3D

I’m going to trying out a variety of ways to present my 3D photos and videos over the next couple of weeks. This first test is an attempt to use a technique that does not need any special equipment. In fact, you should be able to see quasi-3D with only one eye because of the way parallax is used. The video above shows a photo taken with the Fujifilm W3 3D camera on an iPad. The $3.99 3D Camera Studio iPad app’s wigglegram mode provides the 3D-ness of the photo.

3D Camera Studio for iPad: Create 3D/Simulated 3D Photos

As you might imagine, the version see on the W3′s special lenticular LCD display is much more impressive in its 3D-ness. This is just one way of attempting to share a 3D image with as many people as possible. Here’s how it works.

1. Take a 3D photo using the W3
2. Copy the MPO stereo image pair file (both photos are in a single file) to a computer
3. Mail the MPO file to your iPad
4. Download the MPO file attachment
5. Tap and hold the file attachment to export it to the 3D Camera Studio app
6. Adjust the parallax using 3D Camera Studio
7. Turn on wigglegram mode

Here’s what I learned after my first 24 hours as a Fujifilm FinePix REAL 3D W3 (3D camera) owner.

1. FINGERS IN PHOTOS: It is easy to forget the W3 has two lenses. And, due to the way I normally hold point-and-shoot compact cameras, there are more than a few photos with a finger in front of the upper right corner of the photo taken with the right-side lens. I’ve had to relearn how to hold the camera on the edges without finger tips gripping the front.

2. GET A SPARE BATTERY: Since I don’t have a good external 3D display option yet, the best way to show the 3D photos and videos is on the camera’s glass-less 3D display. This also means battery drain. My battery drained in less than 24 hours after taking less than a 100 photos and videos (combined) with lots of playback. This should be expected. I should buy a second or even third spare battery.

3. LANDSCAPE ONLY: Due to the nature of 3D photography (two lenses), photos must be recorded in landscape mode. You have to fight the urge to tilt the camera 90 degrees to take photos of tall objects in portrait mode.

4. 3D PHOTOS REQUIRES RELEARNING PHOTOGRAPHY: 3D photos are a different animal than conventional 2D photos. Compositions that would not make any sense for a 2D photo are mandatory to bring out 3D-ness. Some photos that would considered boring in a 2D photo look great in 3D. Some shooting angles that work great in 2D are a disaster in 3D photos. I’ll work on defining what these means as I gain more experience with the W3.

5. NOT EVERYONE CAN SEE 3D IN THE LENTICULAR DISPLAY: There are a relatively small group of people who cannot see the 3D in the lenticular display on the back of the camera. If you encounter people who say they don’t see the 3D ask them if they’ve had issues with 3D movies or other 3D technology. Many people may have a hard time seeing 3D in the display. My advice to people is to hold the display parallel to an imaginary flat plane in front of their face. Basically, this means don’t tilt the camera while looking at a photo or video.

More tips, thoughts, and 3D opinions to come.

I have been fascinated by 3D ever since I peered into View Master as a kid. In college, this fascination was further fueled after reading Bela Julesz’s classic book Foundations of Cyclopean Perception (1971). This week I finally bought a consumer grade 3D camera to continue exploring this fascination of mine.

Fujifilm FinePix REAL 3D W3 (product page)

The W3 is a second generation product. You’ll note from my photo that it has two lenses that are set apart at approximately the same width as most human eye pairs. It can record both 3D 10 megapixel still photos as well as 3D 720p HD video. The camera’s 3.5-inch preview display provide glass-less 3D viewing. The two lenses can also be used to take simultaneous 2D photos with different settings (e.g., wide angle on one and zoom on the other).

I plan to share my learning experiences in consumer 3D photography here going forward. One early item will be an iPad app that I’ve already reviewed here. It turns out that this app can also deal with Fujifilms’ MPO 3D still photo file format. Stay tuned.

Here’s something you don’t see often (ever?) on a point and shoot digital camera: A GPS. But, that’s what will be on the soon-to-be-available Panasonic Lumix TS3(FT3). It has the usual assortment of good camera features too like 12 megapixel still photos and various scene settings. However, the TS3 goes way beyond the specs I’ve seen for point and shoot cameras. Here’s some of the other goodies it includes:

- 1080p video recording (720p too)
- 3D image (MPO) support
- Orientation detection (in addition to GPS location)
- Compass
- Barometer
- Altimeter
- Waterproof (to 12 meters)
- Dust proof
- Freeze proof (to 14 degress F)

Panasonic has not revealed the TS3′s price. But, it is defintely in my gadget wish list for now.

Panasonic Lumix TS3/FT3 (product page)

Nintendo’s 3DS glassless (as in eye wear) 3D mobile gaming console was announced last summer and will launch in Japan on Feb. 26.

Nintendo 3DS: 3D Games & Movies WITHOUT Glasses (ThinkMobile)

Nintendo Looking for Huge 3DS Japan Launch on Feb. 26. Optometrists Say 3D May Be OK for Young Kids (ThinkMobile)

The U.S. launch is now scheduled for a month later on March 27 for $249.

The Nintendo 3DS: Finally Priced, Dated, And Delivered (CrunchGear)

Nintendo’s 3DS on Sale March 27 for $250, Boasting iPhone-Like Features (All Things Digital)

While $249 may seem like a lot of money for a mobile game console, note that the 3DS is also a 3D camera that can display 3D output on its display without requiring special glasses. I wonder if the 3DS may actually kickstart consumer 3D photography given its relatively low-cost (as a 3D camera)?

Sports Illusrated Kids: In Your Face 3-D is a $20 book (of the old school paper variety) with dozens of 3D photographs. Sports Illustrated Kids uses the old anaglyph (red/blue glasses required for viewing) technique to present the photos in 3D. Anaglyphs may be an old technique but still provide the simplest and least costly way to share 3D images. The book only has 11 reviews on Amazon. But, the consensus seems to be overwhelmingly postive (10 5-star ratings vs. 1 1-star rating).

The book’s images are available on the iPad in the form of a $9.99 app with the same name.

Sports Illusrated Kids In Your Face 3-D

A pair of red/blue 3D glasses is available for free until March 16. However, if you happen to read this after that date, red/blue glasses for 3D viewing is available for just a few dollars. In fact, I noticed a pair of red/blue clip-ons to where over prescription glasses for for $4.09 on Amazon.

A friend of mine has a business that does 3D modeling, printing, and fabrication. So, when he tells me that some 3D product is interesting, I pay close attention. Yesterday, he told me about a new app for the iPhone 4 (and only the iPhone 4) that can create a 3D model using a photo taken using the iPhone 4′s front-facing camera. It uses the front facing camera because the iPhone 4′s retina display is used as a source of light. The segments of the display light up in a series of a blogs of white light that provides light on different areas of an object’s surface. This scanned image is turned into a 3D model. The easiest object to scan is your own face since you can see it in the iPhone 4′s display as the blobs of light shine on your face. However, I found it is possible to scan other objects with a bit of practice and a little finger, hand, wrist contortion exercise.

You can see one of my first tests of the 99 cent iPhone 4 app in the video embedded above.

Trimensional 1.0

I’ve had a long time fascination with 3D viewing for many years now. And, I’m planning to do a lot more in this area going forward since I believe that consumer 3D is about where smartphones were in 2002 or so. In other words, it is a few years from really taking off. Stay tuned to ThinkMobile. You can expect to start reading about and seeing some of my 3D work within a couple of weeks.