Shooting in 3D: Very Early Days (page 2)
How to Decide?
In a perfect world, Videomaker would have received samples of the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 and DXG 3D pocket camcorder to test for ourselves. Unfortunately, these models were so new at press time that samples were not available.
So how can you decide what to buy? Well, if performance is your concern, then the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 is a wiser purchase. But if you want to get your feet wet in 3DTV on a budget, then consider the DXG 3D pocket camcorder. "Neither the camcorder or the media player require the consumer to wear special glasses," says DXG spokesperson Darlene Cannon. "They feature 3D dual lens parallax barrier technology, which makes it possible to view the 3D without glasses. You can also play back your 3D video and 3D photos directly on the camcorder's flip out LCD screen as well."
Whatever you choose, be aware that this is very much an experimental field, as far as consumer video technology is concerned. There is no guarantee that the 3DTV footage you shoot using this equipment will stand the test of time; anymore than consumer Betamax or the optical disc storage medium known as the LaserDisc did.
On the positive side, the advent of the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 and DXG 3D pocket camcorder do allow consumer videographers an opportunity to try out 3D for themselves. If your goal is to capture a growing family, then the investment might well be worth it: By the time the 3DTV format settles down, your toddlers might be teenagers.
The bottom line: Feel free to try 3D videography, but do so accepting that you are taking a risk. Still, there's no doubt that your 3D camcorder will be the envy of all your 2D friends!
James Careless is a video editor who has worked in TV news, TV series and made-for-TV movies. He writes on video topics for several video production publications.
