3D Camcorder

2011 NAB Show: Day 1, 2

The Usual Suspects, a Few Surprises, the New Frontier

At the U.S.'s premium broadcast event, you'd expect the usual array of "interested parties" to attend … and they have.

Senior folks from Microsoft, Apple, Google, Netflix, Facebook, Zynga, EA, Hulu, Roku, Verizon, AT&T, Akamai, Level 3, Intel, AMD and Nvidia; you name it, they were there.

Miss someone?

Oh yes, the growing array of content production/post production houses who are putting together content for the rapidly expanding outlet opportunities.

Sure, there were cable, network, station and Hollywood folks who built the association.

Last year, DreamWorks' Jeff Katzenberg beat the drum for 3D and the studios and a few network operations (ESPN, Discovery) listened and delivered.

This year, tech tinkerer, filmmaking powerhouse James Cameron made an even stronger case for everyone, everything, everywhere to practice 3D production, distribution and viewing.

Cameron prodded the broadcast industry to get onboard or get left behind by the new distribution channels/opportunities. Read more

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JVC Outs First Full HD 3D Consumer Camcorder

by jessica on Wed, 2011-03-09 11:20

This week JVC announced that the GS-TD1 -- the first consumer Full HD 3D camcorder -- is now available. Priced at $1,699.95, it's hitting the market at $300 less than when it was originally announced at CES this year.

The GS-TD1 pairs two 3.32 megapixel CMOS sensors with an F1.2 JVC 3D Twin HD GT lens to record 3D video at 1080i, and features a 3D optical 5x zoom (10x in 2D mode), 64GB of built-in flash memory, a SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot for expansion, and a 3.5-inch touch panel LCD where you can view your 3D videos without using 3D glasses. Once captured, 3D video can be burned to a Blu-ray disc or DVD-R for 3D playback on a compatible Blu-ray player.

Three shooting modes are offered - a new "LR Independent" format (MP4 MVC) that records in Full HD, "Side-by-Side" format (960 x 1080 X 2) for AVCHD 3D recording, and 2D AVCHD shooting. The GS-TD1 also comes with new Everio MediaBrowser 3D software (for Windows) for managing, editing and sharing content.

The JVC GZ-TD1 Full HD 3D camcorder is available now for $1,699.95.

3D TV is Coming, There's No Stopping It Now

"… Politicians from around the world will see it. Of course, they'll want to use it as a weapon. As a scientist - no, as a human being - I can't allow that to happen!" – Dr. Seizawa, Godzilla (1954), Toho Films

After attending so many CES (Consumer Electronics Show) events, you'd think we'd resist being swept away by the buzz. Sure, after last year's show, all we saw was 3D. "They" swore all the pieces were in place. And we believed it.

Realistically…we knew better.

We're still as optimistic and enthusiastic about the long-term success of 3D TV as we were before; but this time, we're going to be a little cautious. We're taking the advice of that great U.S. President -- George W. Bush -- who stated so profoundly, "fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me...you can't get fooled again."

Ah well…you get the idea.

The motion picture industry is really all over 3D. Some good, like Avatar and Megamind. Some a real waste of time, money – theirs and ours – like Clash of the Titans 2010, Saw 3D or Jackass 3D, Piranha. Last year, Hollywood put out 25 3D movies. This year, they expect to double that number. Read more

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Great Gifts for Photographers

by jessica on Wed, 2010-12-08 13:20

Photographers, whether professional or amateur, can be a difficult bunch to buy gifts for - especially if the person doing the shopping isn't a camera pro. We're here to help. We have rounded up some great D-SLR, point and shoot digital cameras and camcorders sure to please the photographer in your life.

Nikon D3100: Chosen as one of "Oprah's Favorite Things," you know this camera rocks. The Nikon D3100 is great for those just getting into the world of D-SLR photography by being both affordable and easy to use. The 14.2-megapixel D3100 is Nikon's first D-SLR with 1080p HD video capture and is also the first D-SLR with full time auto focus (AF) in Live View and D-Movie mode…it can even track human faces. Price: $699.95; www.nikonusa.comRead more

New DXG 3D Pocket Camcorder, Media Player Bundle

by jessica on Mon, 2010-08-09 05:00

DXG has a new 3D Camcorder and 3D Media Player bundle available, which allows you to create your own 3D videos. No glasses are required to record or view the 3D videos or images on either the camcorder itself or the media player.

The 3D camcorder features a 3.2-inch LCD display and supports up to 16GB high-capacity SD cards. In addition to recording 3D videos, the camcorder takes 3D 5-megapixel still images, as well as captures 2D video and pictures.

The DXG 3D media player features a 7-inch LCD display with touch screen key control, remote control ability, a built-in MP3 music player, as well as an alarm clock and calendar. Also included in the package are HDMI and AV cables for easy playback on your 3DTV.

The DXG 3D camcorder and media player bundle is available for preorder at www.hammacher.com for $599.99. The expected ship date is September 3, 2010.

Panasonic Launches First Consumer 3D Camcorder

by jessica on Wed, 2010-07-28 13:47

Panasonic this week unveiled the HDC-SDT750 3D camcorder, which the company calls "the world's first consumer 3D camcorder." 3D video content can be recorded thanks to the included 3D conversion lens that you attach to the device. The 3D conversion lens records right-eye and left-eye images simultaneously through its two lenses, with both sides recording at 960 x 1080 pixels.

But 3D video is not all the SDT750 can do. It records full 1080p HD in AVCHD video when the 3D conversion lens is not attached, and also features a 3MOS system, a Leica Dicomar lens and a 12x optical zoom. It also has a Time Lapse recording feature, allowing you to record at intervals of one second, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, one minute, or two minutes.

A built-in 5.1-channel audio recording sound system uses five microphones which record from the front, right, left and back for playback on a 5.1-channel home theater system; and a Focus microphone function picks up the sounds in front of the camcorder, whether near or far away. Read more