Panasonic's consumer-grade 3D camcorder leaks out, the HDC-SDT750 -- Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/25/panasonics-consumer-grade-3d-camcorder-leaks-out-the-hdc-sdt75/)

(Editor added)
http://www.pcworld.com/article/202005/panasonic_goes_3d_with_new_camcorder_and_gseries_lens.html?tk=hp_blg

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/07/27/panasonic-reveals-its-consumer-3d-camcorder-the-hdc-sdt750/
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Panasonic's consumer-grade 3D camcorder leaks out, the HDC-SDT750
By Sean Hollister posted Jul 25th 2010 1:04PM

We'd heard Panasonic was planning a more affordable stereoscopic 3D camcorder, but it looks like we won't have to wait until a mysterious July 28th Tokyo unveiling to find out for sure -- it's called the HDC-SDT750, and Panny's advertising it as the "World's first 3D Shooting Camcorder." Leaks at all the seams of the company's website afforded us the above picture, and the surprising revelation that the product may not be a brand-new camcorder, but rather an existing high-end 3MOS model (we'd guess the HDC-HS700) with a "3D conversion lens" attached. If the yet-to-be-activated product page's source code can be believed, the SDT750 will shoot in 1080p AVCHD at 60fps, feature Panny's proprietary Hybrid O.I.S. image stabilization technology, and come in a lovely shade of Henry Ford black. That's all we have for now (save a second tiny picture after the break) but rest assured we'll be keeping tabs on this one.



JB

And a new generation begins.

So I am waiting in line to shoot with a prototype AG-3DA1 and then this comes out? I can't keep up anymore, too many cameras, too quickly!

Dan Brockett

Soooo... considering the 20K they charge for the AG-3DA1 (which seems to be a modified HMC150 with a 3D lens) this should cost around 6K?

Considering that the 3D-A1 has 1/4 chips in it, is this camera going to have 1/8th chips in it?

DIE 3D!
JUST DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!






There is just something about this whole 3D thing that smells of desperation ..................

Dan - amen my brother, amen.

I'm gonna stomp my foot like a petulant child and refuse 3D for as long as I can. nnnnn-NO!

I think of 3D the way I think of Stereo. Something that I want all of my speakers to have, but something I rarely (if ever) shoot in.

The only time I record stereo sound is through the on camera mic, which I don't really care about the audio. When I want good audio, 2 channels of mono is my workflow & has yet to ever cause any problems. I think most people would agree that 2 good mono mics will produce better sound than one crappy stereo mic.

DIE 3D!
JUST DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!






There is just something about this whole 3D thing that smells of desperation ..................

thank you for summing up my own feelings far better than I ever could ;o).......Almost like the hook the TV industry is hoping for in a recession. It might be a fun gimmick for a movie once in a while, but no way in hell would I want to watch it, or film it in my home...I mean, 3D Home movies of little billies birthday party? Give me a break...

Maybe they are thinking deeper though....3D porn could be interesting ;o)...joke!<G>

Personally, I think the whole 3-d thing is currently being killed by Hollywood. You have all of these movies coming out that weren't shot on 3D, and yet being processed into 3D which is just making it look crappy. There are many that say that 3D is the wave of the future... if it is, why can't they stop shoving it down our throats and let it evolve naturally?

Also, I love how for the World Cup, they kept saying it was being broadcast in 3D... really? Did anyone watch it in 3D? Could anyone watch it in 3D?

That's like me saying, "Hey I just shot this movie at 100k... but I can only show it to you in Blu-ray. Perhaps you would like to watch on this bridge that I am prepared to sell you?"

It just reminds of a joke...

How many hipsters does it take to screw in a light-bulb?

What, you don't know?

thank you for summing up my own feelings far better than I ever could ;o).......Almost like the hook the TV industry is hoping for in a recession. It might be a fun gimmick for a movie once in a while, but no way in hell would I want to watch it, ...

hmm I just saw a documentary in 3d at the Chicago Field museum. I thoroughly enjoyed it for that genre. It struck me how, after all these years striving for shallow DOF, 3D turns that on it's head and uses the 3D effect itself to move the viewer' focus. I found it very compelling for the doc format.

Are you in this business as a creative outlet or as a business to make money?

I hate to say it guys but how many of you are under 30? How many under 25? Judging by the demographics and stats on DV Info, most of us are way out of the demo that Hollywood and the Electronics manufacturers are aiming 3D at. Kids are playing 3D video games, going to the movies and paying to see big, expensive, stupid, mind-numbing features two and three times. Young adults will go to see 3D movies, they don't have a whole family, it is usually just them or them and date, so what do they care if the ticket costs $10.00 or $15.00? I know it is different when you have a huge herd of kids to pay for yourself, but think like a young single person. Demographically, most of us are dead to the studios and Madison Ave., they care about the 18-34s. They go where they think the biggest market is. Younger people seem to dig 3D. Most of the whining and complaining about 3D is coming from the over 40 geezer crowd.

As a consumer, I personally share most of your views about 3D. I saw Avatar in 3D. Meh, it didn't do much for me, I would have enjoyed the movie more in 2D. I think that there are several issues at play with 3D and with this camera though. I think that this particular camera is just something being thrown at the early adopter techno geeks who have bought a Panasonic 3D television. There is a dearth of 3D programming and Blu-rays available so why not give Joe Sixpack something that he can use to shoot Billy's Birthday party in 3D with. It's a smart marketing move. I will be really interested to get my hands on this camera, just to see what it can do and possibly compare it to the AG-3DA1.

