Interesting 3D rig idea

B

Brian@202020

Veteran
I had an idea and I want to run it by everyone here to see what you all think before I attempt a possible rig. I know a lot of people that have a AF100 also have either a GH13 or a GH2 to use as a second camera since the GH1's and GH2's are so inexpensive, small, and share the same lenses. Do you guys see any major negatives to making mounting plate to mount a GH13/2 in the correct position pointing down into a beamsplitter configuration off the handle of the AF100 to complete a fairly lightweight large sensor 3D rig? I think a GH2 would probably work the best in this situation since you have live video out. I would think you could use something like this on the GH2 to help keep things in sync.

Thoughts?
 
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Maybe for some applications...

Maybe for some applications...

Hi Brian,

That's an interesting idea. While purists might object that 3D requires phase sync as well as time code sync, your system might work for a very basic set-up. Do you know if the NLE's can extract timecode from the audio waveform or will the footage have to be played back in via a LTC timecode box? I've worked with those boxes in the distant past but never since switching from Avid to FCP about nine years ago.

The 100's do a decent job of keeping sync for multi-cam over a short window but without genlock you're likely to bump into phase issues even, if syncing frequently. Not sure if the GH clock would even be as stable as the AF100, but possibly.

Interestingly though, if you synced this way and then shot at 30 or 60 fps you'd probably offset the phase issue to a degree.
 
I haven't tested it myself, but I was told FCP can extract timecode from the audio track. I'm not sure if it's with a plug in tho. I made a very primitive 3D side by side rig back in 2008 with two HPX170's. it was crude and had a belt that went around both focus rings so I could pull focus on both cameras simultaneously but it worked. I think this would definitely be a step up from that.
 
Well, if Day 1 of shooting Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams consisted of ripping 2 SI2k cameras out of their mirror rig and joining them side by side with 2 magic arms, and then Day 2 was 2 GoPros mounted at the last minute on a locally machined aluminum bar, why not?

http://www.s3ddatabase.com/pArticle.html

(scroll down for Peter Zeitlinger's fascinating article)
 
Shooting 3D with a GH1, GH13, GH2, or AF100 would be a post nightmare. There's no genlock so you wouldn't be able to sync the shutters. The real 3D rigs use cameras that have genlock so the shutters are in sync. If you want a small lightweight 3D rig the best option would be the PS Technik Dark Country rig, which uses the SI2K and special CineDeck.
 
Not to mention, trying to do 3D with anything but 2 identical cameras would also spell disaster. While lenses could be matched, the images produced by an AF-100 to a GH1/2 are vastly different.
 
Jarek Zabczynski said:
Not to mention, trying to do 3D with anything but 2 identical cameras would also spell disaster. While lenses could be matched, the images produced by an AF-100 to a GH1/2 are vastly different.
Click to expand...

Absoutely true. I actually glossed over the fact the idea was to use a GH13 with an AF100 in a 3D rig. Definitely not something to do.
 
David Cole said:
Actually, there is a very active group using hacked GH1s and now GH2s in stereo. See http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?221553-GH1-Stereoscopic-Rig-Collaboration
Click to expand...

I'm not saying it can't be done. I'm saying it's not a good idea. You can't perfectly sync the camera, simple as that. I've worked on a 3D production using 2 GH2's. Does it work? Yes, you can get 3D, but your capabilities are limited and it will be a lot more work in post. If you want to do serious 3D you need cameras that have timecode and genlock.
 
You definitely need two identical cameras with identical lenses, genlock, and a stable rig. If you can't align the cameras very accurately, or loose alignment because of an "unstable" rig, 3D becomes a nightmare quickly. I was the 1st AC on a 3D short we shot using an element technica rig with two SI2Ks, and even though we had a proper rig, there were still plenty of alignment issues because of differences in our "supposedly" matched lenses that caused us major headaches.... Mounting anything of the handle of a AF100 will never allow you to get any proper alignment...
 
Yeah I'm aware it's not a perfect idea by any means. I was just thinking since so many people already have a GH1/GH2 with an AF100, it could be a decent 3D solution for under $1000 more. I feel as soon as 3D TV's don't need glasses to make them work, 3D will spread fast. I feel someday we will be asked to shoot everything in 3D from music video's to corporate video's. Not really sure if I like this prediction, but I would think an inexpensive solution using gear we already have would be great.
 
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