THIRD DIMENSION SOCIETY

PARTICIPATION IN AND FURTHERANCE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART OF COLOUR STEREOGRAPHY       

New Fujifilm Real3D Finepix Digital 3-D Camera

Shown at NSA Convention in Mesa, AZ.

A personal view by David Starkman 

The National Stereoscopic Association’s annual convention, this year in Mesa, AZ from July 9 to 13th, 2009 was another interesting, fun, enjoyable, and educational 3-D convention. 

One of the highlights was getting to be able to see the new Fujifilm digital 3-D camera in person. We not only got to hold the camera, and see the auto-stereoscopic display, but we got to upload some sample photos to see what the results really look like. 

Considering some of the misinformation that seems to be in even the most recent listings on an Internet Google search, I hope that this report will bring you all up to date, as accurately as I can manage. 

First, the camera seems to be near the final production stage. We got the impression that the “prototypes”, that we handled, were basically early production models. Perhaps more hand made than the final models would be, but not mockups. Three identical (working) cameras were on display, in addition to the working camera brought from Japan by Japanese NSA member Takashi Sekitani, who seems to be acting as a Beta tester for Fujifilm. It’s nice to know that they have at least one person who is not a Fujifilm employee, but is a 3-D expert, giving them some feedback. 

Takashi let us take a few 3-D pictures, and then remove the SD card and upload them to our laptop. 

According to the developer of the camera, the native storage format is one side-by-side stereo pair in one file, also containing a header area in which extra information is stored. This format is called "Multi Picture Format" (MPF), and is standardized by CIPA, the Camera & Imaging Products Association of Japan. An English translation of this very new standard ("Stereo Still Image Format for Digital Cameras") is available for download: http://www.cipa.jp/english/hyoujunka/kikaku/pdf/DC-006_E.pdf

The way the camera preferences were set up, we found that for each image taken, there was a single standard JPG image, followed by a file of the same name, with an MPO. (I noticed that there is also a menu option to store the MPO image pair only.). Using a simple executable file called MPO2JPG the MPO files could be quickly converted to Left and Right JPG files that had the same name (number) but with _L and _R tagged to each one. This required converting the images one image file at a time. Takashi says that he is already beta testing a version of StereoPhoto Maker that will support this file format, and that Fujifilm will also be including better software than the MPO2JPG with the final production product.

I will show a few examples of the right and left image files, not adjusted in any way. As one might expect, they can be improved for stereo window and small corrections by using StereoPhoto Maker. However, these sample show that even without SPM correction they are pretty good.

I neglected to measure the actual dimensions of the camera, but it is just a bit larger than a standard digital camera, with 2 lenses located 77mm apart. The 10 Megapixel label on the camera, and talking to the sales representatives, gave me the impression that each lens apparently takes a 10.0 Mega Pixel image. When looking at the image files uploaded from Takashi’s sample camera we found that the MPO file is about 9.1 to 9.6 MB in size. When the Left and Right images are extracted using MPO2JPG they come out about 3648x2736 size at 4.6 to 4.8 MB each. This is larger than the images from my twin 7.2 Megapixel Sony P200 rig, which yields 3072x2304 images at 2.86 to 3.09 MB per images. I’m no expert on evaluating this, so I give the numbers I found for those of you who can evaluate the numbers better than I can. Bottom line appears to be a more than adequate resolution for a pocketable 3-D digital camera!!!

The single flash is located between the lenses, and a slide down cover protects them and turns off the camera when not in use. The camera easily fits in a shirt pocket, and, in use, the casual observer would not realize that this is a 3-D camera. The camera can also take 3-D movies, with stereo sound from the two microphones located near each of the two lenses. It has a 2GB limitation on video clips, which works out to be approximately 14-16 minutes of video, which, of course, can be repeated up to the storage capacity of the SD card. I also recall mention that the camera will take up to a 32GB SD High Capacity card. See the close up photo of the camera for a front view layout.

I have taken the back view of the camera in stereo, with an attempt to get the lenticular 3-D display so that it can be seen in 3-D in the stereo pair. I think you will get the idea. In use the view is quite three dimensional, and allows for a mini 3-D preview (as well as playback) of the image being taken. Horizontal adjustment of the on-screen view may be made with the large rocker button to the center left of the viewing screen. This has an overlapping circle symbol that looks a bit like the old Polaroid logo. This only adjusts screen viewing, not the taken image.

