• Blogs
• Forums
• Tradeshows
• Partners
• White Papers
• Podcast Show Notes
• Events

 

Stereoscopic 3D Rigs

Oct 27, 2010 12:00 PM, By Trevor Boyer

Sept. 13 was Stereo 3D Theme Day at IBC, and the show itself was something of a showcase for stereo 3D support gear. What used to be an obscure task usually served by custom gear is now entering the mainstream. It's not just Hollywood blockbusters that are getting a third dimension these days, so manufacturers are understandably rushing in to fill a growing niche.

Related Links

The 3D Toolbox Determining the proper amount of 3D in a scene is an artistic choice that goes to the core capabilities and sensibilities of the shooter. Several factors affect the appropriate interocular setting such as lens' focal length that affects the perceived placement of objects within the 3D volume... Camera Time at NAB 2010 If you're headed out to Las Vegas in a few short weeks, cameras are probably high on your list of gear to check out, whether or not you're a shooter/cinematographer... Stereo Hype This past December, Vic Love was headed to Jamaica to shoot footage for a documentary about the history of reggae music. With him traveled a tech-averse...

A few recent announcements from manufacturers speak to this broadening of the field of stereoscopic production. Polecam, for instance, announced earlier this month that BSkyB used its gear to shoot the Ryder Cup in stereo. A new Polecam 3D mounting plate held aloft two Toshiba IK-HD1 cameras to capture the action from high above the first tee at Celtic Manor, showing sweeping views of the crowd and golfers teeing off. Polecam remote control panels allowed engineers in the truck to control the rig from 2 kilometers away.

For its part, Element Technica recently announced that cinematographer Steven Douglas Smith selected its lightweight Neutron 3D rig to hold two Silicon Imaging SI-2K cameras for a recent in-house project for the Navy, which recreated a recent missile launch that brought down a crippled satellite.

At IBC, Element Technica showed its full range of 3D rigs. The company was showing a pair of Red Epics mounted on its Pulsar rig, which made its world premiere at the show. The rig is designed for medium-sized cameras. A pair of Red Scarlets were mounted on Element Technica's smallest stereo rig, the Neutron, which debuted at NAB 2010. The larger Quasar rig, introduced at last year's IBC show, was also on display. All three rigs can be configured for either side-by-side or the two forms of beamsplitter setups (one camera points either up or down at the mirror).

Continue the discussion on “Crosstalk” the Millimeter Forum.
© 2012 NewBay Media, LLC.