Fujifilm unveils glasses-free 3D HD camera

Monday, 18 October 2010 13:30 Written by Ragel Nel

This December, you will be able to capture and then show off your family’s summer holiday memories in super realistic 3D snaps and videos.

Back in July, Fujifilm revealed its plans to develop a fully functional, commercially available 3D digital camera. A mere three months later – and just in time for the lucrative holiday gift buying season – the Japanese company has pulled it off by unveiling its next generation FinePix Real 3D W3, the first 3D HD digital camera in the world that can shoot video in 3D high definition (HD) as well.

With the W3, Fujifilm claims it has managed to replicate the human eye, since users will be able to view the 3D images on the screen without having to wear any special glasses.

This is possible because of the two optical zoom lenses that have been combined in one chassis. The dual lenses are situated about as far apart on the camera as human eyes are. This lentucalar 3D system diverts light to each eye individually by a film of lenses. When users hold the camera at arm’s length, they will see the images that have been captured in 3D on the camera’s 3.5 inch (8.89 centimetres) high resolution widescreen autostereoscopic LCD display without having to put on special glasses first. The life-like images can also be shown and viewed on compatible 3D TV systems and even 3D computer screens.

Those same two lenses are responsible for creating the 3D effect by taking two successive shots from different viewpoints. The 2D in the camera can be set to take two different, plain old 2D photos at the same time.

Apart from its ability to shoot in both 3D and 2D, the W3 also captures high resolution stills and high def 3D video in 720p with stereo sound recording, so users will be able to unleash their inner James Cameron and make their own, eye-popping 3D home movies.

The W3 is Fujifilm’s second attempt at a 3D camera. The first one was a flop due to several factors. The camera company’s debut 3D model had a small, inferior 3D screen that relied on shutter-like barriers instead of on lenses; the screen was blurry; users had to order their prints and wait while it was posted back from Japan (and we used to think one-hour photo developing was long!); and there were no 3D devices such as TVs to view your 3D masterpieces on.

According to Fujifilm’s senior category manager of consumer and professional products, Matt Dole, the W3 demonstrates the company’s commitment to 3D technology. “Fujifilm has made 3D imaging more accessible to all consumers by enabling them to shoot in 3D HD and then easily view their photos and movies on most 3D TV systems,” he says.

Consumers in South Africa can also snap up a W3 from local online retailer Have2Have, where it is retailing for R4 875.82.

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