There is also an internal 3x optical zoom, if I recall correctly. I used the zoom, but not for any final photos. Sorry!

So, these few sample photos, all taken indoors with flash, look very promising. With StereoPhoto Maker these images look comparable to my twin digital camera results, and would make great stereo-view cards, or could be projected with twin digital projectors. Down the road (when I have the equipment) they also should be viewable on 3-D-Ready DLP TV’s, when converted to the checkerboard format (which SPM can do).

Of course, this is not quite what Fujifilm has in mind for the average consumer. As a companion to the camera, they have created a very good quality 8” auto-stereoscopic (lenticular) digital 3-D picture frame viewer. Without conversion (I believe) the images can be uploaded to the picture frame, or the SD card from the camera can be inserted into the 3-D picture frame, for instant no-glasses-needed 3-D viewing (optimally for one person at a time). 3-D Movies, with sound, may also be shown on the 3-D picture frame. I have to say that the image quality on the picture frames was not just good -- it was actually much better than I expected. The sample video clip was even better, as the motion parallax added more depth impression to the video. This would not have been the case with a video taken with a nonmoving camera.

As impressed as I was with the 3-D picture frame, I was not impressed at all with the sample lenticular prints that were shown. Presumably, Fujifilm intends to offer these to the 3-D camera users, and this certainly would be another selling point for consumers. The pictures were colorful and sharp, without double imaging. However, unlike the depth of the digital 3-D picture frame, the prints were virtually flat. This could be a turnoff for new customers, who are not 3-D enthusiasts to begin with.

For a first factory-made consumer digital 3-D camera from a major manufacturer I think Fujifilm has done a pretty good job. The final retail price is not yet set, but the Fujifilm reps were hinting at around a $600 price range for the camera, and possibly $500 for the viewer (digital 3-D picture frame). I hope the price will come down for the final release, but, if not, I can understand that, compared to conventional digital cameras, this is probably a very limited production (at least to get started), and, therefore, will command a premium price.  

The 3-D digital picture frame, on the other hand, would seem a bit too high priced if it comes out at $500 - over 80% of the cost of the camera alone. I’d also love to see a much larger version of this frame: at least 12”.

Would I buy one? Yes, indeed! It’s pretty hard to resist having a decent 3-D camera capability literally in my pocket, and in a size and weight that I would not hesitate to have along all the time. I’d still like to have the adjustable stereo-base of my twin Sony P200 rig, and would keep it for that reason. But this is too tempting to pass up. My biggest decision will be whether to jump in as soon as it is available, or wait to see if there are price reductions or model improvements. Pretty much the same dilemma with all new digital equipment.

There are a few improvements and suggestions that I’ve already given to the Fujifilm representatives. Whether it is possible for any of these to be implemented before the final production camera is made is doubtful, but one can hope.

First, I suggested a second strap loop on the opposite side of the camera. This would allow for a neck strap so that the camera can be worn in “ready to shoot” horizontal position, rather than on a wrist strap or hanging vertically on a longer single point neck strap.

Second, due to the left lens being virtually at the upper left corner of the camera, it is easy to put a finger over the lens if held in a more “conventional” manner. And the camera cannot be held at the back sides, as these are where the control buttons are. This leave the only correct holding position being a bit like on a Stereo Realist -- at the top and bottom corner edges of the camera, using both hands at either end. Since the thin edge of the camera is shiny chrome, this edge is a bit slippery. I have suggested changing it to a rubberized surface, with finger indents or depressions in the appropriate places to facilitate proper holding of the camera.

Last, I suggested that the software include options for making quick anaglyphs (as they are easy to share online), and for making “Modern” or “Thorpe” Format 4” x 6” stereo prints (these are 4” x 6” prints which have the stereo pair placed side-by-side with a border around the images). This would allow for making cheap prints at ANY digital lab. Then Fujifilm could, for example, also supply a nice viewer for these prints, and a low-cost folding viewer (like the Loreo Lite) for mailing to friends and family. Just a thought.

Your final question may be “When will the camera be available?”. The exact date is not set, but the Fujifilm representatives indicated that it should be on the market before the end of 2009! I can’t wait!

Yours in Depth,

©David Starkman, Culver City, CA - July 2009 

Shots taken at the NSA Convention.

Shots taken with the Fujifilm Real3D Finepix

Now visit http://www.fujifilm.com/products/3d/camera/finepix_real3dw1