FujiFilm has announced that their FinePix REAL 3D W1 – Stereoscopic 3D consumer digital camera is now available in Australia and New Zealand. No word on price yet.

The new FujiFilm 3D camera depends heavily on a newly developed chip called the “RP (Real Photo) Processor 3D” which synchronizes the data passed to it by both CCD sensors, and instantaneously blends the information into a single high quality image, for both stills and movies.
“Built-in 3D auto” determines optimal shooting conditions from both sensors. 3D auto means that as soon as the shutter is depressed, key metrics for the image, such as focus, zoom range, exposure, etc. are synchronized. The camera is also fitted with built-in synchro control, giving 0.001-second precision for shutter control and movie synchronization.
The processor uses the very latest technologies of high sensitivity and high resolution as the newest 2D processors.   Read the rest of this entry »

Following our story on the new beam splitter 3D camera rig released by the ‘3D Film Factory‘. Here is another beam splitting 3D camera rig this time from Element Technica. The following is an excerpt from ICG Mag:

Element Technica has created a more sophisticated set of 3D tools that are, “as simple to use as most modern 2D camera systems,” explains Stephen Pizzo who with partner Hector Ortega are co-founders of the Los Angeles-based company. “We want to make it possible for any filmmaker to create 3D content using their regular 2D crew.”

The firm has built both beamsplitter and side-by-side configured camera platforms to accommodate cameras from the miniscule Iconix or S1-2K to full-sized digital imagers like the RED or Sony 1500s. These systems represent the first of a new generation of 3D imaging tools with fully embedded control electronics. Most systems will accommodate zoom lenses and offer synchronous control of focus, iris and zoom with the embedded electronics.

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The 3D Film Factory has released the first production-ready, cost-effective 3D camera system – the 3D-BS Pro Rig. This 3D beam-splitter rig was specifically designed for use with the Red One cameras, as well as, other larger, broadcast quality cameras. Its durable, precise configuration was developed with the guidance of veteran stereographers and award-winning filmmakers to provide a viable, affordable alternative to high-priced 3D rigs costing ten times as much.

“Up until now, there’s only a few high-end facilities offering 3D rigs for Red One cameras and they’re very expensive”, said company president Karl Kozak. “So we set out to create a quality 3D Red system most filmmakers could afford. We’re interested in proliferating 3D production by making it accessible. The result was the 3D-BS Pro Rig, a great 3D rig for the Reds, that shoots incredible 3D at a fraction of the cost.”

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With the US release of FujiFilm’s FinePix REAL 3D W1 Stereoscopic Camera, I thought I’d do a quick round up for those interested in this new 3D consumer toy.  You can check out our previous posts on the FujiFilm REAL 3D W1 Camera here.

The best of rest is as follows:

• Blog pocket-lint offers a fairly balanced review of Real 3D W1 Camera.

• The 2D camera buffs at photographyblog.com have put together a quality extensive review.

• The Akihabara News from Japan was one of the first to post a review (they hated it).

DID YOU KNOW? – The FujiFilm REAL 3D W1 Digital Camera is just the first in FujiFilm’s 3D consumer range. Check out our story on FujiFilms REAL 3D Digital Photo Frame here (this stereoscopic 3D photo frame requires NO GLASSES).

READ ON FOR OUR PREVIOUS FEATURE ON THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE FujiFilm REAL 3D W1 Camera:   Read the rest of this entry »

Word on the street is that Sony has developed a new movie camera capable of shooting stereoscopic 3D images with a single lense.

The new single lense 3D movie camera removes the complicated set-up required for dual lense stereoscopic 3D camera systems currently used. When using a camera with two lenses, one for the right image and one for the left, the lenses must be carefully aligned so that the resulting images maintain the same degree of 3D perception, otherwise either the image looks crap or viewers can get headaches.

Sony says their new 3D camera takes a single image and separates it into right and left images that are then recorded by individual image sensors. The light is split using mirrors, not shutters, so the recorded image also appears smoother.

Sony will unveil their new 3D movie camera at next week’s Ceatec show in Tokyo.

Photos next page..       Read the rest of this entry »

More details on the Novo Minoru Stereoscopic 3D Webcam that we covered last month.’

