Panasonic has unveiled their first 3D-capable cam, the Lumix DMC-3D1. Like Fujifilm’s Real 3D W1, the 3D1 is highlighted by a dual lens feature that gives it the ability to shoot stereoscopic 3D photos and videos. The cam rocks a pair of 25mm ultra wide angle, 4x optical zoom lens, along with a 12-megapixel sensor, making for a compact point-and-shoot that’s capable of shooting 8-megapixel 3D stills and clips, or 12-megapixel 2D photos and videos with a 1920 x 1080 resolution.
Itching to get into the new 3D craze, but you don’t have the bucks to spend on a premium dual-lens cam? Check this out: DXG is selling the DXG-018, a dual-lens digital cam that can snap stereoscopic 3D images for $70. So what’s the catch? For starters, it’s not as “cutting edge” as you think. In fact, it uses a really old-school method for coming up with the 3D images that you can view. Oh, it’s a digital camera alright: it can shoot 1.3MP stills and save them as JPEG files onto an SD card. But to view the images, you’re also going to need to pony up $13 for a pack of five 3D viewers to see them in 3D, View Master-style.
Sony just unveiled three new compact cams, with two—the WX5 and TX9—that make up Sony’s first cameras “that can capture amazing 3D images to enjoy on any 3D-compatible TV.” The two cams both feature 12.1 megapixels sensors, and achieve the 3D images using something called 3D Sweep Panorama technology.
The 3D hype won’t end with video: apparently, Sony is gunning for a piece of the 3D pie that isn’t tied to an HDTV, PC, console, or home entertainment system. According to a dpreview interview with Masashi Imamura, the president of Sony’s Personal Imaging and Sound business group, they’re looking at expanding into consumer-class 3D imaging. That means 3D digital cameras for everyone (or at least everyone who’s potentially willing to spend for it) if Sony decides to follow through.
