Aexcea™ - 2D to 3D Stereoscopic Cinematography

Stereoscopic Cinematography

Aexcea™ 2D to 3D stereoscopic conversions also provides development, budgeting, pre-production, production, post-production and delivery consultation services. You'll find that the people at aexcea are not just in-the-box thinkers, we think and plan beyond.

Here's an example of out-of-the-box thinking at work:

Toxin 3D To answer the production call of an independent micro-budget feature film, TOXIN^3D, being shot locally in Vancouver this summer, aexcea is developing its own S3D (stereoscopic) camera and editorial system. The choice has been to utilize 2 cameras rather than a prism based system in order to maintain the full cinematic scope of the production with no loss due to frame width compression.

The process is experimental, representing the first time a production of this scope and scale has ever been filmed in this manner, and makes use of "off the shelf" camera equipment to match the target budget of the production. The innovative use of dual Canon 5D MK II cameras presents a number of interesting challenges including shutter synchronization, focus and focal length of the lens.

Frame synchronization is achieved using a software based camera control application similar to the same software used for the "Bullet Time" effect made popular in the feature film "The Matrix." While it is mostly true that two Canon 5D MK II cameras cannot be slaved to have their shutters fire simultaneously in video mode, it is equally true that a triggering delay offset can be precisely created to a micro-second. Thus, by setting a one second offset, the two "eyes" can be edited and synchronized to each other in post-production. In addition, accessing the camera's PTP via the USB port permits computerized control over the shutter and other camera functions. It's almost like the days of old school filming on ... what was that again? Film??? CLAP! Only this is more high-tech and James Bond cool.

The challenge of matching lens focal length across two cameras is resolved by again dipping into the archives of old school filmmaking and using prime lenses. As for focus, well that's a matter left entirely with the cinematographer and his camera crew.

Be sure to watch our site for more information on this very exciting production. You can check out some of our tests on Youtube at www.youtube.com/users/aexcea You can also download Side-By-Side 3D TEST clips in WMV format below.

These test clips were shot using two Canon 5D MKII cameras (stereoscopic) without shutter synchronization. Please note, these are TEST clips shot with the purpose of gaining a prelimenary understanding of using the Canon 5D MKII cameras for 3D stereoscopic filming. Lens: 50mm ISO: 160 Shutter Speed: 1/50th Aperture: f22

To play these clips, you'll need:

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TEST CLIP May 23, 2011: testing depth of field, objects moving from far plane through zero plane to near plane.