I had the privilege today of attending a small part of a Masterclass on professional 3D video shooting using Panasonic’s brand new $30,000 AG-3DA1 camcorder, run by Barry Braverman who has worked with the best there is in the movie business. Names such as Cameron roll easily off his tongue.

In the space of 2 hrs, we had a preamble on the theory of 3D, had the opportunity to play hands on under tutelage from Barry with the actual camera, and then have our footage critiqued.
What I can say, is that pretty much everything you know about video, you need to forget. It’s a whole new paradigm; in 2D you think “scale” in 3D it’s “size”. In 2D it’s “frame based” and in 3D it’s “windows based”.

Braverman says you have to think in “stereo” but he also says that even in 2D, we have always shot in 3D, but instead of using depth of field and convergence, instead we use texture and lighting to create the illusion; both ways are still a “trick” he says, both fooling the eye.
Despite this, it is still a new medium and needs to be treated and approached differently, and certainly, in the short time I had with the camera that is true. If you don’t understand what the “rules” are, then you are in danger of creating footage people will say looks “creative” but is in reality, something you make excuses to walk away from and simply avoid watching. A simple demonstration of shooting down a flight of stairs was proof pudding I can tell you!

The interesting thing is that whereas initially people were thinking of what COULD be shot effectively in 3D, now there is an affordable – at a professional level – piece of hardware available, and the creative types have got involved, the question is more what should NOT be shot in 3D.

To say the market is excited about the corporate and docco opportunities from what I saw today would be an understatement.

I can see why. I can’t wait for an extended session with one.

You can see some images at Auscam Online