Re: 3D Discover and 3D in general

[P3D Elliott Swanson <e3d@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Until 3D is available in a camera that is autofocus, autoexposure,
autoeverything, and also produces a clear image that requires no viewer
and is durable and cheap and fast to process (1 hour processing
everywhere) 3D will never be more than a novelty other than to people such
as those on this list. The digital era could possibly change this, but
digital isn't affordable for the general public yet. 

That isn't to say there isn't money to be made in 3D, such as the recent
lenticular Star Wars project and things like it. 

But the money isn't in mass market 3D cameras that use any existing
technology. There's money in the high end specialty producers like RBT,
and in the buying and selling and repair of vintage cameras. 3D Discover
should stick to viewers and market 3D as souvenir goods at tourist areas
or else movie/tv tie-ins.  They might have a chance. But even VM cut out
most of their travel tourist line because there wasn't enough money in it. 
Money makes it all go 'round, and there simply isn't enough interest to
generate sufficient sales.

The 3D discover camera is a non-issue. Buy one and play with it or don't.
You won't have any significant impact on the success of the company. The
camera won't have any significant impact on you.

We should all feel lucky as heck that most vintage 3D cameras standardized
on 35mm film, and hope that it's a good long time before things like the
new Kodak product line become the only game in town for film based
photography.

--Elliott 



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