Fujifilm North America (http://www.fujifilm.com) has announced a new addition to its FinePix REAL 3D system — the FinePix REAL 3D W3 digital camera. It steps it up from its predecessor with the ability to shoot high-resolution 3D photos and movies in 3D HD at 720p, with the help of a new RP (Real Photo) Processor.
It also sports a new Mini HDMI port for playback on most 3D television systems and an Autostereoscopic 3D Widescreen 3.5-inch LCD. All components allow for 3D still photos and movies that can be viewed and enjoyed through a connection between the FinePix REAL 3D W3 and a 3D TV — or printed in 3D quality.
The slim FinePix REAL 3D W3 digital camera with a black matte finish measures 21.0 mm at its thinnest point and weighs 8.5 ounces with battery and memory card. The stainless steel construction ensures that the optical axis is balanced ever so precisely resulting in accurate 3D images, according to Go Miyazaki, division president, Imaging and Electronic Imaging Divisions, Fujifilm North America. The W3 also has a horizontal lens cover with wave detail, which serves as the on/off switch.
Fujifilm’s FinePix REAL 3D technology captures true 3D thanks to its use of twin 10 megaPixel CCD sensors and dual FUJINON 3x optical zoom lenses (35-105mm) that are spaced 75 mm apart to create images that are similar to how human eyes see them. The synchronized control of the twin CCD sensors releases the left and right shutters at the same time. This technology produces a synchronized image with a natural sense of depth, and allows easy capture of 3D movies and photos in HD, and also provides the beneficial unique 2D Advanced Shooting modes, says Miyazaki.
The 3D and 2D Auto functions let anyone take high-definition, high-resolution movies and photos; audio is captured in stereo. Photo data captured by the dual lens CCD system is processed by the newly developed RP (Real Photo) Processor 3D HD which merges the left and right images into a single image. This processor is also the power behind 3D Auto — the function that lets even first-time users take 3DHD quality photos.
The FinePix REAL 3D W3 also comes equipped with a 3.5-inch high resolution Autostereoscopic 3D Widescreen LCD with 1150K resolution that displays high contrast images and movies that can be viewed in 3D without the need of 3D glasses. This new lenticular system uses rows of convex lenses that create a binocular parallax effect to produce a realistic 3D image with less cross-talk and flicker. 3D images can be shown in High Luminosity Mode that both display images 1.5 times brighter, and color reproduced 1.8 times deeper.
The FinePix REAL 3D W3 includes advanced 3D and 2D capture modes. With Individual Shutter 3D Shooting, advanced users have the ability to take two shots of the same subject from different positions, and then the camera will automatically merge and save the captured images as a single, enhanced 3D photo.
The Advanced 2D Modes also allow for independent use of the dual CCD sensors and FUJINON lenses in the FinePix REAL 3D W3. Just as if shooting with two digital cameras, the user can choose different zoom ranges and color settings for each image, capturing both at the same time. With Tele/Wide Simultaneous Shooting, you can zoom in on your subject while also taking a wide-angle shot of the same scene.
With Two-Color Simultaneous Shooting, at one press of the shutter, you can take photos of the same scene with a different color tonality. Set one lens system to vivid colors and the other to vintage black and white, or capture the scene in both standard and black and white. Dual-Sensitivity Simultaneous Shooting allows the user to capture high and standard sensitivity simultaneously. For example, you can take panned shots of a moving subject at the exact same instant with different degrees of background motion blur. In dark scenes, you can prioritize blur reduction for one shot, and image quality for the other.
The FinePix REAL 3D W3 digital camera will be available in early September at a retail price of US$499.95.