Is 3D here to stay?

This post was fueled by some hardware coming out of Panasonic, but also to discuss the 3D trend of recent years. You all know 3D was a gimmick in the 50s and 60s that died off, cameback slightlyin the 80s, died off, and now in the last 3 years has had a big comeback.

The technology got better (if not perfect, of course), movies began shooting (or rather rendering) in 3D, and cinemas started converting their equipment to be able to project it. Plus, everybody got in the 3D wave and TV manufacturers also started making 3D TVs, broadcasting networks started 3D channels (the recent World Cup was an excuse to give this big push by them). The thing is, in cinema where this new age of 3D started, the percentage of 3D when 2D is available has been coming down ever since Avatar in December of last year – having horrible and rushed 2D to 3D conversions in the likes of Clash of the Titans and recently The Last Airbender doesn’t help, at all. So what does this mean for 3D video? We don’t know yet, but there has been some movement this week in the area. Yesterday, Panasonic announced the price for is 3D camera, the first one in the prosumer market. It will cost $1.400 and be available in October.

On the same note, the company announced today a 3D lens that will be able to work with still cameras, particularly micro four thirds (no price or availability yet).

What this really means is for the first time, this technology will be available to a wider audience of filmmakers.I mean, not particularly cheap (but cheaper) and not exactly the same kind of 3D you see in movies, but still.

And whether it’s a trend or not, it’s something we in the creative field should have a close eye on.

Vimeo users have a channel with plenty of examples. Youtube got to the point of having a dedicated section: Youtube 3D.

If you have one of those red-cyan glasses lying around, check out this video of viral hit makers Eepybird:

So what you think, as a creative?

Is this “cheapening” of tools something you look forward to experiment with 3D or dismiss it as a trend that will go away in a few years, just like before?

Is this something you’d like to use in one of your future projects even?

To finalize, and specially if you’re a 3D hater, check out this awesome t-shirt fromThreadless: