One primary concern for today's stereographers is the size of the cameras. Bigger cameras require bigger 3D rigs and limit mobility. When a handheld or Steadicam shot is necessary the smaller the cameras the better. Band Pro recently debuted one of Sony's newest cameras the HDC-P1. This compact box-style camera does full HD with a 2/3-inch CCD sensor B4 mount and variable frame rates including 24p. Originally conceived as a studio camera this camera is a natural fit for 3D production. The HDC-P1 measures 8 3/8 inches by 5 1/8 inches by 3 ½ inches (LxWxH) and weighs under 4 pounds. Deliveries start March. Zeiss DigiPrime and DigiZoom lenses are an excellent match for these cameras. Not only are these Zeiss lenses designed specifically for 2/3 inches cameras like the HDC-P1 but they have all received the Carl Zeiss proprietary color matching treatment to ensure uniform color between lenses. The technical rigors of stereoscopic production demand a great shot in the field because a fix-it-in-post image-capture mentality will result in unusable footage and costly reshooting. That's why Astro Design came up with the SM-3324 monitor. This 24-inch 3D LCD monitor incorporates many features that cinematographers have been asking for. The LCD panel has an impressively wide viewing angle and the internal 3D processor can ingest multiple 3D formats (Line-by-Line Field Sequential and Side-by-Side) and automatically display them as a 3D image.
