Toshiba 3D Camcorder Profile

Toshiba mounted on deployed Steadicam Jr.

The Toshiba SK-3D7K 3D Video Camcorder is a self-contained VHS-C camcorder with two color video cameras and a built-in field sequential multiplexer. It can record either normal 2D video or 3D video using a field sequential format that is compatible with most Liquid Crystal Shutter (LCS) glasses systems designed for use with an ordinary television (NTSC) as well as some Head Mounted Displays (HMD) such as the Virtual I/O i-glasses.

Toshiba 3D camcorders are very rare. If you can find one they are quite expensive. I reluctantly sold mine in the summer of 1999 for almost $5,000 to a Electrical Engineer from Korea. Why so expensive? Well for one thing, there were only 500 of these particular units made. Unfortunately unless you build your own system, 3D video cameras are an expensive toy. (And even a home-built system isn't going to be what I would call cheap!) In any case, I've include references to other Toshibas that I know are available as well as other 3D video camera systems I am aware of. Why did I sell it? I've found that I did not use it as much as I expected. And I agree with the philosophy that many 3D enthusists share: If you're not using your 3D equipment, put it back into circulation.

My experiences with this camera and stabilizer.
Correspondence exchanged about this camera.
About this particular system.
Links to other SK-3D7K's on the web that are either for sale or are being used:
- "STUDIO 3D" - A company that uses the Toshiba stereocamcorder and has information on various playback devices -- as well as viewing devices, including projection.
Links to alternatives to the SK-3D7K I'm aware of:
- 3DTV - A vendor of 3D video products who use to have a listing for a new Toshiba SK-3D7K with its original packaging. (I checked recently but could not find this listing.) Michael Starks, the primary contact person for this site, had claimed in some literature I received from him that the Toshiba video was "Betacam quality". I'm pretty sure that he was referring to the video output signal from camcorder, not tapes recorded on it. (I personally don't have the equipment or experience to verify that claim.)
- Nu-View® 3-D Adapter - An adapter than can be used on "virtually any camcorder" to produce field-sequential video.
- VRex - A 3D video products manufacturer which has a very nice 3D video camera (not camcorder) for approximately $8,000 (last time I saw one). They also make shutter glasses and projectors.
- Bruns-cam 3D - A clever computer-based solution for capturing 3D video images.
Other Links of Interest
- A 3D Video production company
- 3D Yellow Pages - A good, general 3D directory (not just video)

Questions and comments can be directed via e-mail to: Bill.Costa@alumni.unh.edu

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