Re: Stereo's Future

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997
>From: P3D Michael Kersenbrock writes:
>...........(I Said)........
>> I believe that the better stereo camera will be digital in format and will
>> produce consistently better pictures than a film camera. 
>
>I too, as everybody knows, believe this to be true "eventually".  I don't 
>think it'll be "real soon" though, at least not in the consumer market.
>There still are things to be overcome that'll take time.  I'd expect
>lower-quality-than film stereo cameras to come to the consumer market
>far ahead of film-quality ones, and the reason is obvious.
>
>Mike K.
>

It's true that it might not be real soon. However the obvious reasoning
isn't so obvious.

Suppose that some company wanted to get the jump on the competition. (what
greedy company doesn't?) It's totally within the realm of possiblility that
some company with such a goal could start out with the intention to create
the following:

1. A consumer grade camera that obsoletes all the current crop.
2. A camera that is easy to use, 
3. A digital based camera with direct to computer output and optional film
processing from the data.
4. A camera that shoots 2D or 3D (variable base) or lenticular
(multi-lenses) at the consumers choice, all with one camera, no attachments
needed, just flip a switch. 
5. With an output quality exceeding the current 35mm full frame image. 

Such a camera would take over the market almost overnight. It's output
resolution would capture the news almost without trying as everyone will be
surprised and will debate the issue endlessly. The proof of course would be
in the actual images created with the camera. Simple ads comparing
enlargments of image sections between film and this new digital camera would
be very effective. With the basic camera able to produce 3D output as
standard, 3D will start to become more common everywhere even though many
would use the 2D option. Right now (assuming you don't already know about 3D
but find the idea intriguing) you have to want 3D and go looking for
information on how to accomplish such a thing.

Such a camera isn't just a dream. The new digital imaging medium that we
read about here recently being developed partially by Polaroid, will replace
the CCD with higher imaging quality and direct digital output at a lower
cost. Combine that with the above starting design specs and develop a camera
image processing chip that can be mass produced and encapsulated in the
consumer grade cameras. The cost would be about right for the mass market.
Further refinements and specializations can be added later or as needed to
expand the camera line. All of the technology from hardware to software
currently exists in some real form right now, though not necessarily
recognized as being part of the formula by any one company. (therein lies an
opportunity)

Surely some company might be interested in such a ground breaking
revolutionary step if they saw profit in it? Imagine what would happen to
Kodak stocks if they came out with this camera system? I suspect they might
have problems negotiating with Polaroid for the basic technology though.
Maybe it will end up being a polaroid camera system... It would need film
processing equipment though because many would want to email the digital
files off for prints and slides to be returned a couple days later, or send
it to the one hour shop... Now that's ecologically sound. No physical
shipping till there is an end product.

There is no point to starting this as a 2D project as the very concept
requires input that by it's nature provides 3D perspectives. Therefore the
consumer camera of the future will be 3D at it's foundation point, with 2D
as the lesser option. That should put a few kinks in current marketing trends.

And technology marches onwards... with hope for a 3D future.

Larry Berlin

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


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