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

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Panasonic has announced that it will release the world’s first* professional, fully-integrated Full HD 3D camcorder in Fall 2010 and will begin taking orders in April. Engineering samples of the professional Full HD 3D solid-state camcorder were recently exhibited at the Panasonic booth (Las Vegas Convention Center) at the 2010 International CES in Las Vegas, USA. This Full HD 3D camcorder will offer the following core benefits:

Current 3D systems are large-scale setups which have two cameras fitted parallel in a rig, or vertically intersected across a half-mirror. Separate recorders are also required. Panasonic’s new Full HD 3D camcorder has lenses, a camera head, and a dual Memory Card recorder integrated into a single, lightweight body. The camcorder incorporates stereoscopic adjustment controls making it easier to use and operate. The twin-lens 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 adjustments to be made by means of a PC or an external video processor. This new camcorder will automatically recalibrate without need for external equipment, allowing immediate 3D image capture.

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

Right and left Full HD video streams from the twin-lens 3D camcorder are recorded as files on SDHC/SD Memory Cards, ensuring higher reliability than tape, optical disc, HDD or other mechanical-based recording systems. The solid-state, no-moving-parts design helps reduce maintenance costs. The Panasonic 3D camcorder is better able to perform in extreme environments and is more resistant to temperature extremes, shock, and vibration. Users will enjoy fast, highly-productive file-based workflows, with instant, random access to recorded content; easy plug-in to Mac and PC-based platforms; and longer recording capacity.

Using a standardized, fully integrated design, the Full HD 3D camcorder can be offered at a significantly lower price than traditional 3D rigs. Transportation expenses for this handheld unit will be less and faster setup times reduce labor costs. Using standard, readily available re-recordable SDHC/SD Memory Cards, media costs are reduced. In addition to the 3D camcorder, Panasonic 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 so video professionals can efficiently create 3D content and consumers can enjoy 3D video using Panasonic 3D home theater systems.

AT CES, Panasonic is showcasing a wide range of 3D entertainment that has been created by many of the world’s leading Hollywood movie studios including Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Walt Disney Pictures and DreamWorks for the big screen first and now for the home. In addition, Panasonic has joined forces with the US company DirecTV to bring consumers 3D content via DirecTV satellite broadcasting services.


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

*The camcorder is the world’s first as an integrated twin-lens Full HD 3D camcorder capable of recording Full HD 3D video to memory cards (as of January 2010).
** The point at which the left and right-camera lenses’ optical axes converge.
*** Product specifications and pricing are subject to change without notice.

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.

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 axis 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 larger cameras cannot be installed side by side. 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. In addition, if the system is moved, shock or vibration inevitably puts the cameras out of alignment, making frequent readjustment necessary. In this fully-integrated Full HD 3D camcorder 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.

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