Re: RBT cameras expensive?

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997
>From: P3D Eric Goldstein  writes:
>
>>Sam Smith wrote:
>>.......................
>> Let's be realistic here, if it were that easy don't you
>> think ALL the major camera manufacturers would be jumping the 3D gun by now?
>..................
>
>I gotta say IMO the answer is no they would not be. 

*****  I agree with Eric here, but disagree with his follow-up reasoning.

>We've discussed this
>on the list before: In terms of the mass producers, stereo photography
>is fringe, fringe, fringe which translates to a tiny, tiny, tiny market
>segment. Even in gadget/photography crazy Japan, where Fuji test
>marketed a cheap "beam splitter" attachment for one of it's disposibles
>on their home turf, they couldn't get it to go in any kinds of numbers
>which made sense.

*****  It's not a failure of the market to respond, it's the failure of
industry to provide something worth responding to. A new mirrored device
just wasn't it, even if it's a good idea on it's own. If the mfgs. would
open and use both eyes, they would get a lot farther. Old habits are hard to
break. Stereo is far more than *fringe*, the manufacturers just haven't
figured that out yet. The public waits to be told what to do. When they are
given something that makes sense and fits their perceived needs, they will
go for it in a big way. They've proven that time and again with surprising
products. Stereo has much more value to offer than many of the things the
public has gone wild for in the past.


>We all love our stereo and are understandably passionate about it, but
>let's not confuse our personal preferences with those of any kind of
>significant segment of the rest of the picture-taking world...
>

****  The world sleeps in blissful ignorance. Perhaps it will wake up
someday soon. Our personal preferences for stereo 3D aren't just personal
preferences. This isn't anything like a favorite flavor. 3D is not just fun,
it's tremendously useful. When the entertainment industry gets a glimmer of
what could be, they will wonder why they didn't see the possibility all
along. Till then, those (relatively) few of us who like 3D have it all to
ourselves... There's a lot more to come.

Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/
http://3dzine.simplenet.com/


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