JVC GZ-TD1 3D camcorder Official thread

[Drew 0]

At CES, JVC announced their latest 3D consumer camcorder, the GZ-TD1, which has a dual lens and dual backlit CMOS sensors arrangement, capturing full resolution 1080i HD 3D, making this the first consumer camcorder to do so. It just beats out the Sony HDR-TD10E on announcement date

More impressive is the monitor is also glasses free 3D capable, using a parallax barrier to split the L/R image. Then there is the T1.2 lens which is at least 1 stop advantage over the usually T1.6-2 lenses most consumer camcorders use. That, combined with a blade aperture system, gives better bokeh, which will be needed since this camera can also take 3D still pictures. It has other features like time lapse 3D and even 3D sound.

The codec is a new format called MVC which the TD1 can record at 34Mbps or 22Mbps. There is no mention of 1080/60p in 2D or the mfd and lens specs other than the T1.2 aperture. The GS TD1 will ship in March for a MSRP of $1999.95.

 

 

[echeng 0]

I saw prototype JVC and Sony cameras at CES outputting 3D video to active 3D displays, and I have to say that I was not very impressed with the video quality. The 3D effect was strong, but there were a lot of artifacts in the video, which is really noticeable in 3D. I hope image quality improves quickly as these 3D cameras come into the market and are revved.

[Drew 0]

Were they doing direct HDMI feeds Eric? HDMI comes in various qualities nowadays. Then again they wouldn't want to mess with the big camera market when they release the pro versions at NAB.

[Painmedicine1 0]

So I have one of these cameras, and a lovely case for it. Despite some initial camera technical problems, I am planning on taking it on a dive trip to Belize in a month. I am doing things a bit out of sequence as we do not have a projection method (3D tv or what not) yet, but I am looking forward to seeing what happens here. I have previously only shot stills underwater with a canon EOS 1DS mkII, so this will be whole new world for me. Will follow up with results.

[Drew 0]

What housing are you using?

[UW3D 0]

What housing are you using?

I have not searched too hard yet, but the only off the shelf housing I've come across is the Equinox. It's a version of their H6 housing.

 

Here is a list of questions I have asked Equinox sales about the housing, but I have received no answers after a week.

 

1) A) How much space is there between the camera front and the front port to insert a 77mm close-up lens?

 

B) If insufficient space exists, can you make the housing slightly longer for this and what’s the up-charge?

 

 

 

2) A) Is the TD1 camera LCD screen folded open and visible inside the housing? (I read that the screen has to be open for the camera to operate).

 

B) Are either the top or rear mounted accessory monitors capable of displaying the “difference” between the two images for parallax detection, or are they strictly 2D?

 

C) If the answer to 2. A and B are “no”, has anyone had any success hacking the camera monitor to be detached so it can be placed where visible at the back port?

 

 

 

3) A) Is the housing neutral buoyancy with the camera;

 

B) If not, how much weight needs to be added to it?

 

C) Does the weight system require me to travel with the weight, or can it use “resort weights”?

 

 

 

4) Where can I view sample video taken with the housing?

 

 

 

5) What’s the effective focal lengths of the lenses UW through the flat port?

 

 

 

6) A) The table of magnifications at the minimum and maximum focal lengths based upon the normal plane of convergence at 68 inches is known for the TD1 in air, but shooting through the flat port obviously changes the effective focal lengths and changes all the magnification outcomes. Has Equinox recalculated these when the camera is used in the housing underwater? If so, I’d like to review that information.

 

 

 

B) I have the same question for the camera/housing UW when using diopter lenses in plus 1 through plus 5 increments to reduce the distances to the planes of convergence?

 

 

 

C) If you have not calculated these magnifications/convergence points, but can tell me the effective focal length of the lenses UW through the flat port, I may be able to work them out for you.

 

 

Looking forward to more information!

 

Mark

[UW3D 0]

I have answered some of my questions about the housing.

 

Is there space is there between the camera front and the front port to insert a 77mm close-up lens? Not in the standard housing, but Equinox will build it on a longer tube, I think without additional cost.

 

Is the TD1 camera LCD screen folded open and visible inside the housing? The screen has to be open for the camera to operate, but it isn't visible thru the housing, and there is no viewfinder. If you use the Equinox external monitor, it's SD quality. More importantly, it does not show the parallax difference. Nor does any auxiliary 2D screen. IMO, the camera is unusable UW without the ability to view the parallax. Apparently, only an auxillairy 3D monitor will provide that, and none I know of are small enough yet to be practically housed.

