Steve Sechrist Senior Analyst and Editor

Last week, Fujifilm introduced a 3D camera / display and printing system for the consumer market that could jump start 3D display demand with a plethora of new consumer-driven content. The company’s "FinePix Real 3D System," announced at the European Photokina ‘08 photography conference in Cologne, Germany, could mark the beginning of a brand new 3D digital-photography category.

Fujifilm said its new 3D-image system features advanced image-signal processing and micro-component technologies. It includes a camera, an electronic picture frame and a 3D printing system in autostereoscopic mode (no-glasses viewing.)

The company said its 3D camera depends heavily on a newly developed chip called the "RP (Real Photo) Processor 3D," which synchronizes the data passed to it by two CCD sensors and instantaneously manages content acquisition and image processing for both stills and movies. "Built-in 3D auto" technology determines optimal shooting conditions from both sensors and will help to synchronize key metrics such as focus, zoom range and exposure. The camera is also fitted with built-in synchro control, giving 0.001-second precision for shutter control and movie synchronization. The processor uses the very latest technologies of high sensitivity and high resolution as the newest 2D processors. Special, identical, high-quality compact Fujinon lenses have been developed for the 3D system to ensure complete conformity between the left and right images.

What’s more exciting, the Fujifilm guys get it… It’s not just about 3D, they are using their two camera system to enhance 2D photography and video as well. Each lens captures stills or movies from a slightly different position, producing the basis of the 3D image, but in 2D mode. The camera has new functions such as the stitching together of side by side images to create wide angle shots, or simultaneous capturing two images of scene — each with different levels of magnification.

But that’s not all. The company developed a 2.8-inch (230K-pixel) 3D autostereoscopic on-board monitor for the camera and an 8.4-inch 3D digital picture frame for home viewing of those brand new images. In addition, it will offer a fine pitch lenticular-based 3D photo-printer.

The company said it is "determined to leverage its considerable technical resources to explore 3D in every way possible, to produce products that expand the imaging market, while at the same time, give future generations of consumers an even richer imaging experience than was conceived at the dawn of the digital age."

Marketing hype? Maybe, but we think Fujifilm’s commitment goes a long way to validate the 3D space for consumers going forward. This new technology is just the tip of the iceberg for Fujifilm especially if the company opens the system up to the creativity of third party partners/developers.

At the very least, we believe this could be the beginning of the 3D digital photography category and it could start a 3D content creation boom with ordinary consumers everywhere who want to extend visual perception literally into the next dimension. If this takes-off, the effect could serve to jumpstart the home 3D display industry. As our publisher Chris Chinnock said, "This is really important. So starts the consumer 3D photography race."

Now for some shameless self-promotion: Be sure to see our full coverage of this story, including our European analyst Lutz Moehr’s reaction to the technology and much more (115 pages more) in the October issue of Large Display Report that ships tomorrow.

Return to News List >