P3D (Hopefully) helpful Nu-View information

[penultimate@xxxxxxxxx]

There have been several questions re: the Nu-View 3-D video adaptor
posted here in last couple of weeks (including a couple of my own).
This is what I have learned from my own experience with the unit.  

The unit is optimized to be used with camcorder lenses having 37 mm
filter threads.  This includes all of the Sony Handicams including the
Digital 8's.  Noticeable vignetting occurs when using the unit with 52
mm or larger threads.  The 3-D is not affected, but the angle of view is
diminished making it necessary to stand further back from your subject
and zoom in.  I first tried the unit with a Sony TR 3300 camcorder with
52 mm threads, and found the the vignetting objectionable enough to
warrant buying a new TRV 85 (37 mm threads) just to use with the
Nu-View.  

Re: using the unit with digital camcorders; it will work fine as long as
the camcorder is used in the "normal" interlaced mode.  Whether the
signal is being recorded analog or digital is irrelevant here.

Now for biggest problem I encountered with the Nu-View.  It treats
polarized light differently entering the left and right sides.  This
shows up most frequently in reflections of the sky on shiny objects such
as bodies of water, car windshields, or anything else that is highly
reflective.  For example, a shot through a car windshield of people
sitting inside would clearly show the people on one side (can't remember
if it's left or right), and nothing but a bright reflection of the sky
on the other.  This is VERY annoying and distracting to view (the
phenomenon is called retinal rivalry).  

3-D video now offers a fix for this problem, but it is expensive.  They
will gut your unit and install circular polarizers which eliminates this
problem, and include a large sunshade to fit over the unit to eliminate
spurious reflections....cost: $250.  I was given an estimate of $175 by
the company for the polarization upgrade only (no sunshade).  To me, it
would be worth it.  To a less discriminating casual user, it may not.

I am not sure if presently sold new units are free of this polarization
(they call it "glare") problem.  

A couple of other minor details...the overall picture will not be as
sharp as a normal picture because of the loss of vertical resolution due
to the interlaced scanning.  Also, rapid lateral movement is jerky and
distorted because, once again, the left and right images are NOT
recorded simultaneously, but are scanned a sixtieth of a second apart.

Image flicker can be annoying, but reduction of the contrast setting on
your TV seems to be the best way to handle this.  It is possible to view
it on a computer using software that doubles the refresh rate, thus
eliminating the flicker.  

In summation, the Nu-View is a highly effective way to achieve
impressive 3-D video at it's price level, and it's limitations are
relatively minor compared to its effectiveness.  It is truly an
innovative product, but contains some compromises as most moving-image
3-D systems do.

Duke


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