With Sky and C4 set to start showing 3D television and 3D films hitting cinemas regularly, a 3D digital camera could be an idea whose time has come. Step forward Fujifilm, with the first compact snapper that takes and displays 3D images, without a pair of cardboard specs in sight..
The 3D W1’s dual lenses and sensors take two shots simultaneously from slightly different angles – just as your eyes do – before the camera’s “brain” merges them into a 3D image.
Viewed on the 2.8-inch screen, the 3D effect is impressive. It really comes into its
own where you have a large depth of field, with objects arrayed at various distances from the lens. Even portraits can give perspective; shake a fist at the camera and it bursts out of the LCD viewfinder at you.
Unfortunately, shaking a fist at this camera is something you may find yourself doing a lot; the 3D W1 is a pain to use. Even in terms of the way you hold the thing, it’s far too easy for an index finger to creep into shot, and you don’t want to see that obscuring your shot. With manual features split over mode, menu and F buttons, you have to really hunt for them, too.
In 3D mode you have to get used to a blurred screen – but throw in some bright sunlight and it’s even harder to discern what’s going on. Even though the shutter is fast, it takes a laborious eight to ten seconds of processing for 3D pictures to write to the card at maximum quality.
Worst of all, the “Advanced 3D Modes” are exasperating in the extreme, and generally result in a blurry mess that’s neither advanced nor even particularly three-dimensional.While the dual sensors and lenses excuse the bulk and 260g weight, they don’t explain the budget feel of the camera, especially given the £550 asking price.
Design and build quality feel firmly rooted in the 90s. Standard, 2D pics are acceptable, and with adjustable aperture and shutter, full manual modes, ISO 1600 for low-light shooting, and an effective Face Priority mode, it’s fully featured.
So what’s the verdict? If you’ll excuse the analogy, this is closer to an LG Watch Phone of the camera world than an iPhone. If you want something to show off, it’s great, and the tech is certainly ground breaking. If you want a camera for regular use, it’s not so hot.
Viewing 3D shots on the 2.8-inch screen soon palls and the alternatives are Fujifilm’s 3D Picture Viewer, which costs £300 or lenticular prints at £3 a throw. There’s PC software that will work with it, but that requires specs.
Link: Fujifilm
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