Aiptek 3D-HD High Definition 3D Camcorder (Black White) by Aiptek

The Aiptek 3D-HD High Definition 3D Camcorder gives you the power to record in eye-popping 3D. Featuring dual-HD sensors, the Aiptek 3D Camcorder captures high-definition videos and stills that work with most major brand 3D televisions. Also, you can play back and view your 3D recordings instantly on the built-in 3D LCD preview screen without the need for polarized glasses.

Aiptek 3D-HD
At a Glance:

Works with the new 3D TVs, PCs, and laptops using nVidea 3D Vision
Dual 5MP sensors capture 3D videos and stills in HD
Simple, one-touch recording
LCD preview screen offers 3D viewing without glasses
HDMI output for direct connection to HDTVs
Supports SDHC cards up to 32GB

After recording with the 3D-HD, view all your photos and videos on the Portable 3D Photo and Video Display (sold separately).

The 2.4-inch LCD screen gives you a 3D view--without the need for glasses. View larger.

Dual HD lenses and sensors allow for 3D recording. View larger.

Easy, One-Touch High Definition Recording in 3D
With the Aiptek 3D-HD High Definition 3D Camcorder, you don't have to sacrifice visual quality for 3D recording. The 3D-HD features dual 5MP sensors that give you pristine videos and photos in 3D. The dual sensors capture two different viewing positions simultaneously, each of which has a resolution of 640 x 720p. When these two images are overlapped, they create a 3D effect that approximates the HD resolution of 1280 x 720p.

Recording with the 3D-HD is simple, as all of its features are just a touch away. One touch of a button is all it takes to record videos in 3D. Touch another button to take snapshots. Yet another button lets you play back your videos and pictures.

3D Live View Display
The 2.4-inch LCD preview screen on the 3D-HD utilizes Parallax Barrier technology to give you a 3D view without the need for any special red-and-blue glasses. You can watch footage in 3D live as you record it, or use the LCD for instant 3D playback.

Play Back Recording on 3D HDTVs, Computer Monitors, and More
The 3D-HD records in the MP4 format, which is compatible out of the box with most new 3D HDTVs. And if you have NVIDIA 3D Vision technology on your PC or laptop, you can capture, edit, and play back all of your 3D recordings using the state-of-the-art Active Shutter 3D Technology.

With the included software, you can even play back 3D recordings on your standard HDTV or computer. The software lets you convert your videos to the 3D "Anaglyph" format, which is the classic 3D technology that requires red-and-blue glasses. Once you've converted your videos or photos to this format using the software, simply use polarized glasses to view your 3D creations on standard HDTV or computer monitor.

Upload Your 3D Videos to YouTube
YouTube now supports 3D video playback at 720p, an ideal fit for recordings made with the 3D-HD. Included software lets you upload directly to YouTube with a click of the button, so sharing your 3D videos with friends and family has never been easier.

Optional Portable 8-Inch 3D Display for Instant Viewing
Aiptek optionally offers the Portable 3D Photo and Video Display for viewing of 3D photos and videos. The display features an 8-inch LCD screen with a Parallax Barrier that lets you view all the 3D movies and photos you captured with the 3D-HD, and without the need for glasses. You can also easily switch between 3D and 2D modes to view all your media. The 3D Display supports photo slideshows so you can share all your favorite memories with your family and friends. It also has built-in internal memory, as well as a SDHC slot that supports SDHC cards up to 16 GB for hours of video and thousands of photos. A built-in rechargeable lithium polymer battery lets you take the 3D Display wherever you go and use it for hours without having to plug it in.

Compact, Easy-to-Carry Size Goes Everywhere
You'll never miss a moment with the 3D-HD. It lets you record in both 3D and 2D, so you can leave your other cameras at home. It measures just 4.6 x 2.8 x 0.9 inches and easily slips into your bag or pocket. It also features an ergonomic design that fits nicely in the palm of your hand for comfortable long-term use.

