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Sony concept camera shoots 3D via single lens (verdict: not bad)
Sony recently announced a concept video camera that shoots footage in 3D through a single lens. It works by splitting the incoming light into two beams, then offsetting the images to create the 3D effect. It's an impressive leap in technology since every 3D camera up until now has needed two separate lenses to create the 3D effect.
We got a chance to see the camera live at CEATEC, and it definitely does what it says it does, to a point. The 3D effect is convincing enough, though objects in the foreground blurred pretty quickly when the focus was changed to the background. We're not sure if that means if the camera has limited depth of field or not, but one thing's for sure — it can't make objects look like they're jumping out of the TV. Everything looks like it's behind the panel (it's limited to the "positive z axis" in 3D wonk-speak).
The footage shot by the camera has another benefit, though: It looks fine in 2D, so if you don't have glasses you can still watch, making it a great choice for shooting live events like sports. And any way you slice it, doing 3D through a single lens is an impressive feat, showing that relatively simple consumer 3D camcorders might possible if 3D takes off like all the manufacturers are hoping. The cam is just a proof-of-concept, though, so don't expect these being used at the Super Bowl next year.
By classy at 3:50 AM ON 10/08/09
i thought thats what 3d movies were suppose to do.. like looking through a window rather then things poping out.. maybe this will stop the horrible ghosting effects in 3d movies nowadays
By Anonymous at 5:02 AM ON 10/08/09
its splitting the incoming light? and? there is only one beam with one set of information - for only one eye! Where is the second angle for 3D coming from? If I split one beam, I have two beams with the same information. Thats noch 3D...
By RG at 9:53 AM ON 10/08/09
it's impossible to truly capture 3D from one single lens, since you need a lot more information then what's available through that lens.
By Anonymous at 1:32 PM ON 10/08/09
@Anon & RG:
Ahem, have you looked through a magnifying glass with both eyes open or are you merely speculating?
Beam splitting is obviously wrong but that mistake is easily explained by the pictures being looked at, which use rays as an abstraction for light.
By Paul at 10:38 PM ON 10/08/09
This is basically a form of holigraphy. We've been using it in laser based tire testers and non destructive testing for laminated panels for a great number of years already. Go talk to the Germans, they'll laugh at our "innovations" in optics.
By Sam at 7:35 AM ON 10/11/09
@Paul: "our " innovations? are you Japanese? as I understand that de developer is SONY.
By 3d camera at 11:04 AM ON 11/25/09
Nothing new, the stereo microscope works the same way. For it to be compatible with human stereo vision the lens needs to have a diameter twice that of human eye separati0on distance and that is:
63 mm x 2 = 126 mm or 12.6 cm. That is a big lens!
Not to good for consumer size of camera or camcorder.
Any camera or camcorder can be converted to stereoscopic camera using stereoscopic adapters.
Check this: http://www.tyrell-innovations-usa.com/shop/
By 3d camera at 11:09 AM ON 11/25/09
Nothing new, the stereo microscope works the same way. For it to be compatible with human stereo vision the lens needs to have a diameter twice that of human eye separati0on distance and that is:
63 mm x 2 = 126 mm or 12.6 cm. That is a big lens!
Not to good for consumer size of camera or camcorder.
Any camera or camcorder can be converted to stereoscopic camera using stereoscopic adapters.
Check tyrell-innovations-usa.com
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editor@dvice.com
3d camera:
Nothing new, the stereo microscope works the same way. For it to be compatible with human stereo vision the lens ne...More »