A Sony concept prototype of a 3D camera was introduced during the Digital Cinema Summit.
Keynote speaker John Honeycutt, executive vp and head of international business operations for Discovery International, presented the camera, which was co-developed by Sony and Discovery. Testing starts in July.
Features include three ½-inch CMOS sensors per eye, Full 1920×1080, interchangeable lenses, convergence control capabilities and full metadata support.

Discussing 3D production, he asked: How do we run and gun on production while limiting the amount of problems we create? He suggested:
–preplanning of angles
–real time montoring of outputs if possible
–Stereographer on set for now. Honeycutt believes that will eventually merge with the cinematographer role.
–Metadata strategy needs work
–“Fix it in post” is a “dangerous and expensive” term in 3D
–On post, he said the tools are evolving quickly, but pacing differences in 2D and 3D may drive separate cuts of content. He added that for an editor, eye strain is a serious issue. “So shift lengths may be shorter. Metadata from cameras would be a huge help.”
–On the use of 2D-to-3D conversion: “If we can find a tool that works and delivers quality.”
NAB’s Digital Cinema Summit was co-produced by SMPTE, ETC, EBU and NAB.

Buzz Hayes, executive stereoscopic 3D producer at Sony’s 3D Technology Center, emphasized the importance of quality 3D, during an address Saturday at NAB.
“What constitutes quality? Technical conditions for one (notably misalignment), and aesthetic value,” he said at the Digital Cinema Summit, a two-day conference co-produced by SMPTE, ETC, EBU and NAB. “It is a complicated field and there are a lot of things to know. You need to understand how parallax works…. And finally a big issue is the effect on he viewer.”
At a time when emphasis on 3D is quickly moving to the home environment, Hays pointed out that people generally spend more time in front of a TV set than going to movies. He added: “We have to make sure that what we are creating isn’t going to have any sort of lasting effect.”
Emphasizing that in this climate, education is vital, Hays offered a brief overview of the newly launched 3D Technology Center on the Sony lot. The center will offer educational programs geared at cinematographers (in conjunction with Local 600), film and TV directors, and those involved in live event production.
Hays said the center might add a gaming component, especially where eye fatigue is involved “to make sure people are doing a good job of designing these games.”