 

No one I spoke to thought they could hack the camera LCD monitor to be detached so it can be placed where visible at the back port. It's on a flex ribbon cable and wrapped around the hinge. Very tricky to extend, even if you found a longer compatible flex cable.

 

Mark

[Barry C 1]

I'm new to this forum, and spend most of my time on the 3D section of the AVS forum. 3D is a lonely place over there too!

 

I've been using the JVC-TD1 in a stock Equinox housing for 2 years. I also had them build me a custom housing to accommodate a 28mm Cyclopital lens for it. IMO, the TD1 does a GREAT job underwater. And yes, you must use an add on small LCD which doesn't display any camera information or allow for manual use. This had me quite worried when I first tried it since all shooting must be done using auto mode. Also, no parrallax adjustment is possible. Actually, the Equinox housing has full manual control arms, however the viewfinder won't display any camera info, so those controls are meaningless.

 

I used the camera for the first time in Roatan in 2013 and couldn't be more pleased than I was with the results using the full auto mode. I've been shooting underwater in one form or another since the mid 80s with several different types of systems both amateur and pro. I also have some 3D experience dating back to the early 70s with a 35mm 3D Realist and later in the 90s doing medium format lenticular 3D for pro applications (not underwater) Most of my underwater shooting has been wide angle, which the TD1 certainly is not, but that didn't stop it from getting great 3D results. I used an Equinox red filter which I found quite good. In fact, quite surprising to me was that it worked well even at 80' and below. With its 1.2 aperture lens, it was quite capable in less than optimal light. Also, the very nature of 3D will be very forgiving to less than optimal low light content that would be very noticable viewed as 2D.

 

I went back to Roatan again in 2014 and used both housings this time. I didn't really feel that the 28mm, mild WA lens really added much so probably won't use it again and will stick to the stock setup.

 

This year, I've got two Gopro Dual Hero 3D housings which will be mounted onto the TD1 housing and aimed so as to take advantage of the TD1's LCD viewfinder. They'll be shooting at different frame rates and FOVs. The plan is to try it in the Bahamas this summer for some shark diving.

 

I'm pretty versed on the ins and outs of 3D post production- major quagmire- and presently am using a combination of Edius 7 and Power Director 13, along with some New Blue FX, and Mercalli apps. This combination has proven to be quite effective for virtually any 3D requirements.

 

Anyway, that's my 2 cents for this first Wetpixal post which I'm sure only a handful of 3D enthusiasts will ever read. Unfortunately, the industry BADLY botched the rollout of 3D a few years ago and is running away from it as fast as it can hoping to sell/hype 4K. We 3D folks are kind of like red headed stepchildren, or Rodney Dangerfields with little love and respect, but we persevere We are all aware that there is NO better way to view underwater video than in 3D and that's what makes it all worth it.

 

If you're interested in seeing some TD1 3D content from those Roatan dives, here's a link to my YouTube channel.

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/Tarnway/videos?view=0

[Barry C 1]

I just thought I should add that you can still buy these on Ebay, from time to time. You should be able to get a real good one for under $750. As far as I know, Equinox still sells the housings for these. Again, IMO, a great choice for underwater 3D.

 

My mostly 3D Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Tarnway/videos?view=0

Edited June 10, 2015 by Barry C

[UW3D 0]

Thanks for sharing Barry.

[Barry C 1]

Here is a Dropbox link to a 3D still frame capture from a video clip I took in the Bahamas last week with the JVC-TD1. It demonstrates what the TD1 is capable of underwater. The narrow FOV, while having some disadvantages, has the advantage of being able to take close in shots which really highlight the negative parallax- popout! This can be viewed with Power DVD or most other 3D programs.

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52183277/Still0629_00006.bmp

[Barry C 1]

This is an underwater video I shot a couple months ago while diving in the Bahamas. It's about a half hour long and has 3 chapters: Sharks, Fish Schools & Coral Gardens, & Shipwrecks. I've been working on it for over a month now. Hopefully, Youtube hasn't butchered it too badly. Editing and rendering all with Edius 7. I used three 3D camera systems over a one week period in filming this- two Gopro Duals, each set as different fields of view, and a JVC- TD1. The third chapter- Shipwrecks- was all done with a Gopro Dual. The parts of the first two chapters, that have the most negative parallax/popout, were mostly from the JVC-TD1.