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Is Shooting 3D movies as complex as Open heart Surgery?

Submitted by Clyde DeSouza on Tuesday, 6 April 20106 Comments
DaVinci 3D Surgery - Similar to the way 3D movies are being made?

DaVinci 3D Surgery - Similar to the way 3D movies are being made today?

The DaVinci Surgery System is an engineering marvel – and now in full 3D! (excuse the Hollywood like overtone). The purpose of this article is not to explain 3D surgery, but to encourage debate on why current 3D movie making is made to look as complex as though it were surgery.

Current 3D camera rigs used in movies and the camera crew look much like the scenario above with a 3D viewing station – needed in both cases, and a bulky “rig” (arguably, not needed in the movie making scenario). In the DaVinci scenario, a remote operator – The surgeon or, in Hollywood terms – the Director… is also the Cameraman, focus puller, DP and “actor”. One person doing the job of guiding the 3D camera to give him/herself the sense of “immersion” that only 3D can give, along with manipulating focus, guiding the camera AND the robot arms remotely – to perform the operation (acting)

In the case of making 3D movies, …

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  • Alan

    Overall, I found your article helpful, including interesting links.
    “Believe it or not the cameras shown above are capable of creating images that can be shown in full fidelity at IMAX screen sizes. These are the cameras and the configurations that should be used today when creating a 3D Camera rig”
    This seems a little precipitous. That Red rig is not available yet, and the cameras are not out. Let's wait an see how this all plays out.
    For the lower end, there is the $20 Panasonic cam that may be servicable. It doesn't exist yet either.

    Also, it would be nice if you parenthetically explained Keystone errors.
    All that said, I hope you are right. We don't have to spend an additional $60K on shooting 3D for indie films.
    Thanks for your illuminating article.

  • clydeD

    Yeah your right Alan :-(
    I was hoping the Scarlet would be out soon, but i'm also an evangelist for simplifying the tools needed for 3D. So for now, the Si2K mini with a backpack recorder and set in parallel, is a clear winner.
    From run 'n gun style 3D if needed to shoulder mount or stabilized. The 20K Panasonic is to be shipped in Aug according to what I hear from reliable sources.

    I only want to know if there is a rolling-shutter problem with it. The beta testers thus far have not said anything, and I've not been given one by Panny to test :-)

    Thanks for dropping by!

  • Markus Lanxinger

    Good article. While some stereo rigs converge and focus at the same time (most systems out there), 3ality digitals rig have these controls separated so your 1st AC or camera operator on broadcast still focuses like they are used to while the stereo puller (convergence puller really isn’t a good enough term in my opinion) adjusts I/A and convergence on the fly.

  • Markus Lanxinger

    Good article. While some stereo rigs converge and focus at the same time (most systems out there), 3ality digitals rig have these controls separated so your 1st AC or camera operator on broadcast still focuses like they are used to while the stereo puller (convergence puller really isn't a good enough term in my opinion) adjusts I/A and convergence on the fly.

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  • Anonymous
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