Panasonic 3D Camera at NBA Finals!

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earmarkcreative

Active member
Is it just me or did anyone else notice what looked like the new Panasonic AG3DA1 during the starting line up intros for Game 4!

Unfortunately I don't have a still shot but the camera I saw definitely had the same form factor (i.e twin lenses in a hand-held body) as the 3DA1. Anybody else noticed this?
 
We had our first sports event in Australia aired completely recently in 3D. Still trying to confirm what it was shot on.
 
Does this new 3d camera work with any tv (provided its edited appropriately and glasses are used) or is it proprietary, meaning it ONLY works with Panasonic's new 3D technology and TV's ?
 
Obviously it would require a 3D-capable television. And no, not all are compatible; the earlier samsung and mitsubishi units, for example, aren't compatible with the DirecTV 3D broadcasts or most blu-ray 3D players.

I don't know all that much about 3D yet, but I would guess that the camera isn't really relevant to the television, it's all in how you master it out. 3D is frequently shot on film, obviously, yet it's in the editing and mastering where the particular broadcast requirements get met or television-compatible format questions get answered.

So, in short, I'm certain you could use it with any 3DTV, so long as you mastered the footage out to a playable format that your TV supports.
 
Actually in 3D all 3D cameras are compatible. Think about it this way, there are three stages/parts in 3D production. The first is production where you get the best right eye and left eye you can get. Next you have the post, where you edit the left and conform the right. How you view it is based on the monitoring system that you are using. Then it comes to delivery and here you need to take into consideration the screen/monitor that it is going to. Some are side by side, some top-bottom, some line by line, and some frame synchronized. And then projection differences are there. As an example, and I don't recall the exact number but the release of Avatar cause the finishers to release more than 20 versions in the US alone. Most of the modern plasmas can auto accept whatever is coming at it, but the theaters are a little more critical.

So to get bat to the question, any 3D camera is compatible. It is the first stage in the process.

Best,

Jan
 
We were lucky enough to have the 3DA1 for a few days and we shot like crazy with it.
The full process is confusing, but the camera itself is not. That's what blew us away. All that 3d complexity has been boiled down to a single dial.

Setup is easy and in the end you are left with two streams of independent video to import for editing. It's just two separate files, left and right, of AVCHD. And if you don't want 3d, just use the left channel and you've got 2D.

Dashwood makes it easy to edit, but then from there...who knows?

We don't. We're trying to figure out what that last mastering step is. I've just started reading, but the answers aren't clear. Do you need to master to blu-ray? Is there any kind of file based playback system? Can you hook up a computer to a Panasonic/Samsung/LG etc 3d TV and playback 3d?
That's where everything gets fuzzy.

The 3DA1 makes 3D pretty straightforward. Dashwood makes FCP 3D friendly. Output is a great big black hole of who knows. At least for non-3D pros like ourselves.
 
Hi,

Don't know which group you were in, as I had a couple of cameras in LA, but the output decisions are sort of straight-forward.

1. We played a music video out from a dual stream of AVC-Intra from a server and that lock the two streams.
2. We have the same video on 3D Youtube, and it has been down-rezzed but looks quite good. That is available in a number of flavors for viewing.
3. You could make it a stream and play it from your laptop through the DVI out.
Or you take the DVI out and convert to HDMI 1.4 fro playout to a plasma.

Keep in mind it is the final destination that dictates what you are going to confgure you rendered stream to.

4. 3D Blu-ray, is coming and that too will make things easier, but just like all disc technologies to start, only the high profile stuff will afford that first couple rounds of pressing.


Hope this helps a bit

Jan
 
I'm from the Canadian group, so a whole different set o' cameras.
Good to hear that you can format to the correct stream for playback on plasma. That's good to know.
We can do the youtube output no problem. Just wanted to do the good looking 3d though, not the red green.
 
I tested the camera for a shoot. Check out my pic, that's the new Panasonic 3D Cam. Do you have questions? Ask them.

...Before you ask, YES, this camera is AMAZING.
 
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So you used it in our house I take it? That was at the Panasonic event at the Aquarium yes?
We shot all around the aquarium for 3 days before that event. I found at that event people didn't fully get how big a deal this camera is for 3d.

They were asking about memory cards and focus rings, which are interesting, but sheesh, it's a 3d camera that takes about a minute and a half to setup instead of an hour and half.
 
walnutcrunch said:
So you used it in our house I take it? That was at the Panasonic event at the Aquarium yes?
We shot all around the aquarium for 3 days before that event. I found at that event people didn't fully get how big a deal this camera is for 3d.

They were asking about memory cards and focus rings, which are interesting, but sheesh, it's a 3d camera that takes about a minute and a half to setup instead of an hour and half.
Click to expand...


Yes! Exactly. That shot is from outside the Aquarium. The SD cards were a disadvantage, but with Convergent Design's new 3D NanoFlash, who cares about SD cards.

I think you made a generalization there about what people thought. I mean, the camera is amazing. It looked pretty bad on the polarized monitor, but the plasma looked amazing. I think a big problem is the horrible codec the camera uses, 24 or 28 mbps is not acceptable for professional use, period. Also, the camera should use 1/3" chips, not 1/4.1" chips.

Either way I'm really looking forward to shooting a commercial with it this October. Panasonic has made 3D EASY, and awesome! One wheel scroll does it all.
 
Anthonyb said:
Y
It looked pretty bad on the polarized monitor, but the plasma looked amazing.
Click to expand...


Actually that monitor is a prototype as well. Just had 4 on them on a shoot in LA and none of them were the same. It is more of a proto that the camera.

I think a big problem is the horrible codec the camera uses, 24 or 28 mbps is not acceptable for professional use, period. Also, the camera should use 1/3" chips, not 1/4.1" chips.
Click to expand...

It is what it is as far as the chip set and the codec is better than any other long GOP codec out there The codec is not horrible. He had it blown up to a 103" Plasma at ?Infocomm and it looked fabulous. It went to a 150" at NAB. There is nothing wrong with the codec.

Either way I'm really looking forward to shooting a commercial with it this October. Panasonic has made 3D EASY, and awesome! One wheel scroll does it all.
Click to expand...

I say that makes 3D easier, just not easy. There is still parallax errors and framing violations.

Best,

Jan
 
I got to play with it at Cinegear @ the alternative rentals booth. Caught it out of the corner of my eye, just sitting there all alone. At first I thought it was a mock-up but no... Got to shoot, play back, dig in to the menu, adjust the convergence - super cool.

Great job Jan.

-J
 
Still learning but just had a chance to be involved some testing and I gotta say its a pretty cool camera. I have a bunch of test footage that I'm going to play with in the coming week.
 
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