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Panasonic AG-3DP1: Bringing 3-D to the ENG
For 3-D production there are two options, either a 3-D rig or a twin lens camera. 3-D Rigs are bulky apparatuses that often take several people to manage. Ask any Director of Photography that has shot 3-D and they will tell you mobility and flexibility are not words synonymous with 3-D rigs. Twin Lens cameras are more portable but the 3-D is less versatile and often the footage has an amateur look to it. Panasonic’s new addition to the 3-D camera marketplace is their shoulder mounted, ENG style, twin lens AG-3DP1. It features dual 17 times twin lens zoom with dual 2.2 megapixel CMOS sensors. The Panasonic AG-3DP1 offers full 1920 x 1080 10 bit sampling shooting in the AVC Intra codec, and comes with the zoom and focus calibrated between the lenses. Shooting 3-D is a meticulous venture that requires an intuitive DP. The Panasonic AG-3DP1 gives you multiple 3-D Assist Display Functions that give you excellent Z-axis perspective readings. Red blocks show up the LCD when there is excessive leaping, yellow when there is excessive depth. A green line will outline the reference plane, and you will have a Z-axis waveform on the bottom of the LCD with red lines that outline the trouble areas.
Flexibility in a new camera remains an important aspect for any Director of Photography looking to purchase a camera. 3-D Rigs offer amazing flexibility with the Z-Axis and 3-D quality, but it comes with large costs, bulky rigs, and a complicated workflow. The Panasonic AG-3DP1 offers you high-quality alternative in one shoulder mounted camera. Although it doesn’t offer the same flexibility as the rig, it allows more room in the budget because it has a less expensive price point. Because it maintains a similar body style as other Panasonic Varicam models, the AG-3DP1 gives you a great 3-D “on-the-fly” shooting option that comes in an ENG style camera. And the Panasonic AG-3DP1 offers undercrank and overcrank features similar to other Varicam cameras. It allows for easy use for live switched events as well as a traditional shoot.
Download the AG-3DP1 Brochure here.
Talk to us: Has your Chicago video crew shot any 3-D productions recently? Do you find that 3-D productions are a growing trend or a waning fad? Have you purchased the new Panasonic AG-3DP1 or one of its predecessors? If so, what do you think about the camera?
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