How to Build Your Own 3D Camera Rig for Under $20
How to Build Your Own 3D Camera Rig for Under $20
Posted 11/18/2009 at 9:00pm
| by Eric Kurland
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How Does Stereoscopic 3D Photography Work?
Stereoscopic 3-D photography has been around almost as long as photography itself. In the 1830s Sir Charles Wheatstone theorized that we see the world in three dimensions because our eyes are set about 2.5 inches apart, and see from two slightly different viewpoints. You can test this by holding your thumb at arms length. Close one eye and look at your thumb, then look with just the other eye, and you will see that there is a deviation, or parallax, between what your eyes see. Your brain fuses these two views together, interpreting the amounts of parallax as depth. This is called binocular stereopsis.
Wheatstone figured out that two cameras could be placed side-by-side and take simultaneous pictures, creating a pair of photographs from both left eye and right eye perspectives. When viewed through a stereoscope, the left eye only sees the left image, the right eye only sees the right image, and we perceive a single 3-D view.
The author's 3D photos from Comic-Con
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, stereo photos were all the rage, with many thousands of stereo cards produced. In fact, many Victorian era homes kept a stereoscope as the centerpiece of their living rooms - sort of the entertainment center of the day. Still, the process of making 3-D images was very complicated, as it was necessary to have two synchronized cameras to take the pictures, and quite a bit of skill to align and mount the finished prints or slides for viewing. Over the years, a number of film cameras have been made with dual optics and shutters, specifically for stereography, but these still require a great deal of meticulous work by the photographer in order to properly align pictures for display.
Do-It-Yourself 3D
The 21st century has seen a resurgence in the popularity of stereography, or 3D imagery, and thanks to the availability of inexpensive digital cameras and photo-processing software, do-it-yourself 3D imagery is now possible.
The simplest method for taking a 3D photo requires just a single camera, and a stationary subject. Place your feet firmly on the ground, with your weight on your left foot, and take a picture. Shift your weight to your right foot and take a second picture. You now have a stereo pair of images, one for the left eye and one for the right eye, which can be viewed in 3D. Obviously, this technique, called “sidestep” or “cha-cha” 3D, only works for subjects that are not in motion.
To take stereographs of dynamic subjects, we will need to take two photos at exactly the same time. Japanese camera manufacturer Fuji recently released the first digital camera equipped with two lenses for 3D. Of course, for the technologically savvy, you can make your own 3D camera rig using common building materials and two digital cameras.
For this project, we’ll use a pair of matching Canon PowerShot cameras and specialized synchronization software called StereoData Maker, or SDM, which is a nonvolatile firmware upgrade based on CHDK, the Canon Hack Development Kit. SDM adds a set of features to certain Canon cameras, specifically for the taking of 3D pictures.
What You Need
- Two Canon PowerShot cameras compatible with SDM (Buy them here)
- Two 4GB SD cards
- Two right-angle metal brace clips
- Two tripod screws or 1/4-inch thumbscrews
- Cloth tape or sturdy electrical tape
- Metal washers
- Two USB cables
- Altoids tin
- Push-button switch (Buy them here)
- Two female USB connectors
- Battery holder
- Three 1.5V AAA batteries
- Hot-glue gun
- A Dremel tool
- Red/cyan 3D glasses (Buy them here)
Aside from the digital cameras and tools, the core components of the rig won't cost you more than $20! Now it's time to assemble the pieces.
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February 03, 2012 at 6:12pm
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November 09, 2011 at 9:35pm
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October 23, 2011 at 8:57am
In addition to the two cameras you'll need about $20 worth of hardware that includes a simple bracket made with basic hardware store parts and a USB trigger button with dual outputs. Security guarding services in London The USB trigger will take a tiny bit of electronics know-how but if you can wire a lamp you can turn an Altoids tin and a simple circuit board into a dual-trigger for your 3D camera rig. Manned guarding services in UK
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September 25, 2011 at 9:40am
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September 19, 2011 at 9:20pm
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August 09, 2011 at 11:30am
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July 09, 2011 at 4:55am
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April 03, 2011 at 11:50pm
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audiovideobliss.com
February 28, 2011 at 9:25am
Shooting Stereoscopic 3D takes a different approach than standard 2D shooting. Standard cinematography rules apply, however there are several things to keep in mind:
- interoccular distance
- the "invisible 3D wall" - don't over use it
- editing "cuts" from background and foreground can be done but they are tricky and can be jarring
More info in this cool book:
http://www.amazon.com/3D-Movie-Making-Stereoscopic-Digital/dp/0240811372/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298913448&sr=8-1
Better yet, this video teaches the proper way to shoot Stereoscopic 3D:
http://www.amazon.com/Shooting-3D/dp/B002ZZ7JA2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1298913448&sr=8-3
Enjoy.
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Ecommerce Developer
February 06, 2011 at 9:29pm
The process of making 3-D images was very complicated, as it was necessary to have two synchronized cameras to take the pictures, and quite a bit of skill to align and mount the finished prints or slides for viewing. The process of making 3-D images was very complicated, as it was necessary to have two synchronized cameras to take the pictures, and quite a bit of skill to align and mount the finished prints or slides for viewing.
jessicajoetay
March 23, 2011 at 11:08pm
Yes I agree with your point, its not that easy. I tried this method and i think its worth trying.
butnerryan1
January 04, 2011 at 2:26am
I would like to know more information about the 3-D Camera. Japanese are forwareded in developing many more new adventures. When we capture a photo in 3D camera how it come's out as normal photo or 3D photo. Can anybody post a 3D camera snap. Thanks
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December 22, 2010 at 3:58am
Great how-to! I will definitively make that 3D camera with my hands. Hope it is so easy as in on you post!
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December 15, 2010 at 7:47pm
I did not know that you could do this. I think the idea behind this is so good. You cannot beat the price for setting this up
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December 09, 2010 at 9:55pm
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November 30, 2010 at 3:45am
3D is now every where even movies are going towards the trend of naming them with a 3D word. I will follow this tutorial and will let you know. Thanks a lot.
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November 15, 2010 at 1:57am
I prefer do-it-uorself tutorials as they are more friendly and fun to do. This one is so amazng that I told my fiends too.
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November 11, 2010 at 2:44am
I had no idea if this is actually possible! I am feeling greatly surprized and exciting to do it today. Much thanks for the wonderful tutorial.
shekar55
September 19, 2010 at 6:53am
need to take two photos at exactly the same time. Japanese camera manufacturer Fuji recently released the first digital camera equipped with two lenses for 3D. Of course, for the technologically savvy, you can make your own 3D camera rig using common building materials and two digital cameras. Thank you,.Anaheim movers
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September 17, 2010 at 6:26pm
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June 08, 2010 at 9:53pm
Hi Eric
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shekar55
May 18, 2010 at 9:26pm
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