HDMI Output and Built-in USB
The 3D-HD features an HDMI output that lets you connect it directly to your HDTV, 3D HDTV, or other monitor for video and photo playback. There is also a built-in USB port so you can easily connect to your PC to download videos and photos for viewing or editing.

Accepts up to 32GB SDHC Cards
The 3D-HD has no internal storage and supports SDHC cards up to 32GB for plenty of recording. A built-in microphone picks up audio.

System Requirements
Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Vista, or above; Mac OS X 10.4 and above; Pentium 4 3.2 GHz and above; Direct X 9.0c or above; 1GB RAM (2GB recommended); video card with 256MB of RAM; CD-ROM; available USB port; Quick Time 7.4 or above.

The Aiptek 3D-HD High Definition 3D Camcorder is backed by a one-year manufacturer's warranty.

What's in the Box
3D camcorder, lithium ion battery, AC charger cable, USB cable, HDMI cable, user's guide.

3D Technology Checklist

This product is 3D-related. To help you get a great 3D experience, use our checklist below to ensure that you have everything you need. If you have any questions or want to learn more about 3D, we invite you to visit 3D 101--our center for everything 3D. To get started with 3D, please ensure that you have:

		A Display The first--and most important--item you'll need is a 3D-ready display--whether it be a 3D HDTV, 3D projector, or 3D computer monitor. These displays usually have a higher processing power than older models as they need to display one image for each eye to create a 3D effect.

		A Source While your display is ready for 3D playback, you still need a device to read 3D content (i.e., a movie or a show). This source can be a cable box with a subscription to a 3D channel, a 3D Blu-ray Disc player, or a PlayStation 3.

		Content In order to watch 3D, you will need to get some 3D content. This 3D content will come from the source mentioned above in the form of a 3D program, movie, or game. Please ensure that your 3D movies are in the Blu-ray 3D format, as this new format will provide the best 3D experience.

		3D Glasses All 3D HDTVs on the market require Active Shutter glasses to create the 3D effect. You will need to buy one pair of glasses for each viewer. Also make sure that the Active Shutter glasses you buy are compatible with your display--for example, buy the glasses from the same brand as your 3D HDTV.

		HDMI Cable To connect your source (such as a 3D Blu-ray Disc player) to your display, you'll need a hgh-speed HDMI cable. Cables with this designation--with bandwidth speeds up to 10.2 Gbps (gigabits per second)--will be able to carry the 3D signal without any loss of quality.

If you want to get more information about 3D, shop our 3D products, watch videos, or interact with other customers, visit 3D 101, our customer center about everything 3D.

Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
Being a big 3-D fan, I was very excited when this product was announced and, because the price was so low, I pre-ordered it right away without having seen any reviews (because no reviews yet existed). I wasn't entirely sure if I was buying a novelty gadget or a truly useful device. To save myself from being disappointed, I expected the former and hoped for the latter. It turns out that the camera is much better than a novelty gadget, but don't expect to throw away your "normal", digital, point-and-shoot camera or your "normal" camcorder. You'll still need those when you want a perfect, printable photo and a lot of extended video. However, when what you want is a 3-D picture or short 3-D video, the Aiptek 3-D camera is a great, practical, and inexpensive option. The first question I had was: "does it really work?" I'm happy to say that the answer is a big yes! The resolution of the parallax-barrier display is pretty low, but the 3-D effect is really great and the display serves the purpose very well. I expect the Aiptek 3-D photo frame, with its higher resolution, will be much better (it's still backordered as of this writing, so I don't have one yet). Please understand that when I say "low resolution", I'm speaking about the resolution of the built-in display, not the resolution of the actual images/video, which is much higher. 5 megapixels for images (2592 x 1944) and 720p for video (1280 x 720) doesn't sound like much nowadays, but you'll almost certainly NOT want to print the images you take with this camera anyway. Doing so would require you to convert to the Red/Blue (anaglyph) format. This works, but it's far less than ideal. Rather than that, I believe you should expect to only view these images/videos on the camera itself, the corresponding 3-D photo frame, or a new, 3-D TV. When you decide those are your primary viewing vehicles for the content you create with this device, the resolution becomes far more palatable. Indeed, the resolution of the images exceeds the resolution of the camera's display and even the resolution of the 3-D photo frame (800 x 600). For this reason, I think Aiptek was smart to use a relatively low resolution in order to keep the price so low. The image and video quality is acceptable, but as I said earlier, if won't replace your existing camera for those times when you want very high quality. The image quality is about as good as the very best cameras being put into cell phones (which also don't compete with a dedicated, "regular" camera). I'll reiterate though: the quality is completely acceptable considering you're getting images in full 3-D. Other than the 3-D feature, there aren't a lot of frills: no image stabilization, no optical zoom, no flash, etc. It makes sense though because that's the only way you're going to get 3-D at this amazingly-low price-point. The camera has a tripod mount so, if you really need supplemental light, you can pick up one of those little LED lights that screw into tripod mounts for not very much money. As for video, it does record in 30 FPS, but if the action is moving quickly, it doesn't look like it. It looks like 10 or 15 FPS (it may still be recording 30 frames per second, but I'd guess 2 or 3 of those frames happen to be identical). I've noticed the reduced frame rate is a bit less pronounced if there is more ambient lighting. FYI: I'm using a Transcend, 16 GB, class 10 SD card. That's probably not as fast as a SanDisk class 10 card, but it should be enough to accommodate everything the camera can throw at it. It may sound like I'm speaking only negatively about this camera, but it's definitely not my intention to discourage the purchase of it. I just want you to be clear on what it *doesn't* do so that you have appropriate expectations. In reality, I'm thrilled with the quality of the camera and it exceeded my expectations. I've quickly learned a trick to taking 3-D video and photos. It has to do with framing the images; I'll try to explain it here, but it's a little difficult to articulate. If what I'm about to say doesn't make sense, just ignore my ramblings- ha. First, realize that everything in the image has a position along the Z-axis (the direction toward you and away from you [as opposed to left/right and up/down]). Next, realize that the frame around the screen itself has a position along the Z-axis. What this means is, some parts of the photo appear to come "out" of the screen and more distant objects appear recessed "into" the screen. The frame surrounding the display is somewhere in the middle. If the part of the image that extends out of the screen is cut off by the frame surrounding the display, it can hurt your eyes a little and look a bit confusing. This makes sense; how could an object (the frame) block the view of a subject if that object (the frame) is more distant than the subject? That's a logical paradox that my brain translates into confusion and/or eyes that have a hard time focusing. The trick is to not allow anything "in front" of the frame to be cut off by the frame. If you adhere to this, the 3-D effect looks much more natural. I'm sure I'll continue to learn effective ways to frame 3-D images as I become more experienced. In fact, that's part of the fun! I'll sum everything up here: The camera is really good and the 3-D effect is outstanding. I believe it to be much more than a gimmick/novelty. To keep the price low, the camera sacrifices some other "standard" features you might be used to, such as optical zoom and a flash. For me, the tradeoff is well worth it: I get to take my own, good-quality, 3-D video/images for under 200 bucks. I'm not sure what I'm more impressed with: the technology or the price. I suppose it's the combination of the two that make this a strongly-recommended "buy" in my book. [UPDATE: October 20, 2010] As Reynato U. Barrera kindly pointed out in his review, there is indeed a (buried) firmware update and it does indeed fix the slow frame rate! This is great news. I don't believe Amazon will allow external URLs or I would provide a direct link, but if you go to the Aiptek EU site (use ".eu" instead of ".com") you can find the firmware update within the product page. I purchased the camera in the U.S., but because the camera will let you define the refresh rate (60Hz vs. 50Hz), I wasn't worried about using the firmware I downloaded from the EU site. [/UPDATE]

3D Technology Checklist

A Display

A Source

Content

3D Glasses

HDMI Cable