Snowman in 3-D,
Use 3-D glasses to view ( Red: left-eye, Cyan: right-eye)
MISSION3-D PHOTO3-D 303 KIT REVIEW
by Steve McLaughlin, Technical Editor, December 2003
Now anyone can take 3-d photographs with a new device and software from Mission3-D!
Mission3-D's Photo3D 303 kit contains everything you need to take and share 3-D photos with your family and friends.
The process is actually quite simple, mount your camera on the Photo3D Model 303 adapter which allows your digital camera to easily capture a pair of stereo images, then load the pair of images into the Photo3D Mixer software which creates a 3-D image ready to be viewed with the red/cyan 3D glasses. 3D photos are so fun, it makes you feel like you are there, rather than just an image of the place.
What's included:
1. Photo3D Model 303 universal digital camera adapter
2. Photo3D Mixer software on mini CDROM
3. Photo3D RC900 enhanced red/cyan 3d stylish glasses
4. Photo3D T100 mini handheld tripod
5. Two protective bags
6. Three Photo3D RC800 red/cyan 3D paper glasses
7. Five Photo3D RC800h handheld red/cyan 3D paper viewers
8. Photo3D belt/PC-side mount 3D glasses pouch
9. One all-purpose Photo3D greeting card with built-in 3d viewer and envelope.Here's the camera adapter, your camera attaches to the adapter thru a tripod mount. The Photo3D adapter then attaches to your tripod. Use the built-in level in order to assure the pictures line up later. The adapter then allows your camera to slide left and right, with a locking press-down bar. There are some markings on the slide mount that help out in getting the best effects. Use the 'L' mark to take your initial left shot, then use the various markings to take the second 'R'ight shot. Different markings are for macro, portrait and landscape pictures.
The software is easy to use, It installs easy from the mini CDROM. It's a good idea of getting into the habit of taking your first picture in the left-eye position and the second picture from the right-eye position, so when you load the pictures, the lower numbered picture is the one for your left eye. After you start the Photo3-D Mixer program, load the pictures for your composite image and there are a few tools available to fine tune the composite. You can adjust the brightness and contrast and use the focus button to move the top layer around to get the focus point at the right spot. You can also convert the picture to black and white with a click of a button.
Click on the full-screen button, put on your glasses and in seconds you'll be saving or printing your first 3-D picture!
Surprisingly the pictures still retain their full color despite looking at them through colored glasses.Five 3-D viewers (glasses without the earpiece) and three 3-D glasses are included, so there's no reason not to send pictures and viewers to your friends to enjoy! Five more 3D viewers are free when you register! An additional 10 glasses are available for $5.95, but look out for the shipping charges at $9.00, Ouch! Maybe it's better to find those 3-D glasses you kept from Spy-Kids 3D.
The help system is good, using a 4-step flash-card display. The fuzzy fonts on a dithered background make it hard to read, at first I thought I was looking at the help screens while still having the 3-D glasses on, but no, after grabbing at thin air in front of my eyes, I realized that the help text was indeed fuzzy.
Overall, it's an easy process, if you are taking pictures of people or moving objects, they need to hold still. With some practice, you can snap off the left and right pair of pictures in less than a second, assuming that your camera recycles in time. Make sure you use the level on the adapter to ensure your pictures line up better. If you are lucky enough to have 2 cameras, then you can press the shutter button on each camera at the same time and thus take 'action' photographs.
This tool will work with film cameras too, although you need the pictures scanned or digitized somehow in order to combine the pictures in the Mixer software.
Conclusion
Mission3-D's 3-D attachment kit works great, is a lot of fun, easy to use, and will add zip to any family album! A perfect Christmas gift!
Suggested price for the kit is $129. For more information visit www.Mission3-D.com
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