Several years ago, I got to play with the Acer ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Editon laptop, a revolutionary device that allowed me to view 3D imagery without the need for 3D glasses.
As impressed as I was at the time with it, though, its practical application seemed a bit limited by the content available. I mean, there’s only a certain number of times I could view the same image of a beachball popping out of the screen at me in 3D.
I’m now having to rethink that stance after Acer announced the SpatialLabs Eyes Stereo Camera at Computex 2024. What is it? It’s a camera that allows you to capture your own 3D stereoscopic images and videos. What’s more, it comes fully compatible with Acer’s SpatialLabs 3D laptops, which means they’re back on my radar in a big way.
The camera is quite compact. It measures just 4 x 2.5 x 0.9 inches and features a 2.5-inch touchscreen, yet it still squeezes in two 8-megapixel cameras – one for each eye. It also boasts a built-in Selfie-mirror and a micro-SD card slot for storing all your 3D snaps.
Acer says its new camera is made for photographers, but with a price tag of just $549, it seems quite probable it will just as easily appeal to amateur snappers or anyone with an eye for pixels, when it ships in the US come Q3 this year.
If you do take your photography seriously, though, don’t worry, it still has enough enthusiast smarts for you. The camera comes with a host of photographic features like manual white balance, ISO, and shutter speed adjustment, not to mention Electronic Image Stabilization to prevent blur.
You’ll also be able to view the camera’s imagery or videos on other 3D platforms too, such as on a 3D projector or VR headset. But arguably the most exciting thing about this camera is that you can use it to livestream 3D video to YouTube and launch 3D video calls on Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
The mind boggles just thinking about a world where everyone starts doing that.
