3D TV 2 weeks later
Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:48 pm
It's been just over 2 weeks since I received my rather large package of a Samsung 50inch plasma 3D TV.
I can now say for certain what living with 3D is REALLY like, after all the first impressions have worn off and I'm used to living with the TV on a daily basis.
Movies:
I have several movies now, some purchased and some free (time unlimted demos **cough**). I have to say that I have enjoyed all the movies I've watched - even the kids films, there is one major drawback, there just isn't enough consumable material. The list is growing, but growing very very slowly. I am looking forward to Tron 2 in April, but thats well over a month away.
It's not a major problem though, youtube does have quite a lot of 3D trailers and home movies, and even some fashion TV shows at over an hour in length. But it's not exactly edge of the seat stuff. Most of it is experimental or too short to be interesting.
I've hunted high and low for other videos too an I did come across some instore tech demos too. But sadly they also were too short to really enjoy.
Digital 3D photography:
I also bought the Fujifilm finepix W3 digital 3D camera and HD video recorder.
It's very different to normal photography obviously, and it shows. Early on I struggled like crazy to even take one or two decent pics, but with practice I managed it, and I've now got some excellent 3D photos.
I'm also considering buying a windscreen camera mount, I really should as it's only £12 inc P&P, but I'm put off by the amount of vibration the video camera will pick up. There is no active stability control for the video camera, so it'll definitely be hard to watch most of the time, but to experiment with driving and recording 3D, it should be great.
I can say though that taking 3D pictures has extended my enjoyment of my 3D TV enormously. But it will take a lot more time and practice to get really good with the camera. Like I said 3D is VERY DIFFERENT to 2D photography.
3D Gaming:
I suppose this is the part that everyone here really cares about.
Oh it's good, it's really fucking good - to quote Trainspotting.
But it's the exact same problem as movies, there just isn't enough quantity of games to consume in 3D.
Wipeout HD is fantastic, Auditorium is gorgeous, GT-5 is better in 3D than 2D but it's still the same game, and Super StarDust is amazing.
Sony really do need to get a good number of 3D patches out for older games, and get some newer games to patch it in, or go 3D for all new games too. I can see this being a bit awkward for some developers, but Sony need to get off their backsides and sort this NOW. Microsoft are considering doing the 3D thing for the 360, and if they have any sense at all, they will release a universal 3D patch. Universal 3D works well on the PC, so why not the PS3 or 360, and if Microsoft do a universal patch to the 360, I'll be getting a 360 almost immediately.
Conclusion.
yes 3D was worth the cash, and worth the wait, but it's seriously lacking in backwards support. You can use pseudo 3D or 2D-3D upscaling, but it's inadequate and can cause visual distortion problems, some games look good, some look terrible.
The list of games and movies are increasing, but it's too slow a process, with Killzone 3, motorstorm apocalypse and uncharted 3 being the only 3 really must have games that also support 3D it's also too short a list.
Leave it for 6-12 months and things should improve though. One thing I think is for certain, 3D TV's are getting better and cheaper, and by that time, so should the catalogue of games and movies.
I can now say for certain what living with 3D is REALLY like, after all the first impressions have worn off and I'm used to living with the TV on a daily basis.
Movies:
I have several movies now, some purchased and some free (time unlimted demos **cough**). I have to say that I have enjoyed all the movies I've watched - even the kids films, there is one major drawback, there just isn't enough consumable material. The list is growing, but growing very very slowly. I am looking forward to Tron 2 in April, but thats well over a month away.
It's not a major problem though, youtube does have quite a lot of 3D trailers and home movies, and even some fashion TV shows at over an hour in length. But it's not exactly edge of the seat stuff. Most of it is experimental or too short to be interesting.
I've hunted high and low for other videos too an I did come across some instore tech demos too. But sadly they also were too short to really enjoy.
Digital 3D photography:
I also bought the Fujifilm finepix W3 digital 3D camera and HD video recorder.
It's very different to normal photography obviously, and it shows. Early on I struggled like crazy to even take one or two decent pics, but with practice I managed it, and I've now got some excellent 3D photos.
I'm also considering buying a windscreen camera mount, I really should as it's only £12 inc P&P, but I'm put off by the amount of vibration the video camera will pick up. There is no active stability control for the video camera, so it'll definitely be hard to watch most of the time, but to experiment with driving and recording 3D, it should be great.
I can say though that taking 3D pictures has extended my enjoyment of my 3D TV enormously. But it will take a lot more time and practice to get really good with the camera. Like I said 3D is VERY DIFFERENT to 2D photography.
3D Gaming:
I suppose this is the part that everyone here really cares about.
Oh it's good, it's really fucking good - to quote Trainspotting.
But it's the exact same problem as movies, there just isn't enough quantity of games to consume in 3D.
Wipeout HD is fantastic, Auditorium is gorgeous, GT-5 is better in 3D than 2D but it's still the same game, and Super StarDust is amazing.
Sony really do need to get a good number of 3D patches out for older games, and get some newer games to patch it in, or go 3D for all new games too. I can see this being a bit awkward for some developers, but Sony need to get off their backsides and sort this NOW. Microsoft are considering doing the 3D thing for the 360, and if they have any sense at all, they will release a universal 3D patch. Universal 3D works well on the PC, so why not the PS3 or 360, and if Microsoft do a universal patch to the 360, I'll be getting a 360 almost immediately.
Conclusion.
yes 3D was worth the cash, and worth the wait, but it's seriously lacking in backwards support. You can use pseudo 3D or 2D-3D upscaling, but it's inadequate and can cause visual distortion problems, some games look good, some look terrible.
The list of games and movies are increasing, but it's too slow a process, with Killzone 3, motorstorm apocalypse and uncharted 3 being the only 3 really must have games that also support 3D it's also too short a list.
Leave it for 6-12 months and things should improve though. One thing I think is for certain, 3D TV's are getting better and cheaper, and by that time, so should the catalogue of games and movies.
