The big stereo video recording update for the Nintendo 3DS dropped last month, and I spent the holidays playing around with it. The software is nice. Nintendo’s UI Design Group has fit video functions seamlessly into the camera app, with access to the same manual controls and manual focus as still mode. Additionally, there is now an intervalometer, and stop motion onion skinning. The lack of a built in NLE is a shame, but with the eShop hopefully some enterprising dev (the folks behind Inchworm Animation perhaps?) will fill that hole. As it is now, editing and sharing the video you record with a 3DS is a pain. Adam Grayson at Nerd Mentality published a very, very thorough guide on how to get 3DS footage to play nice with Final Cut Pro X and YouTube, and I recommend checking it out if you are at all interested in 3D funtography.
As for the quality of the video itself, real talk, it’s pretty bad. It’s grainy and low resolution, but damn it, it’s in 3D. Hollywood blockbusters may not be filmed using the 3DS. It is a toy. At <$200 (and being a thing that plays Pokémon) this will be many children’s first camera. Imagine the art this generation of kids with easy access to 3D camera equipment will one day create, what kind of cameras they will build. The future’s so bright, I’ve gotta wear anaglyph shades.
Yesterday Nintendo sent out a 2D video update regarding the announced upcoming 3DS’ 3D video recording funtography fall firmware update/upgrade extravaganza.
Nintendo 3DS System Update: At the end of November, a new system update will deliver a range of cool new features and enhancements, including 3D video capture, which will let users record up to 10 minutes of 3D video and enable people to create their own 3D stop-motion animation videos. The update will also add new puzzles to the StreetPass™ Mii Plaza™ and a new dungeon to Find Mii. Other features will be announced in the future.
10 minute clip length is reasonable and a stop-motion set up with some kind of onion skinning feature sounds great, BUT Nintendo didn’t say anything about a NLE solution or a way to upload and share your videos taken with the 3DS. If video files are recorded and saved into a non-wacky proprietary codec and are able to be transferred off the SD card similar to how the 3DS handles MPO 3D photos, then editing and YouTubing can be done on a PC, BUT Nintendo didn’t mention how the new 3D video would be saved. Also, inclusion of a helper parakeet was neither confirmed nor denied.
Photo taken at Dark Horse Comics in Milwaukie, OR where I got no StreetPasseseses and saw a Xenomorph.
Lately I’ve been shooting a lot of stereo 3D, Kodak “New” Portra 400 120 & 135, and stereo 3D on “New” Portra 400.
3D is cool.
RIP Kodak Portra 400NC & 400VC, the films replaced by “New” Portra 400. They were great films. It’s always a damn shame when an emulsion is discontinued.
BUT, “New” Portra 400 is better than both at what each did, so… thanks Rochester!
