Panasonic Unveils World's First Integrated Full HD 3D Camcorder at CES 2010

[Chris Hurd]

Available In Fall 2010 - Solid-State Recording System
Will Offer Highly-Efficient Full HD 3D Video Production

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (January 6, 2010) – Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) will release the world’s first* professional, fully-integrated Full HD 3D camcorder in Fall 2010. The company will begin taking orders in April. Engineering samples of the professional Full HD 3D solid-state camcorder will be exhibited at the Panasonic booth (Las Vegas Convention Center, Main Hall, #9405) at the 2010 International CES in Las Vegas, USA, from January 7-10.

This Full HD 3D camcorder will offer the following core benefits:

Easier to Use
Current 3D systems are large-scale setups in which two cameras are fitted to a rig in parallel, or vertically intersect across a half-mirror. Separate recorders are also required. In Panasonic’s new Full HD 3D camcorder, the lenses, camera head, and a dual Memory Card recorder are integrated into a single, lightweight body. The camcorder also incorporates stereoscopic adjustment controls making it easier to use and operate.

The twin-lens system adopted in the camcorder’s optical section allows the convergence point** to be adjusted. Functions for automatically correcting horizontal and vertical displacement are also provided. Conventional 3D camera systems require these adjustments to be made by means of a PC or an external video processor. This new camcorder, however, will automatically recalibrate without any need for external equipment, allowing immediate 3D image capture.

More Flexible
The solid-state memory file-based recording system offers greater flexibility to produce Full HD 3D videos in more challenging shooting environments. The camcorder is lighter weight and smaller than current 3D rigs, while providing the flexibility of handheld-style shooting. Setup and transportation is simplified, making it ideal for sports, documentary and filmmaking projects.

Solid-State Reliability and Workflow
Right and left Full HD video streams of the twin-lens 3D camcorder can be recorded as files on SDHC/SD Memory Cards, ensuring higher reliability than on other tape, optical disc, HDD or other mechanical-based recording systems. This solid-state, no-moving-parts design will help significantly reduce maintenance costs, and the 3D camcorder will be better able to perform in extreme environments and be more resistant to temperature extremes, shock, and vibration.

And users will enjoy a fast, highly-productive file-based workflow, with instant, random access to recorded content; easy plug-in to both Mac and PC-based platforms; and longer recording capacity.

More Affordable
Using a standardized, fully integrated design, the Full HD 3D camcorder will be offered at a much lower price than traditional 3D rigs. Transportation expenses for this handheld unit will be less and faster setup times reduce labor costs. Using standard, re-recordable SDHC/SD Memory Cards available already everywhere, media costs become almost insignificant.

In addition to a camcorder, Panasonic also plans to offer a professional-quality 3D Full HD LCD monitor for field use as well as a professional HD digital AV mixer for live event production. Panasonic will offer professional production equipment to allow video professionals to efficiently create 3D content, so consumers can enjoy 3D video using Panasonic 3D home theater systems.

Major Specifications (tentative)
- Product Name: Twin-lens Full HD 3D camcorder (made-to-order)
- Suggested Retail Price for Main Unit: $21,000
- Available: Fall 2010 (made to order)
- Power Consumption: Under 19 W (main unit only)
- Weight: Under 3 kg (main unit only)
- Recording Media: SDHC/SD Memory Card

* As an integrated twin-lens Full HD 3D camcorder capable of recording Full HD 3D video to Memory Cards. As of January 2010 (based on our investigation)
** The point at which the left and right-camera lenses’ optical axes converge

Development Background
Movie companies and content producers are eager to produce more 3D content. 3D video is set to become a mainstream motion picture technology. In response to the resurgence of 3D movies, in September 2009, Panasonic proposed the world’s first 3D home theater systems, based around 3D-enabled Blu-ray Disc players and Plasma TVs (announced and exhibited at CEATEC 2008). In February 2009, the company established the Advanced Authoring Center (within Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory) – at which 3D movies are authored for replication on 3D Blu-ray Discs (announced at CES 2009). Currently, producing 3D movies is a painstaking process. Panasonic intends to promote the production of high-quality 3D video content by accelerating the development of 3D video production systems designed to boost production speed and efficiency.

