At this week’s Ceatec event in Tokyo Sony will introduce a prototype single-lens 3D professional video camera, the first of its kind. The technology operates at a frame rate of 240fps which offers, according to Sony, the smoothest possible motion even with fast-moving sports footage. Our previous posts have identified one of the key challenges of 3D TV and video, namely adapting the production material to the ocular peculiarities of different viewers. When zooming and focusing using the current two-lens approach, human eyes are particularly sensitive to any discrepancies between the two images in quality, vertical alignment or other parameters. Complex processing is required to minimise these problems, and Sony claims that its system removes the need for such procedures. Sony’s prototype system allows incoming light to be separated into left and right images, which are then processed separately. Sony claims that, because the two images are captured at precisely the same time, 3D images are “natural and smooth” and can cope with rapid movement. Whether two- or single-lens, the need for improved 3D camera technologies is clear, so Sony should be applauded for taking 3D another step towards the mass market. Whether this innovation solves the problems it claims to, without introducing others, will only become apparent as it reaches commercial status. We fully expect other professional video firms to be working fervently on their own solutions and look forward to commercial implementations over the coming months. Twitter: twitter.com/DavidMercer_SA Client Reading: Digital Media Devices Global Market Report