Panasonic 3D Lens for GH1/M43 Cameras!

Umm, like what the MFT system needs is another weird lens. Come on, Panasonic, please make some fast primes ... Or zooms. Just make 'em fast please.
 
Vitaliy Kiselev said:
They only shoot half horizontal definition ("each with 960 x 1080 pixels").
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very possible, but also persist possibility of not halfed frame, technically that is possible, but quality of image may be slightly degraded with color abberation effects.
 
960x1080 is how 3DTV broadcasts work... at least, that's how DirecTV's 3D broadcast works. They transmit the left eye image on the left side of the frame and the right eye on the right side... it's a 1920x1080 frame, both eyes per frame. Then the TV expands each chunk to 1920x1080 and shows them sequentially.

There are several 3D formats out there, including "checkerboard" and "side by side". This seems to be using "side by side."
 
Ocular distance (how far the "eyes" are from each other) plays a big role in how well the "3D" effect works, so I am concerned that the lens shown in the link will not yield a great "3D" effect. On a wide shot, for instance, there will be very little "depth" to the illusion.

This lens:

http://www.43rumors.com/loreo-3d-lens-for-microfourthirds-and-fourthirds-camera-now-on-amazon-com/

... shows an ocular distance closer to that of the human eye, so that should feel more natural, but I can't imagine that the glass is of extremely high quality, hope I'm wrong.

I'd actually like to try one out on the gh1.
 
So there will be a new firmware update when this lens comes out? Or the software processing will happen on desktop?
 
Most likely a firmware update, since pretty much every new lens has gotten some sort of firmware tweak. If nothing else they need the camera to handle the split image for exposure. And if it autofocuses it'll need new firmware.

To use the images it makes you'll need some sort of software, since almost none of the consumer level video apps really can handle a 3d image yet.

I still think this home 3D thing is going to be a short lived fad. 3D in theaters makes economic sense. People go there to escape the world and go on a ride. 3D can easily work there. But in the home I just can't see glasses-based 3D being very popular. Here's this great form of entertainment, but you have to wear these bulky glasses to use it, is not going to be a winning success.

If your interested in one of these lenses I'd say get it quickly. They may not be long for this earth when everyone realizes that 3D at home isn't working.
 
I guess as long as 3D TVs/players remain good for 2D TV, they will keep it alive beside the 2D stuff in the hope that it generates some additional income. Mass produced 3D content may die off only to revive after a decade or so when the enthusiasm resurface. User generated 3D content will depend on pricing of equipment and components specifically meant for 3D.

The price of 3D glasses will be major put off, because I can trust my child go through them at the rate of one per month :) Plus imagine the cost if you want to show off your 3D home videos to a large group of friends ;) And how funny it will all look :D
 
androoow said:
looks like theres gonna be influx of 3D porn arriving soon then!!!
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Yes, especially taking into account smaller stereoscopic base (distance between both lenses) which allows closer shots than about 2m (with 35mm equivalent lenses). :)

However, the problem is how to get squeezed side-by-side pictures, similar to broadcast format. Maybe there will be anamorphic lenses inside or some special processing: taking for example 3840x1080 picture from the sensor and just processing each second pixel (or sum of two neighbouring pictures) in horizontal direction in order to squeeze the picture. However, I doubt that Panasonic will enable such drastic change in firmware update.

The quality of 3D TVs was improved in the last few years, so maybe 3D won't fade away as in the past. Note that the first 3D movies were taken at the beginning of the 20th century.

We just hope that Panasonic will release firmware update after all.
 
(First Post!)
I'm hoping that panasonic or other m4/3 or SLR manufacturers start developing more 3D lenses and hopefully lenses with manual control of interoccular AND convergence. This would give cameras like the GH1 a major advantage in the 3D market. I got a chance to play with the panasonic AG-3DA1 a few weeks ago and its a fantastic camera, but at a price point of several times the GH1 and its fixed interoccular its a pretty limited 3D camera as well.
 
Heck, I'd probably buy it for making home videos, if they'll update the firmware on the GH1 to use it. I think it'd be fun. I don't think you'd be making the next 3-D Hollywood blockbuster with it, however. And for my wedding videos...no...very few people even want their weddings in HD in my market. They just don't care. I can't even give away blu-rays for free. :D
 
I noticed this note on the dp review page concerning the announcement.

...the development press release for the Micro Four Thirds lens focuses on still images - it is not yet clear whether existing Micro Four Thirds cameras could (or could be modified to) shoot video with the lens.
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