First ever 3D digital camera, the Fuji W1, is in our lab!

Christmas really has come a couple of months early for us!  For a few hours now we've been playing with the Fujifilm W1, the first digital camera with two lenses side-by-side, allowing it to take two shots at once and produce an image in 3D!


The first time you get your hands on it can be quite surprising as it's rather bulky, and noticeably bigger than the majority of ultra-compact cameras that are currently on offer.


So, we took our first photo photo, and then had a look.  Whoa!  The LCD screen on the back shows your photo in 3D, displaying the two images (one for your left eye and one for your right eye) at the same time, and your brain decodes them into a single image.  It's quite hard at first, but trying to spot it can be fun, and after a while you realise it actually works.


And despite the fact we've tried 3D televisions and LCD monitors, seeing it in action on a compact digital camera was certainly something.  Be careful though, as eyestrain can set in very easily.  To enjoy your photos, it's best to switch to the digital photo frame that Fuji will be releasing soon, or better still, a 120 Hz LCD screen, like those from Samsung and ViewSonic, coupled with a pair of Nvidia glasses.  It's the most comfortable way of looking at 3D photos, but also the most expensive ... !


So, now we've tried it out, it's time for the W1 to go through our regular testing procedure … we'll bring you the results soon!