Minox, a German company, has unveiled a 3D digital camera system that makes use of four lenses to create the 3D effect in still images. Many 3D cameras initially introduced into the market make use of two lenses, but the Minox PX3D model will be the first to use four lenses.
The PX3D does not require special glasses to view the 3D image.
How the Minox 3D Camera Works
With the Minox 3D camera, Minox engineers have stacked four lenses horizontally on the camera body. When you press the shutter button, each of the four lenses records a 5 megapixel image. Because of the way the lenses are aligned on the camera, each lens captures a slightly different image on a different plane in space.
The photographers then can choose to keep each of the four images separate as traditional 2D images, or they can choose to have the Minox PX3D camera combine the four images to create a single 3D image, using proprietary Minox in-camera software to create the 3D image. Minox has worked with a company called 3D-Competence to create the software in the Minox 3D camera.
The four-lens design should work well in theory, creating more data on different viewing planes to make a 3D image more realistic than would be available with the dual-lens designs used by many 3D cameras on the market now.
Limitations and Availability
The Minox 3D camera will have a few limitations and requirements to allow it to create the 3D image, including:
The PX3D camera will not work with a scene closer than 2 meters (about 6.6 feet).
No zoom will be available with the Minox 3D camera, because the lens focus must be aligned within 1/100th of an inch, and Minox says a movable zoom lens would affect the precision of the alignment.
The Minox 3D camera must be held and used vertically at all times. Turning the camera to shoot horizontally would negate the 3D effect.
All photos will be recorded in the AVI format.
The 3D effect should be viewable on any computer screen, with no special software required, but the 3D effect is lost if the photo is printed.
The PX3D camera will not be able to shoot video.
The PX3D could be available as early as mid-2011 for a cost of about 500 Euros (about $675 U.S.). Right now, the Minox 3D camera is a concept camera, and the company will only manufacture the models if it feels there is enough demand from consumers.
