My results trying to use interlaced SD cameras for 3D
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:18 pm
Hi, I'm new to mtbs3d, a most interesting site, as I have been in several other similar forums looking for inexpensive 3D camera setup info. A couple of small things I noticed here: you could do with a 3d camera setup sub forum, and search boxes for forums to speed info searches, but all is good.
This is an adjusted copy of a recent post of mine in Creative Cow's s-3d forum, for your interest, and maybe someone here has info to add, to help me & other hacks; note, I'm not a gamer, techie or geek, just a hurdle stumbling camera man, with old gear and little budget.
After getting little advice from any forums at the time, (see Creative Cow post July 2012), for making cheap home made 3D video with my existing setup, I have tried to use interlaced pal 25 fps to make 3D Videos. Using two Standard Definition camcorders, recording on Digital 8 tape, with input from two SD
helmet cameras mounted 65mm apart in a steel tube bracket, on a bike helmet, convergence fixed at ~10m, fixed focus. Audio input from 2 helmet mounted electret mics, pointing up & out to reduce road noise, injection serarately thru 2 pre-champ & 2 champ electronic kit amplifiers, into one sound designated camera. Camcorders on own batteries, audio on 12V supply. Most gear stowed in backpack.
Flashing LED bike tail light held up & used for visual sync before each take, & occasionally within long recording sessions. All connectors secured well with velcro so nothing unplugs accidentally while being
active; jump about like crazy to test. All works well in the field to make cheap sacrificial old SD technology 'action' POV video X 2 eyes.
Back in the 'office', using BlackMagic DL HD 3D Extreme, with CS 5.5, and Cineform studio premium:
I capture/download videos separately via iLink to CS5.5; use CineForm to sync videos & edit both together on CS 5.5 timeline. Use freeware to put files into a .mkv container, to play on TV.
My main problem: The conversion from .avi to .mov to enable work in CineForm seems to disturb the frame rates so that the synchronisation wanders cyclically, (no matter where the sync points are placed), and the resulting 3D effect annoys, and strains the eyes a bit; even while watching on Cineform. Cutting a frame here and there to re-sync doesn't work for more than a few seconds. I tried de-interlacing then convert to .mov; convert to .mov first, then de-interlace; and re capturing the videos via analogue in/out & trying to de-interlace + convert it to .mov. All efforts produced poor quality and varying sync, of only 1 frame or so out, but enough to be sub-standard, and annoying.
My 'cheap' answer to this is to buy 2 new HD progressive frame helmet/POV cameras that save files as
.mov to begin with. But I have not found suitable cameras yet.
If anyone can offer other budget oriented suggestions and improvements to cheap dodgy home 3D video setups and processing, please do so, I'm all ears & eyes. Looking for small head mountable HD cameras, into separate recorders with 60fps, at least shower / dust proof, if not ~1m waterproof.
I've looked at Vio, Rad20 HD, GoPro, & numerous substandard similar units, but all have disappointed.
Does anyone know of other small (not Go Pro) POV useable cameras with sync/gen lock available, (and with audio in). I was ready to buy a pair of VIO POV HD's but knowing about sync problems, and after reading a relevant post here, I'm still looking for a camera, or sync, genlock answer, as are others.
Eg.: Can someone invent an induction coil based genlock system to stick to the outside of the waterproof cabinets of hermetically sealed recording units. - A circuit and coil slipped inside cabinet, wired up and sealed; similar coils velcro'd to outside, to sync 2 or more cameras via an oscillator circuit, powered by 12v in a small sealed waterproof box. Just a thought.
Basicam.
This is an adjusted copy of a recent post of mine in Creative Cow's s-3d forum, for your interest, and maybe someone here has info to add, to help me & other hacks; note, I'm not a gamer, techie or geek, just a hurdle stumbling camera man, with old gear and little budget.
After getting little advice from any forums at the time, (see Creative Cow post July 2012), for making cheap home made 3D video with my existing setup, I have tried to use interlaced pal 25 fps to make 3D Videos. Using two Standard Definition camcorders, recording on Digital 8 tape, with input from two SD
helmet cameras mounted 65mm apart in a steel tube bracket, on a bike helmet, convergence fixed at ~10m, fixed focus. Audio input from 2 helmet mounted electret mics, pointing up & out to reduce road noise, injection serarately thru 2 pre-champ & 2 champ electronic kit amplifiers, into one sound designated camera. Camcorders on own batteries, audio on 12V supply. Most gear stowed in backpack.
Flashing LED bike tail light held up & used for visual sync before each take, & occasionally within long recording sessions. All connectors secured well with velcro so nothing unplugs accidentally while being
active; jump about like crazy to test. All works well in the field to make cheap sacrificial old SD technology 'action' POV video X 2 eyes.
Back in the 'office', using BlackMagic DL HD 3D Extreme, with CS 5.5, and Cineform studio premium:
I capture/download videos separately via iLink to CS5.5; use CineForm to sync videos & edit both together on CS 5.5 timeline. Use freeware to put files into a .mkv container, to play on TV.
My main problem: The conversion from .avi to .mov to enable work in CineForm seems to disturb the frame rates so that the synchronisation wanders cyclically, (no matter where the sync points are placed), and the resulting 3D effect annoys, and strains the eyes a bit; even while watching on Cineform. Cutting a frame here and there to re-sync doesn't work for more than a few seconds. I tried de-interlacing then convert to .mov; convert to .mov first, then de-interlace; and re capturing the videos via analogue in/out & trying to de-interlace + convert it to .mov. All efforts produced poor quality and varying sync, of only 1 frame or so out, but enough to be sub-standard, and annoying.
My 'cheap' answer to this is to buy 2 new HD progressive frame helmet/POV cameras that save files as
.mov to begin with. But I have not found suitable cameras yet.
If anyone can offer other budget oriented suggestions and improvements to cheap dodgy home 3D video setups and processing, please do so, I'm all ears & eyes. Looking for small head mountable HD cameras, into separate recorders with 60fps, at least shower / dust proof, if not ~1m waterproof.
I've looked at Vio, Rad20 HD, GoPro, & numerous substandard similar units, but all have disappointed.
Does anyone know of other small (not Go Pro) POV useable cameras with sync/gen lock available, (and with audio in). I was ready to buy a pair of VIO POV HD's but knowing about sync problems, and after reading a relevant post here, I'm still looking for a camera, or sync, genlock answer, as are others.
Eg.: Can someone invent an induction coil based genlock system to stick to the outside of the waterproof cabinets of hermetically sealed recording units. - A circuit and coil slipped inside cabinet, wired up and sealed; similar coils velcro'd to outside, to sync 2 or more cameras via an oscillator circuit, powered by 12v in a small sealed waterproof box. Just a thought.
Basicam.