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Panasonic debuts HDC-SDT750 – world’s first consumer 3D camera
Panasonic is bringing 3D video content creation a step closer to home with the announcement of the world’s first consumer camcorder to offer full-HD 3D recording and playback – and guess who has already been given a sneaky hands-on preview!
Yes, you’ve got it in one! The HDC-SDT750, announced today, allows 3D movie clips to be recorded by simply attaching a 3D conversion lens to the camcorder body. Without it, the camcorder functions in 2D by default.
A world-first: Panasonic's new HDT-SDT750 3D Camcorder
As a result of Panasonic’s broadcast technology being incorporated into this new 3MOS system camcorder, users are able to create create their own 3D movies for playback on any 3DTV display. This, we’re reminded by Panasonic, is a luxury previously afforded only to professional video producers.
The new SD camera is equipped with a wide range of pretty sophisticated functions; these include the 3MOS System, which features improved noise reduction (NR) technologies, 1080/50p recording, iA (Intelligent Auto) mode in the new HYBRID O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), together with a wealth of manual controls. Many other features of the sort you’ll find on the company’s flagship HDC-TM700 AVCHD camcorder are to be found on this model, too.
The high-sensitivity 3MOS System provides an effective motion image pixel count of 7.59 Megapixels (2,530,000 pixels x 3), with further-evolved NR (noise-reduction) technology achieving bright images with minimal noise when shooting under low light conditions.
1,080/50p recording (Full-HD 1920 x 1080, 50 progressive frame recording) in the SDT750 produces richly expressive images (we know because we’ve seen them and have created some ourselves!), with none of the detail loss and flickering of conventional 1,080i (interlaced) recording.
3D Image Shooting with the 3D Conversion Lens
The 3D image sequences rely on a difference between the two side-by-side lenses which is referred to as visual disparity. The brain uses this to perceive spatial depth and the appearance of solidity, and this visual disparity is artificially produced for 3D images so that the brain will interpret it as depth and solid-appearing objects.
A modified HDC-SD600 being used to demo the new 3D lens
The SDT750 comes with a special 3D conversion lens (see images above) that records right-eye and left-eye images simultaneously through its two lenses. The right and left images (each with 960 x 1080 pixels) that enter through the lenses are recorded using the side-by-side method. By attaching the 3D conversion lens to the SDT750 3MOS System camcorder, which incorporates a variety of Panasonic broadcast technologies, and connecting the SDT750 to a TV that is capable of side-by-side method 3D playback, vividly colorful 3D image sequences can be viewed on a suitable 3D TV display when using a conventional HDMI connection.
Yours truly modeling 3D specs and - you have to admit - looking decidedly cool
The iA (Intelligent Auto) function, which has proved to be popular on many Panasonic AVCHD camcorders, is also included and is designed to take the thinking out of shooting HD video. In addition, the SDT750 newly incorporates the HYBRID O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) system to improve hand-held shot stability as well.
Leica Dicomar Lens
This F1.5 lens has a large 46mm diameter and has been engineered to offer brighter images than previous equivalent lenses. In addition, its 35mm wide-angle capability is intended to make it suitable for a wide range of shooting situations – such as self-portraits and group photos indoors, and landscape shots outdoors.
1,080/50p Progressive Recording
The SDT75′s 1,080/50p recording (Full-HD, 1,920 x 1,080, 50 progressive mode) conveys approximately twice the information present in a 1,080i (interlaced) recording in which an “ultimately beautiful image quality” is achieved. This, we’re reliably informed, exceeds even conventional Full-HD images. It minimizes afterimages and flickering caused by subject motion and renders crisp, detailed images. A 64GB SDXC card can record approximately 27 hours 30 minutes of 1,920 x 1,080i high-definition video in HE mode, and approximately 5 hours 20 minutes of 1,920 x 1,080p Full-HD video in 1,080/50p mode.
It should be noted that 3D recording is only achievable when the 3D conversion lens is attached. When it is detached, the camera defaults to a 2D recording mode.
Easy 3D Playback on 3D compatible TVs/AVCHD Compatible Player/Recorders
The 3D images recorded with the SDT750 can be easily played back by connecting the SDT750 to a 3D compatible TV, such as a Panasonic Viera 3DTV. In addition, it’s also possible to play SD Memory Cards that have 3D image sequences recorded onto them by using an AVCHD compatible player/recorder, such as a Panasonic Blu-ray Disc player/recorder.
If you’re looking to edit your 3D clips on a Windows PC, you’ll be able to do this thanks to the HD Writer AE 2.6T PC editing software that will be bundled with the camcorder. This software will allow users to easily edit recorded 3D clips and save them onto PCs or BD/DVD discs. HD Writer AE 2.6T features a “Smart Wizard” that starts up as soon as the SDT750 is connected to the USB port of a PC. At the moment, there’s no clear indication of the compatibility of the camcorder with Apple Mac computers running OSX given the issues with 50p (60p in north America, Japan, etc). We’ll certainly be checking this out when we receive a review sample in a few weeks.
Additional Requirements
Effective playback of the SDT750′s 3D sequences requires a TV that is capable of side-by-side method 3D playback. 3D Eyewear, and HDMI cable connection are also required to play the recorded 3D images.
Pricing and Availability (Europe)
We’re told by Panasonic UK that the HDC-SDT750 will be available to buy in readiness for the Christmas 2010 season. We’re guessing at a likely retail price of around GB£1,300.
Source: Panasonic UK Press Office with additional text and supplementary information ©2010 Colin Barrett, SimplyDV Ltd. All images courtesy of Panasonic UK Press Office. Used by kind permission.
