3D TV is Here (almost)

[jr_tech]

Coming soon to a store near you:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100309/.../us_tec3_d_tvs

Will more 3D TVs sell in the first year than CT-100s ?

jr

[radiotvnut]

OK, time to scrap that expensive plasma, LCD, or DLP TV that you just bought a few years ago....

[Eric H]

Ralph Kramden will be happy to hear this.

[MRX37]

I don't think it will take hold.

You apparently need to wear "bulky glasses" to enjoy it. People are too lazy and in a hurry to bother with putting on headgear to watch TV.

There have been 3D movies out for decades, yet they are nowhere near mainstream.

[Robert Grant]

Originally Posted by MRX37

I don't think it will take hold.

You apparently need to wear "bulky glasses" to enjoy it. People are too lazy and in a hurry to bother with putting on headgear to watch TV.

There have been 3D movies out for decades, yet they are nowhere near mainstream.

Been to the movies lately?

Avatar and Up are just two big success stories, stereo sight movies are now a larger part of the cinema market then they ever were at the peaks of the last two fads (about 1954 and 1983, respectively), with new family films especially likely to be in "3D". Today's digital projection systems are far less likely to cause image registration errors. I don't know if it will last, but this wave of stereoscopic cinema certainly appears to be on a better start than those of decades past.

(A biased opinion, I've been a stereo photographer for 25 years).

[MRX37]

I still don't think it will take hold. Not as long as you need to wear extra headgear to enjoy the 3D experience.

Now if they come out with a format that looks 3D with no need for the viewer to wear glasses or take any other special accommodations, that may catch on.

[jr_tech]

Robert Grant says:

"(A biased opinion, I've been a stereo photographer for 25 years)."

What do you use for a camera?

jr

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by MRX37

I still don't think it will take hold. Not as long as you need to wear extra headgear to enjoy the 3D experience...

Not to mention that 99.999+ % of existing video is not in 3D. How many folks will plunk down a few grand to watch a handful of movies and TV specials

[Robert Grant]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

Robert Grant says:

"(A biased opinion, I've been a stereo photographer for 25 years)."

What do you use for a camera?

jr

Perhaps the most "cliché" stereo camera, the Stereo Realist (David White Co., Milwaukee)

I've also dabbled in twin-camera rigs, Sputnik (an old medium format stereo camera from guess where), and digital using what is called "the cha-cha technique" (talking one shot, moving the camera to one side, then shooting another).

[jeyurkon]

Originally Posted by bandersen

Not to mention that 99.999+ % of existing video is not in 3D. How many folks will plunk down a few grand to watch a handful of movies and TV specials

My Mitsubishi DLP cost slightly over $1k and it came 3D ready. I need to spend about $150 I'll be able to watch 3D over Directv. I think they'll only have three channels to begin with, one a demo channel.

My mistake was recently buying a Samsung Bluray player instead of waiting. The firmware can be updated, but I doubt that they'll provide a 3D upgrade when they can use that to sell new players. I can't imagine they'll cost $1K more than the standard Bluray though.

John

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by jeyurkon

My Mitsubishi DLP cost slightly over $1k and it came 3D ready. I need to spend about $150 I'll be able to watch 3D over Directv. I think they'll only have three channels to begin with, one a demo channel.

John

So does the Mitsubishi refresh at 240Hz, or is that not a necessary part of being "3D ready" ? I assume that the system uses active LC shutter glasses... does the TV display provide the sync info?
Years ago, I saw a demo of a similar system that used a JVC CED player. At that time the Shutter glasses were not wireless, and IIRC were plugged into the disk player. Jaws 3D looked pretty scary but some flicker could be observed, at the low alternating 30 Hz rate.

Robert_Grant... Very cool about the stereo photography ! When I was a kid, my parents had a Viewmaster camera, which worked pretty good, but the image size in the film was only about 1/4 frame size, so the resolution was somewhat limited.

jr

[jeyurkon]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

So does the Mitsubishi refresh at 240Hz, or is that not a necessary part of being "3D ready" ? I assume that the system uses active LC shutter glasses... does the TV display provide the sync info?
Years ago, I saw a demo of a similar system that used a JVC CED player. At that time the Shutter glasses were not wireless, and IIRC were plugged into the disk player. Jaws 3D looked pretty scary but some flicker could be observed, at the low alternating 30 Hz rate.

Robert_Grant... Very cool about the stereo photography ! When I was a kid, my parents had a Viewmaster camera, which worked pretty good, but the image size in the film was only about 1/4 frame size, so the resolution was somewhat limited.

jr

Grrr, grumble grumble... The answer to the first part is no. It refreshes at 120HZ max. To the second part it's yes, no, maybe.

The set has an emitter jack that is used to sync the glasses via a direct cable or IR. The Mitsubishi was designed before there was a 3D standard for packaged media like Bluray and DVD. They also warn that it may not be compatible with future 3D standards.

The model I have requires 1080p 60HZ and that the device support checker board format for video and images. I suspect that means there will be zero chance that it will work with the new Bluray 3D players. I hope it works with Directv. It's a software update for the receiver so maybe they'll try to make it work with all existing sets. Albeit, some flicker.

John

[jr_tech]

"I hope it works with Directv. It's a software update for the receiver so maybe they'll try to make it work with all existing sets. Albeit, some flicker."

I would guess that they would provide a variety of output options so that the "best" display possible within the limitations of a particular set could be produced.
The demo that I saw in the mid 80s was at standard NTSC rates, so that a full interlaced stereo pair was produced every 1/15th of a second. Even at that low rate, the flicker was not bad, and could only be noticed on the brightest scenes. The fact that a CED (needle vision) player was used for the demo did not help matters either, as there was an occasional "skip".

I see that Amazon is listing the Samsung BD-C6900 player, but no ship date yet:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-C69...8425331&sr=8-3

jr

[jeyurkon]

I also have a pair of 3D LCD glasses that I used with my Commodore Amiga in the 80's at standard NTSC rates. There was a 3D pong type game that was pretty impressive. I don't remember seeing much flicker either.

I should check and see if there were any better PD programs written for it. In the past 30 years someone may have...

John

[jeyurkon]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

"I hope it works with Directv. It's a software update for the receiver so maybe they'll try to make it work with all existing sets. Albeit, some flicker."

I would guess that they would provide a variety of output options so that the "best" display possible within the limitations of a particular set could be produced.
The demo that I saw in the mid 80s was at standard NTSC rates, so that a full interlaced stereo pair was produced every 1/15th of a second. Even at that low rate, the flicker was not bad, and could only be noticed on the brightest scenes. The fact that a CED (needle vision) player was used for the demo did not help matters either, as there was an occasional "skip".

I see that Amazon is listing the Samsung BD-C6900 player, but no ship date yet:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-C69...8425331&sr=8-3

jr

I have the 60C9 Mitsubishi. Directv doesn't list it as compatible, but Mitsubishi does. However, it requires a 3DC-100 dongle that converts the side by side format to checkboard. The price for two glasses, emitter, dongle and other accessories comes out to nearly $400. Nearly half the price of what I paid for the set.

I still might go for it. But the release date isn't unil July 10th.

I found some other side by side to checkerboard adpaters, but they're more expensive and don't include anything else.

John