Digital Life: Fuji's 3D camera is a taste of things to come

By Ronan Price, Irish Independent

Tuesday June 08 2010

James Cameron splurged $200m on making Avatar in 3D but you can have a go for €500 thanks to the first consumer camera to shoot in the next dimension.

Fuji's FinePix Real3D W1 may be a mouthful to say and aesthetically it's a real bruiser. But this camera does what it says on the tin -- capture photos and videos in glorious 3D.

With a bit of practice, it's easy to take snaps with a terrific illusion of depth. Movie mode proves less successful, partly because the video resolution is barely adequate. James Cameron can sleep soundly at night.

Fuji should be applauded for the first attempt at creating a consumer 3D camera but the company itself is the first to admit the whole idea is a work in progress.

Chief among the caveats is the awkwardness of viewing your 3D snapshots and video -- you can't just transfer them to your computer for a gawk.

The camera's small screen shows off the 3D effect but at too small a size.

Fuji sells an optional €370 eight-inch display resembling a photo frame but the viewing angle is very fussy.

Finally, you can order prints online from Fuji -- but they're eye-wateringly expensive at €4.40 each for a small size.

Of course, the W1 also takes ordinary 2D photos too -- but quality-wise they're only middling.

It's best to consider this Fuji as a taste of what's to come but for now it's out there in a class of its own.

Fuji FinePix Real3D W1, €500

www.fujifilm.co.uk

By contrast with the stocky Fuji, Sony's little Cyber-shot TX5 looks like a dainty damsel. But this camera conceals hidden talents: it's water-proof, drop-proof and dust-proof.

Even though it's a tough cookie with model good looks, you might expect the photos to be compromised.

Happily, the TX5 is the latest Sony to incorporate its Exmor chip for superb quality, even in low light, and features the mind-bogglingly good panorama mode.

This wouldn't be a proper review without testing the marketing guff.

So we dropped the TX5 onto concrete from shoulder height (a minor scratch, no real damage), dunked it (even the touchscreen will work underwater) and took it to the beach (the sand brushed off easily).

Yes, the smurf-sized controls are more than a tad finicky and it doesn't come cheap, but the TX5 is one rugged customer.

Sony Cyber-shot TX5, €380

www.sony.ie

- Ronan Price

Irish Independent