New Fujifilm Digital Still Camera Captures 720p 3D Movies Using Two 10-Megapixel CCD Sensors

Fujifilm unveiled what it called the first digital camera that can capture HD 3D movies, following the company’s debut last year of the first digital camera to take 3D stills. Due in stores next month, the $499 Fine Pix REAL 3D W3 shoots 3D HD at 720p resolution and 2D HD at 1920 x 1080 resolution. The camera packs its own 3.5-inch widescreen autostereoscopic 3D LCD viewfinder for 3D playback from the camera, without glasses. The camera has a built-in mini HDMI port which allows consumers to play back content on “most” 3D TVs, the company said. “Fujifilm doesn’t want to comment on specific models as they don’t want to be seen to be showing favoritism to one over another,” a spokesman said in response to our query about which TVs are compatible with 3D video shot using the camera. “Suffice it to say that Sony, Samsung, Panasonic and LG all make compatible 3D TVs (basically any current model with HDMI version 1.4) and any PC that runs or supports Nvidia’s 3D Vision system."

Fuji’s FinePix REAL 3D technology captures 3D using twin 10-megapixel CCD sensors and dual Fujinon 3x optical zoom lenses (35-105mm), which are spaced 75 mm apart to create the 3D effect, the company said. The synchronized control of the twin CCD sensors releases left and right shutters simultaneously, which is said to produce a synchronized image providing a natural sense of depth. The stainless steel camera chassis provides the necessary rigidity to keep the optical axis balanced for accurate 3D images, the company said.

With the camera’s Individual Shutter 3D Shooting mode, users can take two shots of the same subject from different positions, and then the camera automatically merges and saves the captured images as a single, enhanced 3D photo. Interval 3D shooting is designed to capture a 3D effect in faraway subjects. When the 3D function is turned off, users can utilize the dual CCD sensors independently as though they're using two digital cameras, selecting different zoom ranges and color settings for each image while capturing both at the same time, the company said. Fuji said the camera automatically adjusts parallax in 3D Auto mode for optimal sense of depth. With manual control of the parallax control lever, users can fine-tune the sense of depth and alignment of the images to eliminate “ghosting” and to boost or reduce the 3D effect.

Consumers can upload images to Fuji’s SeeHere.com website, where “lenticular technology” is used to produce 3D prints, the company said. A 5x7 print retails for $6.99.