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3D Vision - VC1300HD Camera
At IBC this year 3D Vision Inc released a working prototype of the VC1300 HD. The 3D camera system is a duel lens synchronized zoom, focus and iris unit. The unit also has electronic synchronization of exposure, color and frames. The marketing for the camera describes it as “Ortho-Stereoscopic Perspective Camera For ‘Live 3D’ HDTV Broadcast Transmission”.
With little details released, we gave Cliff Hall at 3D Vision Inc a call to chat about the system.
Can you tell us more about the internal workings of the VC1300HD camera?
The camera is designed to be modular. The prototype system has been built with two Panasonic AK-HC1800 units and Fuji 2/3” HD lenses. The Fuji lenses have full digital servos and a focal length of 7.6 to 137mm. However, if customers require a different option we will talk with our engineers to see if we can make it compatible.
What’s the connection to South Korea?
The system was originally designed in South Korea. My partner at 3D Vision had the contacts to look at the system early in its development. We then took the option to control the worldwide rights. We have modernized the unit from its original concept into what we see is a workable 3D system. Parts for the system come from Japan, South Korea and the US. The system is now built and engineered here in Southern California and is stamped “Made In USA”. We also provide full support from here and there is no longer a Korean connection.
What market is this camera for?
We believe this camera with a few tweaks can be for any market. We showed the camera to a few guys from the ASC at Mole Richardson in LA a few days ago. They had a few modification suggestions, but all of them could be implemented without a major issue. The prototype at IBC is currently being tested in the UK, filming soccer in 3D. That’s the great thing about the system, its modular and genlockable, so it can be used on a sitcom running 3cameras or on a sports mobile with 12 other units or as a stand alone system on an independent film set. The camera is designed and built to meet the needs of TV production and to shoot 3D where you might have only done 2D before.
Will you have an external paint box?
We plan to have a fully functional control unit for all paint functions through a RS232 or 422 unit. We also have an external device for pulling convergence on the fly from a truck or control room. The cameras have tri-level sync, black balance, white balance all the standard functions of today’s broadcast cameras. We can also run the system on 12-volt batteries for location work.
What Frame rates does the unit support?
The prototype is 1080i switch able so in Europe its running 1080/50i and the American version will be 1080/60i (59.94), but we can option in any known frame rate including 24p. The camera will also do 600fps through an electronic interface.
Will you have fibre or Triax connectivity?
This is an option but at the moment we have decided that it will be client specific and not something we will add to a standard model. The unit has 3x 2 HD-SDI (SMPTE 292M) out for left and right stream’s, we can also give an AVI or MPEG4 output. The unit uses a mux system so you can choose multiple options for the output. We use the raw AVI for storage of data content that can be used later for different applications such as 2K or 4K digital theatre. The larger 4K may require other modifications to the camera or the output for such theatrical 3D applications. This is an area now undergoing testing.
What’s the minimum/maximum interocular of the system?
Minimum 100mm ~ Maximum 175mm
Does the system have a built in disparity corrector to align the images internally?
There is no built in disparity corrector to align the images. However, we have a button on the external part of the unit that will control this manually.
And the cost?
This is still being finalized but we think it will be around $500,000 per unit. The cost reflects R&D and the custom electronics designed to control synchronization of not just the lenses but also the picture (color, exposure, frame sync) etc. This will include an on sight technician for production days for customers who request it for 12 months. Obviously, we are looking to rental house and broadcasters who will purchase in larger numbers and we will negotiate a suitable price for these customers.
When will working models be available for purchase?
We can supply a working model now. Lead-time is one month from the order, hopefully sooner if we speed up manufacturing.
When will we see actual footage?
We have a few people testing the camera now and we will have a demo reel very soon. The system really needs to be seen up close though. At the ASC demo, everyone who attended was surprised how quickly the camera was set up and ready to go. It took longer for people to get the external 3D monitor into the correct format to see the images in 3D. We also had to stop the participants from judging the image before we had even one light up. The camera is so sensitive that the images look amazing even in low light.
Future Developments?
By December we hope to have a working prototype of a steadicam/crane system. This system will be an over/under system, so the lenses are basically on top of each other. The system will be able to offer a smaller interocular distance. It will be lighter and smaller and it will have an electronic interface similar to the VC1300 HD.
Thanks to Cliff Hall for taking the time to speak with us.
3D Vision Inc have filed 4 international patents:
Parallel Moving Axis Stereoscopic Camera (Registered)
Main Viewpoint/Focus Interlocked (Registered)
Main Viewpoint Control Cross Stereoscopic Camera (Pending)Main Viewpoint Interlocked Zoom Control (Associated)
More information can be found at:
www.3dvisioninc.com
posted on Oct 12, 2010