Unfortunately, straight out of the box this cam only offers anaglyph stereoscopic 3D (red and blue glasses kind). However with the use of software readily availble (from other sources) you can shoot in true 3D. Sort of makes you wonder why they don’t offer better software right out the box.

Price confirmed: US$89, UK £49.95, €79.95 – Pre order coming December 19th 2008.

THE OFFICIAL WORD FROM THE COMPANY..

“Meet Minoru, meaning ‘Reality’ in Japanese, the World’s first 3D webcam.

Connect Minoru to your PC and he will come alive, his eyes will light up and he will be looking at you in 3D.

Your friends and family can now see you in 3D over your favourite messaging program like Windows Live Messenger, Skype, AOL instant messenger, OoVoo and many others.

You can also take 3D photos or even shoot 3D videos and upload them to YouTube.

Minoru = Reality!

Minoru connects easily to your PC’s USB port just like any other webcam but that’s where the similarities end. The Minoru software has stereoscopic anaglyphic processing that lets you be seen in three dimensions. The red and cyan anaglyph image produced by Minoru can be viewed by anybody who is wearing commonly available red and cyan 3D glasses (five pairs included free with Minoru). Minoru can also be used as a standard 2D webcam for anyone who doesn’t have the 3D glasses at hand.

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Here’s another 3D webcam. Supposedly ready for sale, though we are yet to see one in the wild. Apparently this cam has already been licensed by a 3D porn company (what a surprise -Ed). Details from the manufacturer are:

3D Webcam

The 3D webcam (pictured above) has been developed exclusively by 3DT. With patent pending technology, this hi-resolution USB2 webcam provides out of the box 3D capture capabilities. Read the rest of this entry »

Given the huge amount of hits we received after our post on the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D System. I thought I’d give you some detailed info on the technology behind the consumer 3D devices.. (Click below)

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First announced at Germanys Photokina Show, FUJIFILM has released a new stereoscopic 3D camera called ‘FinePix Real 3D’. This 3D package has three components: a 3D digital camera, a 3D viewing system and a 3D printing system. Using two optical lenses each with its own CCD sensor this camera captures images in a similar perspective to your eyes. The ‘Real Photo Processor 3D’ syncs the shots from both lenses and interlaces the two images into one to create the 3D image.
The exciting news is that this camera will feature a special screen that allows the user to view the 3D images without glasses!
The special printer also prints the images in a unique format that lets people to view the image in 3D from multiple angles (exactly how this works is unclear to us). Another bonus is that this camera also shoots 3D video. No price details available yet.

RED Digital Cinema have been getting a lot of media attention lately with their range of super high resolution cameras. But for us 3D fans the great news is their cameras have the capabilty of shooting mega high quality 3D movies. RED call their 3D format ‘R3D’ and the footage can be edited in RED’s proprietry software apps ‘REDCINE’ & ‘RED Alert’. Alternatively ‘Scratch’ and ‘Final Cut Pro’ (6.02 or above) are also able to edit the native RAW R3D. Other than the fact that these cameras shoot from 3K right up to 28K (261 megapixels @ 25 fps), they are extremely reasonably priced (considering the technology used). Several movies have previously been shot using previous models of RED 3D cameras and the results are impressive but the news coming from RED PR suggest this is only the tip of the iceberg (in terms of 3D technology) and RED has some big plans for 3D cinema technology in the future. Watch this space!

Here is a very tacky promo video for the new Fujifilm consumer 3D camera: CLICK HERE TO VIEW

The latest 3D gadget to hit the stores is a 3D webcam called ‘Minoru’, meaning “Reality” in Japanese. Utilising two inbuilt web cameras, the Minoru shoots in a left eye / right eye perspective. Then simple software weaves the two images over each other (slightly out of sync horizontally) and tints one red and the other blue. You need to wear the classic 3D glasses to view the images in 3D. According to the manufacturer: “Your friends and family can now see you in 3D over your favourite messaging program like Windows Live Messenger, Skype, AOL instant messenger, OoVoo and many others. You can also take 3D photos or even shoot 3D videos and upload them to YouTube.” I think a 3D porn industry just grew overnight!