCHD or MP4. Sensor is progressive but video is encoded as 1080i – end result is basically the same as 30p. 1280×720/30p 1280×720/60pEncoding AVCHD or MP43D Resolution 960 x 1080 for left 960 x 1080 for right |
Video 1920×1080/30p 720/60p MP4 encoding,3D file format is one half side-by-side formatmeaning 960×1080 for each halfFeatures external mic input plug |
| LCD | Glasses free 3D | 2D only | Glasses free 3D |
| Image stabilization | No, CCD imager | Yes, CMOS imager | No, CMOS |
| Battery | user replaceable | user replaceable | user replaceable |
| Sony Bloggie 3D | ||
| Stereobase | 2.0 cm | |
| Focal length | 16:9 stills and video: 47mm (35mm camera equivalent) 4:3 41mm (35mm equivalent) |
|
| Stills | 2x 5.15 MP sensor (3.1 MP @ 16:9) (5 MP S 4:3)3D 2 MP (1920x1080x)Encoded as full size MPO side by side images |
|
| Video | 1080 720/60p 720/30p 3D: 1080/30p onlyEncoding MP4Encoded in half size side-by-side 3D format for 960 x 1080 resolution per side |
|
| LCD | Glasses free 3D | |
| Image stabilization | Yes, CMOS imager | |
| Battery | internal, not replaceable |
An interesting observation – some of these cameras have 1920×1080 image sensors but actually cut the image in half when encoded into video. The reality is they are not 1920×1080 but 960 x 1080 x 2.
In addition, the frame rate offers additional temporal resolution.
Let’s compare the image quality in terms of actual resolution, as well as resolution in time by calculating a “mega pixels per minute” rate:
Interestingly, depending on many factors, your highest image quality might come from 720 x 60 fps because it delivers more potential information to your eyes over time.
Shooting 3D with my two Kodak Playsport Zx3 cameras, I think the 720/60p dual camera view looks on par with the 1080p/30p view. But that is also because after editing and 3D processing, the output of a 1080p video often ends up as a 960x1080p side by side video (as needed, for example, to upload to Youtube).
Figuring out which is best can get complicated!
