ViewSonic 3DV5

ViewSonic 3DV5 3D HD Camcorder

The world has gone 3D loco. We’ve got 3D movies, 3D HDTV, and Blu-ray 3D. The NFL is working on 3D football broadcasts, and we think it’s only a matter of time before Pepsico begins marketing Gatorade 3D. Yep, consumers are jumping on the 3D bandwagon with cautious interest if not enthusiasm, which is why ViewSonic’s new 3DV5 video recorder is intriguing: It costs just $180, which is a very low barrier to entry for 3D skeptics. The 3DV5 can record 3D, 720p video that can be played back on any 3D-capable TV or display. And it’s got an autostereoscopic 3D screen (“Look, mom, no nerd glasses!”) to boot. Two 5-megapixel sensors inside the 3DV5 capture 30fps video for surprisingly effective 3D playback. You can view your 3D content right on the 2.4-inch LCD screen (more about that soon), but we think most enthusiasts will opt for playback on a 3D TV, computer display, or notebook (connectivity options include a full USB connector and HDMI). The 3DV5 also features on-board 3D conversion, so you’ll be able to upload your movies to YouTube’s 3D channel and watch your videos online with a pair of old-school red/cyan 3D glasses.