Aiptek Pocket 3D Camera Review

Aiptek 3D Disappointing Frame Rate

The Aiptek 3D camera claims a video frame rate of 30 frames per second. However, when you upload to You Tube 3D this frame rate is dramatically reduced and you can see for yourself in the video below. Also, you have to be careful when filming in either 2D or 3D mode to not move the camera too quickly. If you do, a trail will appear (similar to the effect produced when a camcorder is switched to low light or night mode) – again, please view my videos coming up for examples.

Since I have uploaded my Aiptek 3D camera video review I have discovered that the juddery nature is not just constrained to YouTube. 3D footage will look as if you have slowed the frame rate down giving you a slight 'strobe' effect – I would say this is the Aiptek 3D camera's biggest flaw.

Will the Aiptek 3D camera be a game changer?

Well professional 3D movie makers don't really need to worry just yet. I was recently in New York for the 3D Experience but one of the main points that came out of it is the 3D industry is worried that 3D consumer cameras such as the Aiptek HD 3D i2 camera, the Fujifim W3 and Panasonic 3D camera will unleash a torrent of badly produced consumer 3D which will be damaging as a whole for the 3D industry. A well established 3D commercial's director called James Stewart of Toronto based Geneva Films announced – "We are about to see a lot of bad live 3D". I gave the Aiptek 3D camera to James during an interview and asked him what he thought of the Aiptek HD 3D i2 camera. Here is what he had to say …

 

Viewing 3D footage from the Aiptek 3D camera

There are three main ways you can view the footage you have recorded from the Aiptek 3D camera in 3D. Of course you can watch it glasses free on the camera's own 2.4" screen or you can purchase the Aiptek 3D digital picture frame which costs about £230. This will allow you to view your content in 3D on a 7" screen without the need for glasses.  Out of all the options I believe this to be the best way but such technology does not lend itself well to sharing 3D footage with others. If you are one of the few people to own a 3D TV you can view your Aiptek 3D content on a ..

… 3D TV regardless of whether it requires active or passive glasses technology. I have to confess – I have not viewed the Aiptek 3D camcorder footage on a 3D TV so I would be delighted if anybody who has done so could contribute to this review. Finally, you can view your Aiptek 3D footage on a laptop the traditional way using anaglyph or colour code glasses (both will allow you to view a 3D effect but not in natural colour).

YouTube 3D allows one to view the output of the Aiptek 3D camera in 3D via several different type of glasses. I viewed my 3D footage using the supplied anaglyph glasses. To be honest, the 3D effect is not fantastic. The problem is, for the 3D effect to work perfectly, the colours on a laptop have to match the colours on the glasses. Every laptop can present colours in slightly different shades and if it is in anyway different, the 3D effect will be compromised. Why don't I show you!  Grab some anaglyph glasses or color code glasses (couple of quid on the Internet if you have not got any) and watch the following 3D clip. The following video consists of random shots from Brooklyn, New York including Williamsburg Bridge, Marcy Avenue  subway and Times Square.

Video link for 3D viewing options –

For me personally the 3D effect is not perfect using the anaglyph glasses but if I understand other ways of viewing the effect are far more effective.

Personally, I much prefer viewing the content on the Aiptek 3D camera's screen without needing glasses. It is a shame the screen is so small but as I said, the Aiptek do offer a 7" 3D glasses free digital picture frame. I have not had the chance to use this but as it is the same technology deployed on the camera's screen, it would be a great way of viewing the 3D footage.

The Aiptek 3D camera stores all 3D movie files as MP4 files and the files consist of two images/movies playing side by side simultaneously. It is up to whatever 3D device you are viewing the 3D footage on to process those files to provide a 3D effect. For example, if you were outputting the 3D files to a 3D TV, you would need to set your 3D TV to 'side by side' mode. Talking of files, you will need to purchase an additional memory card because the internal memory is just 256MB.

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