Carl Zeiss Call to 3D Producers

Sep 28, 2011 No Comments by admin

Carl Zeiss said they would welcome new short 3D clips from producers who want to get more public recognition for their work via the Cinemizer Plus 3D iTunes podcast platform.

By Max Allen

The Cinemeizer Plus is a personal 3D head mounted viewer that projects an imaginary 45” TV screen 2 meters in front of the wearer. Although the device can display 2D content, it can also display 3D videos in a side by side format from an iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and all video capable iPod models. The advantage of this method of viewing 3D content is there is no flicker inherent with shutter glasses, loss of resolution of passive glasses or sweet spot viewing restrictions of glasses free 3D technology (however, it can be said – it is not the most social way of watching a 3D film!).

The Cinemizer Plus is an upgrade to the original version featuring a silicon nose pad for more comfortable viewing, softer inside material and newly designed travel case.

You might not have seen many people wearing the Cinemizer Plus but Carl Zeiss are keen to push this as the ultimate viewing device for people on the move. The units are often used at trade fair shows to demo 3D content, blocked off from the glaring bulbs of the exhibition hall.

Any side-by-side formatted 3D video can be displayed in the Cinemizer Plus but Carl Zeiss are keen to improve their dedicated 3D offering. Currently, only a handful of 3D video trailers, short clips and adverts are available on the Cinemizer iTunes podcast.

Up until May, Carl Zeiss were uploading the Zeiss Cinemizer 3D Podcast which featured a series of clips to demo the system's capabilities but things appear to have gone quite on that front.

Franz Troppenhagen, Product Manager of Multimedia Devices at Carl Zeiss told 3D Focus that obtaining 3D content has been difficult. “Normally agencies have some copyright restrictions” he said, “It’s difficult to get 3D content, especially if it is not blockbuster programming”.

He went on to express that, although no payment could be offered, he would encourage people with 3D programming to consider it for the platform, even if it were a short clip of a longer length programme. “I would welcome that because our customers are looking for 3D content all the time” he said.

CINEMIZER OLED

Next year, the company hopes to launch the Cinemizer OLED version. By replacing the LCD panels within the current Cinemizer Plus with OLED panels, the image is expected to be brighter as well as supporting HD video from any HDMI source such as a Blu-ray player or games console. The current resolution of 640 x 480 pixels per eye will also be upgraded.

A prototype of the Cinemizer OLED was shown at IFA 2010 and interestingly it featured motion sensors and accelerometers. Sony's Mike Hocking hinted that Sony's head mounted display, due for release in Japan in November, would sport head tracking but it appears that function has been left in the R&D department. If Carl Zeiss do incorporate head tracking into the Cinemizer OLED, it could potentially create a revolutionary new way to play 3D games. For videos of the Cinemizer OLED in action click here.

UPDATE – Carl Zeiss has just confirmed the Cinemizer OLED will NOT feature head tracking saying "The product development has been almost finished and head tracking is not featured unfortunately. However, we are evaluating if there are other possibilities in future models."

If you have own 3D content that you would like Carl Zeiss to consider for Cinemizer Plus email .