Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

3D rig from film factory...

Van Din said:
QC?

By the way, what's your impressions on the quality?
Any problems with color temperature (mirror), inter ocular distance or convergence?
Click to expand...

The issue we’re having with this rig is that we can’t mount a Sony EX1/EX3 duo on it without seeing the edge of the box and/or the bottom of the mirror:

http://parallaxfilm.wordpress.com/2...ny-exs-arent-ideal-for-our-beam-splitter-rig/

Alister Chapman’s apparently coming out with a rig he calls the “Hurricane” that he says will fit the EXs great.

http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/3dtv/message/25466

But it’s not due until late this summer … too late for us to use it to film our explosive demolition series Blowdown in 3D (the implosion’s slated for the end of August in Salvador, Brazil).

The P+S Technik’s another option being thrown around … but my understanding is it’s more expensive. Here’s the rundown:

http://parallaxfilm.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/beam-splitter-rigs-for-sony-exs-filmmakers-weigh-in/

So, as I say in the post, we’re trying to get a few XF305s from Canon Canada to test – hopefully, if we get our hands on them, they’ll fit in the Indie rig better.

Cause it seems there’s a serious shortage of alternatives …
 
A quick reply in terms of mirrors, we are also using the 3DFF Indie Rig, and also managed to break the mirror! We needed a quick turnaround and ordered a couple of spares from www.stereoscopicmirrors.com and results look good in terms of colour and disparity. Also quite a bit cheaper than ordering a new replacement.

I would have to say the results are better than the mirror we received initially with the rig. Ill be doing some further testing today to really see how it stacks up.

As a note to anyone in Oz, the nearest quote/time I got from a local company was 3 weeks. We received the mirrors from the US in 4 days.
 
Thanks for your report, very useful. Other takers?
 
I have a 3DFF rig using EX cams. Although it is a tediously cumbersome rig, it will get the job done - albeit with an enormous amount of adjustments and massaging. Color correction is necessary for mirror disparities, though mostly for exterior shots not so much for interiors. I'm investigating more expensive rig solutions also, but for now as has been stated in an earlier post, it's the only thing available in it's price range so far.

I have some production stills posted on my 3D website; http://bit.ly/ptd3d and also click the Press Releases button to find the air dates of a History Channel 3D show I DP'd airing this week in 3D on DirecTV channel 103
 
I can advise on all the different rigs as we sell nearly all of the more recognised rigs available, including the new ET rigs and some of our own "Bolt" and "Calcutta" side-by-side rigs which we believe are the most efficient and cost effective (not too pricey) side-by-side rigs currently on the market. Drop me a line if you are planning on upgrading your 3D rigs.

http://www.inition.co.uk/inition/di...tID_=81&model=products&action=get&tab=summary
 
I have used this rig for quite a few shoots,

A few points on it:

1) I would suggest perhaps some better light blocking around the mirror box. I also secure some Duvetyne cloth on the bottom of the mirror box to enhance the black levels, as opposed to the raw plastic.

2) They have some 6 point convergence plates for camera adjustment. These I have found to greatly reduce my set up time. For most shoots I can have the 3D ready in under 3-5 min.

3) Using a stereo brain or a Cinetal Davio for shot preview helps alot, the Davio we also use for color correction and focus assist. I do most of my preview in anglyph rather than the 3D monitors. The 3D monitors tend to be very reflective.

4) Many shoots I have used eX3's once you get them lined up they generally work quite nice. I have also used to EX1 with Ex3 Combo with very good results.

5) some one said they have mirror ghost, I would ask is the correct side of the mirror facing up. If it is correct I have never encountered ghosting.


Keith Driver
Stereographer
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1289173519
 
Welcome to Reduser Keith ;)

As for getting some confusion off what really a "MIRROR" does and what his true
function is on a Beam Splitter S3D RIG, lets just say that the " MIRROR" is just
about the most important part of the S3D RIG, if this is an electronically controlled
S3D RIG, like the ones form ET, and or also has a direct link to an operating Brain
like the ones form such as the ones from 3Ality, then is just one of the 2 or e MOST
IMPORTANT parts ;)

This "MIRRORS" do not come cheap, in fact a S3D rig with a "MIRROR" costing less
then several Thousand $$$ it is something I would not even consider shooting on.

Some of the S3D rigs out there only cost several Thousand $$ all together were few
S3D "PRO" rigs such as those form ET and 3Ality cost that much just to buy the
"MIRROR" ;) and there is a reason why ;)
 
Just to be clear on mirrors...

Just to be clear on mirrors...

There is a little bit of misinformation concerning the cost of ET mirrors and how much mirrors should cost in order to be considered "good".

Our "General Purpose" beamsplitter, for the Quasar alone, is $540 out the door. The reason is simple, our purchase numbers are now into the thousands. IF we were to buy a few at a time, our cost alone starts at around $3k. So even at a markup everyone would feel good because they were paying thousands of dollars for a high-end beamsplitter double coated substrate. Now, with volume its not necessary to pay those prices so its important for people to realize cost does not necessarily equal quality.

Now our premium Schott water white 3mm precision ground and polished beamsplitter with our very own secret sauce coatings we sell for $5000. This mirror is a touch under $20k for one piece of coated substrate. But luckily for us we purchase a hundred or so and the price goes dramatically down. If those of you feel better by spending in the $20k range, we can facilitate :wink5:

For those who want more information about the mirrors we supply, you can go to our site. We are more than happy to make it all public info:
http://www.technica3d.com/support/

Joey
 
Keith,

While I agree with your statement I would add that cost alone is not an accurate measure. A mirror that yields poor quality for stereoscopic cinematography could still be very expensive. Custom coatings are costly particularly when done in small runs. Likewise, a mirror with very good s3D characteristics might be comparatively inexpensive if it were manufactured in a large run. Cost is a pretty good guideline, but it does not tell you everything you need to know. Get a spectral analysis if you can.
 
I echo Jason's comments, since I have recently shot on some expensive "high end" mirrors that I thought performed poorly. Price is not always the way to tell...

As with everything in 3D.....test.....test..test....

What is true is that optics in our business as everyone knows is everything. We reagularly shoot on 20k+ lenses. Wouldn't make much sense to use low quality optics in front of all that money....

in the end, it's all about what you save in post. Since most of the issues can be fixed with most high end stereo tools quite easily......still that equals time and money.

easier to get it right at the moment of capture.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top