Supplementary data:

Differences from conventional 3D camera systems:
Conventional 3D camera systems are built from two off-the-shelf film or broadcast cameras. Normally, the two cameras are installed horizontally and side by side, with the right and left camera axes approximately 6.5 cm apart – equivalent to the distance between the human eyes – to create binocular parallax. This can be done with small cameras, but broadcast or film cameras cannot be installed side by side since their bodies and lenses are too large. They must be installed vertically using half-mirrors, or mounted on metal frames called rigs, using prisms. This results in a bulky system that must be carefully adjusted to prevent the right and left cameras from going out of alignment before image capture. In addition, if the system is moved, the shock or vibration inevitably puts the cameras out of alignment, making frequent re-adjustment necessary.

In this fully-integrated Full HD 3D camcorder that Panasonic has developed, the two lenses, camera head, and memory card recorder are incorporated into a single compact housing. Unlike large 3D camera systems, this camcorder allows video shooting with greater mobility and from all angles; significantly reducing the time required for set up and adjustments, thereby leaving more time for creative activities.

Convergence Point Adjustment
The convergence point is the point at which the left and right cameras’ optical axes converge to produce 3D images. To take natural-looking 3D video, the convergence point needs to be adjusted to match that of a human’s eyes, whose convergence point varies according to the closeness of the objects being viewed. Panasonic’s new Full HD 3D camcorder adopts newly-developed twin-lens system that realizes convergence point control with its integrated design.

About Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 7.77 trillion yen (US$78.4 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2009. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE: PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at Panasonic Global Home.

(click thumbnails to see large images)

[Andy Tejral]

Confused: 'made to order'? It will not be a B&H stocked kind of item? At a price of $21K? That sounds a bit weird.

And I didn't see any mention of what style of glasses are needed--or is that determined by post-production.

[John Vincent]

Either way, that is one slick looking camera - heck, I bet even Keifer would be able to act in front of it!

Very interested in this camera...

john

[Tim Dashwood]

Originally Posted by Andy Tejral

And I didn't see any mention of what style of glasses are needed--or is that determined by post-production.

Determined by post-production.

[Adam Stanislav]

Let's hope it is the first of many!

[Lisa Strong]

Do we know yet what flavors of HD it shoots?

~ ~ L

[Pavel Houda]

I just came back from CES. Asked the Panasonic fellow about Keystoning effect. He said it is corrected in the camera.

[Alister Chapman]

One thing that's not clear is whether it is twin lens with a single sensor or a dual head camera. There are lots of references in the text to "Twin Lens", but then also to "camera head". This could imply sequential frame or interlaced capture which is less desirable than two full streams. It''s also a shame that it's AVCHD and not using AVC-I.

It will have it's uses I'm sure, but will be too restrictive for more serious productions.

[Andy Tejral]

Originally Posted by Alister Chapman

This could imply sequential frame or interlaced capture which is less desirable than two full streams.

I was curious about this as well--I was thinking that maybe it was 60P divided into 30p-Left & 30p-right. Theoretically, this would be easy to split out with software.

[Pavel Houda]

I came to a middle of a conversation at Panasonic booth, but the Panasonic representative talked about two discrete streams on two separate flash cards. I could be mistaking, but don't believe so. The drawing shows it as well.

[Chris Hurd]

The printed product page I picked up at the show mentions the ability to record left and right streams separately.

[Adam Stanislav]

Separate is good, as we can combine the two streams in software in any way we want.

[Brian Mills]

I saw this camera's live output displayed at CES. It looks promising. The Panasonic rep I grilled wouldn't give me any info on codecs/sensors/etc as he said it was still "subject to change". Now if only that price tag could come down...

[Warren Kawamoto]

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

[i] In Panasonic’s new Full HD 3D camcorder, the lenses, camera head, and a dual Memory Card recorder are integrated into a single, lightweight body.

Hopefully the dual memory card recorder is recording two streams at once with 2 recorders, not just one stream.

[Pavel Houda]

Just for fun I posted a short clip of the camera on YouTube. It was fairly far away, probably purposely, so that no one could see many details or touch it. Here is the link: YouTube - YT3D Stereoscopic - CES 2010 -Panasonic 3D Camcorder