Well as sure as Michael Fox went back to the future, Fuji has now launched a new camera that will take 3D still images and video. "3D" was the buzz word @ CES this year, and now Fuji has surfaced as the first camera manufacturer with a 3D camera.

↑ Two lenses = 3D (photo credit: www.fujifilm.com)

So how does this thing work?

Like Buzz I also met with Fujifilm this week to talk about their new camera lineup. The FinePix Real 3D W1 obviously stole part of the show, although the new F70, sporting the same sensor technology as the F200 , is a cool little camera as well. But admittedly my big smile and "wow!, that's cool", when showed the Fuji 3D W1, pretty much sums up the first impressions.

↑ Photo credit: www.fujifilm.com

Spec-wise the Fuji 3D W1 features dual 10 MP sensors, two 3x optical zoom lenses and a 2.8" LCD. The 3D effect is created using what is called parallax where the two lenses capture two slightly differently angled images of the same scene. A processor then merges the two photos, adds some 3D-magic and displays it on the back LCD.

It looks very, very cool. The best way to describe how it looks, is to go to the movies and watch Pixar's "UP" (or a similar movie) in 3D. That's really how it look.

Other than 3D images, the camera also takes 'normal' 2D images with a twist. Because you have the two lenses (and two sensors), the camera can take two images of the same scene in a variety of fashions. Such as one zoomed in and one zoomed out, on in color and one in b/w. I imagine that a lot of these options are firmware controlled, so maybe down the road Fuji will release firmware upgrades with even more cool 2D 2-lenses options. To me such a setup lends itself nicely to HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography where an underexposed and overexposed image is merged for increased dynamic range.

Futuristic design

↑ Nice form factor (photo credit: www.fujifilm.com)

Holding and handling Fuji's new 3D camera, I have to admit I was almost as impressed with the form factor as with the 3D images. Well, that's not entirely true (and the two are really not a fair comparisons) but I really, really liked the design. Personally I would like to see a 'normal' 2D camera with the same form factor, a 16:9 LCD and illuminated buttons flanking both sides of the LCD.

So can I view the 3D images on my TV?

Short term answer: no. Longer term: maybe. The 3D rendering of the Fuji 3D W1 camera's images is hardware dependent. Meaning you need the right hardware to view the images. One is right there on the back of the camera. Another is Fuji's 8" 3D Digital Viewer frame. Thirdly, you can choose to upload the pictures to a printing company in Japan that prints the images, but this was the least impressive options of them all. The prints just didn't have the same pop as the 3D image on the back of the camera LCD.

↑ Fuji's 3D digital picture frame (photo credit: www.fujifilm.com)

So no, unfortunately you cannot view them on your TV just yet, But on the upside you do not need to wear the silly 3D movie-glasses to get he cool 3D effect on the back LCD and the 3D digital picture frame.

For the technically interested: The Fuji 3D W1 camera will be available at a limited number of retailers around Canada this fall. It's obviously not for everyone just yet, but if you are an early adopter, this is definitely a camera your neighbor will not have.

Message Edited by klausboedker on 08-14-2009 10:49 PM