James Cameron Shows off his 3D Camera Rig

James Cameron thought now would be just as good a time as any to show off the 3D camera rig that he helped develop to film Avatar, and of course he did it on G4TV's Attack of the Show. Cameron also shared some of the rig's tech specs, so if your into that kind of thing here are some points of interest:

  • This camera is called a mini beam splitter rig and is set up inverted to be hand-held.
  • This rig was specifically created for the movie from two Sony cameras.
  • Unlike most 3D cameras, the Pace doesn’t use two side by side cameras for 3D effects.
  • Instead, it uses two cameras on the top and bottom to recreate how the 3D space will look on screen.
  • This technology is known as “fusion 3D.”
  • The beam splitter allows the two lenses to merge inside each other as the top camera can move side to side to change the interocular distance or change angles to control the convergence. [to control the "sweet spot" of the 3D image]
  • It’s a silent and fast 9 axis motion control system.
  • The rig weighs 28 lbs.
  • The two cameras must be finely calibrated in order to be doing the same thing at the exact same time.
  • [as for how much it costs, Cameron says, "Think a couple of Ferraris," meanwhile probably thinking, "Like the couple of Ferraris I store in my servant's quarters.] [via G4]

Cameron also boasts that he did all the hand-held camera work on Avatar himself, and why wouldn't he!? It's his movie!

Check out the video below!

 

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