The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) are having a big expo down in Darling Harbour at the moment, and Sony is using it to show off both their awesome OB vans, and a really cool 3D prototype display.
The first thing worth noting is that this thing isn’t a 3D TV – it’s built more like one of Sony’s HD reference monitors, and is a solid 20cm deep at least. Having said that though, I have to admit that the 3D effect through a pair of RealD Polarised glasses was nothing short of amazing.
They had a live action clip running a loop with some Japanese themes, and although I was very sceptical about 3D in the home, this display truly has the potential to change my mind. For a start, it was easily viewable, even on a brightly lit convention show floor. This runs against what Jeffrey Katzenburg, CEO of Dreamworks, told me earlier this year when we discussed 3D in the home.
The second mindblowing aspect was the fact that I could easily enjoy the effects from a really wide angle, as well as from a distance of a bout 3-5 metres, which is also contrary to Katzenburg’s opinions. Naturally, the best viewing angle was straight on, but you could still enjoy the effects.
Lastly, I watched the screen for about five minutes and didn’t get a headache. Hallelujah! You still need the stupid glasses though. Sux!
As for the panel itself, Sony didn’t have a great deal of information on it, other than it was an early prototype. Compared to other 3D TVs I’ve seen (and I admit, I haven’t seen Panasonic’s CES model), this wipes the floor with them. It’s still got a long way to go before it makes its way into the loungeroom, but I begrudgingly admit that with enough content, 3D could actually be welcome in my home.