As far as hating 3D though, think twice and take off your consumer hat and put on your producer hat. Much like HD in the early years, there is already a demand for 3D programming for all of these new 3D networks that are signing on this year. 3D commercials, even local 3D if they want to advertise on the 3D networks, 3D docs, 3D music videos, 3D travelogues, etc. What about 3D programming for your optometrist group client that does radial keratotamy surgery? See what I am getting at? 3D will be a viable market as a producer for at least a couple of years. Sure, 3D may crash and burn, but it may also become a huge success. We may not know for many years as to what the fate of 3D will be. And 3D, besides Hollywood $50 million dollars features, is a huge market.

Production, in general, is in slump, along with the rest of the economy. Not saying that 3D is going to explode but with the billions of dollars that Hollywood and the electronics conglomerates have thrown at this issue, 3D will not be going away really quickly, it will probably take years for the market to decide if it is flop or a success. With the billions of dollars the studios have spent and are spending, it is almost as if they will force 3D to become somewhat of a success. In the meantime, 3D is a way for all of us who take the time to learn how to work in the medium to make some money. I see a lot of opportunity in producing 3D programming.

I have already interviewed several producers for upcoming issues of HD Video Pro Magazine who are probably already busier than you or I are lately, creating 3D content and most importantly, making money at it. There is an audience for 3D programming and there are definitely clients who will pay for it. As to whether or not you want to stand on the sidelines poo-pooing it, or if you want to leap into the water and at least learn how to work in the medium, that is your choice. I know which way I am going to jump. As a hedge to the bet, I am definitely going to be renting all of the gear. Who knows how long it will last or if it will take off? But why not check it out and see what happens? It's not like there is anything else that is growing in our business. Web video is turning into a DIY affair, Indie films are glutted, corporate spending and production is down, television is hot but hyper competitive, why not consider 3D?

Between you and I, I don't have high hopes for the format succeeding, but it most definitely could succeed. Only time will tell for sure.

Dan Brockett

I still think it's a "gimmick", until we have holo-rooms, but that's just me...

The one thing that may prove different this time is that 3D in the home is at least feasible, if not exactly a slam dunk due to the economy...

Lets say Panny brings this in under $2K, which wouldn't really shock me in the least, at least "street" price. They will sell, same as the Sony VG10, because the people who want the latest toy will see it's the most expensive thing on the consumer shelf, and buy it... because it's "the best", technology issues be durned.

Some ideas make good sense (hey, I was pulling for the "smell blaster" since we all respond to odors - that would add to the "being there" experience, right? I think someone forgot to invent the "sniff-o-mic" though...), but execution is another issue entirely. I sure don't remember there ever being the level of "hype" that is currently out there for 3D, and sometimes that will make enough noise that it actually is adopted.

The camera costs $1,399

One thing in the specs that jumped out was the 1080p60 frame rate. If this does 60 progressive frames a second it's a big step from cams only being able to do 60 interlaced frame a second at 1080. With that and the ability to remove the 3D lens adapter this looks to be a nice consumer camera even if 3D sinks out of sight for another decade or two.

I'm with you Dan Brockett. More 3D!! Then again I'm probably more of a fan of it than most people. I bought a virtual boy last summer because I couldn't afford one when they were new while in 8th grade.

The "Competitor site" revealed that the lens is basically 2 smaller lenses that only allow a 960x540 resolution for each eye. You also have to manually adjust the two lenses to line up in order to properly edit everything later. No alternating shutter for each eye, just 2 micro-lenses that have both images side by side captured by one sensor.

So, in essence, the 3D this camera produces will only be in 960x540.

The "Competitor site" revealed that the lens is basically 2 smaller lenses that only allow a 960x540 resolution for each eye. You also have to manually adjust the two lenses to line up in order to properly edit everything later. No alternating shutter for each eye, just 2 micro-lenses that have both images side by side captured by one sensor.

So, in essence, the 3D this camera produces will only be in 960x540.

That doesn't sound right, if the image is a split left/right surely it will be 960x1080, which is half 1920x1080, rather than 960x540, which is a quarter resolution being half height _and_ half width.

Except that 960x1080 is not widescreen. If the frame width is indeed 960, then the native height would be 540. Of course they could squeeze the frame in the optics to use more of the sensor height, and then use in-camera processing to resize the frame back to widescreen aspect ratio.

Just found the UK page for the camera, and it says "The right/left images (each with 960 x 1080 pixels) that enter through the lenses are recorded using the side-by-side method.", so it's definitely not 960x540.

Camcorders - HD Camcorders - HDC-SDT750 - Overview - UK & Ireland (http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/Camcorders/HD+Camcorders/HDC-SDT750/Overview/5471597/index.html?trackInfo=true)

This was the original resolution of the Z1U CCDs, so the 3D should be Z1U quality. This probably means the mini-lenses are anamorphic.

So... did anyone take the plunge on this or the other Panasonic 3D adaptive lens cameras?

Any comments on the experience?