Photography

3D Lens-in-a-Cap system for digital SLR cameras

3D Lens-in-a-Cap system for digital SLR cameras
The Lens-in-a-Cap system captures two simultaneous images using matched lenses to the left and right for onward viewing via a Loreo 3D viewer
The Lens-in-a-Cap system captures two simultaneous images using matched lenses to the left and right for onward viewing via a Loreo 3D viewer
View 3 Images
The Lens-in-a-Cap system is also available for Micro Four Thirds digital SLR cameras
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The Lens-in-a-Cap system is also available for Micro Four Thirds digital SLR cameras
Loreo 3D Lens-in-a-Cap 9005 - APS-C - Model 9005A f/11, 1/50 sec, Canon EOS 40D digital SLR, ASA 200
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Loreo 3D Lens-in-a-Cap 9005 - APS-C - Model 9005A f/11, 1/50 sec, Canon EOS 40D digital SLR, ASA 200
The Lens-in-a-Cap system captures two simultaneous images using matched lenses to the left and right for onward viewing via a Loreo 3D viewer
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The Lens-in-a-Cap system captures two simultaneous images using matched lenses to the left and right for onward viewing via a Loreo 3D viewer
View gallery - 3 images

The Lens-in-a-Cap stereo lens system from Loreo mounts to the front of a digital SLR body to allow users to take side-by-side 3D photographic images. Mounts are available for a host of popular digital SLR cameras and the system will automatically adjust image pitch to suit subject distance. Subsequent images can then be printed out or viewed on a computer screen via a cheap cardboard parallel format viewer.

Anyone remember those flimsy plastic photo holders that you put up to your face and could miraculously see a stereoscopic image in front of you? The 3D image is actually a couple of similar views of the same object taken at a slight distance from each other on a horizontal plane which tricks the viewer into thinking that it's just one three-dimensional image. With the Lorea 3D Lens-in-a-Cap 9005, that system has just gone digital.

The lightweight silver-grey plastic body with fiber-reinforced chassis ain't too pretty but attaching the self-contained, integrated mirror assembly and lens system to a digital SLR captures two simultaneous images using matched lenses to the left and right. The side-by-side image can then either be printed out or viewed on a computer screen using a Loreo 3D viewer and the effect outlined above is recreated for the modern digital age.

Loreo 3D Lens-in-a-Cap 9005 - APS-C - Model 9005A f/11, 1/50 sec, Canon EOS 40D digital SLR, ASA 200
Loreo 3D Lens-in-a-Cap 9005 - APS-C - Model 9005A f/11, 1/50 sec, Canon EOS 40D digital SLR, ASA 200

The focus coupled Parallax Compensation system automatically adjusts image pitch within the unit itself for 1.5m to infinity subjects and allows for the retention of many of the features of an SLR camera, such as through the lens viewing, auto exposure and TTL flash. The Lens-in-a-Cap 9005 also comes with a pair of 58mm filter threads at the front for attaching carefully chosen converters, filters and hoods.

There are two versions available, one for APS-C format subframe and one for 4:3 and Micro 4:3 format subframe digital SLR cameras. The Canon EOS mount offers compatibility with many of the company's most popular digital SLRs, with mounts also available for Nikon F, Minolta AF, Sony Alpha, Samsung GX and Pentax K cameras. Micro Four Thirds camera mounts for Panasonic and Olympus cameras take care of that format too.

The system is available now for US$150, with viewers starting at just US$1.70.

Via 3D-Display-Info.

View gallery - 3 images
4 comments
4 comments
christopher
These are fun - I\'ve got an older pentax one. If you want to view the photo on this page in 3D - here\'s how to do it:

Scale the page down a bit - so the girls heads are about 3cm apart. Sit back a bit, and relax your eyes (try to \"go blurry\" and look through your screen) - you\'ll notice you can now kindof see 3 blurry girls. Concentrate on the middle one, and gently look at (focus on) it, and it will then pop into 3D for you - no special viewer needed :-)
Chris Hernandez
Yeah I was going to say these have been out for a long time. The benefit of this though is for video systems with variable focal ranges. The coupled parallax compensation makes it easier to help with focal changes within a scene. Dual fixed camcorders don\'t allow for this.
For novice 3D viewing, I recommend the hand-block technique. Block the right image from your right eye with your right hand, and then block the left image from your left eye with your left hand, cross your eyes so you\'re looking through the gap between your hands. Let your eyes align by finding a high contrast object in the image, and it should focus after a few seconds.
windykites
There is another method, known as the cross eye method. Slightly more difficult to do than the parallel method described above, but the advantage is that you can view larger stereo pairs. It can be used for Magic Eye pictures. Hold one finger up in front of the pair, and look at the finger. Now look beyond the finger, and the stereo image can be seen. Move the finger back and forth to help alignment.
HeyThisIsntJizzMag!
I can easily see the 3D effect with the articles photo by crossing my eyes and refocusing on the middle image. No need to resize or use any kind of device.