Articles
Chocolate Studios Gears Up for Stereo 3D with Panasonic AG-3DP1G
Chocolate Studios in Melbourne has installed Australia’s first AG-3DP1G 3D integrated 
twin-lens camcorder to meet demand for stereo 3D production services and rentals.
| Chocolate Studios is a content creation agency handling production, post-production and rental services. They are finding that clients are now asking more frequently for stereo production services and stereo 3D capable rentals, because the medium has been especially effective for conference theme and staging production design. Managing Director Dave Ellis explained, “Stereo 3D really engages our clients’ audiences. From the moment you give out the 3D glasses, customers start to get excited, and that is what our industry is all about -entertaining audiences.” | |
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| Keeping Up by Staying Ahead He also explained that, having worked as a director of production for 25 years, he has found it is a definite draw card to be able to offer clients something new and to use up-to-date systems. Chocolate Studios was among the first companies in Australia to purchase a Digital Betacam camera, to offer a HD camera and now, to be prepared to work in stereo 3D with the AG-3DP1G twin-lens 3D camcorder and several 3D editing suites. |
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| “I have shot a number of productions on dual-camera rigs with Sony and RED systems,” Dave said. “They are fantastic in terms of image quality, but not portable for typical, modern budget requirements. Within its price range and camera type, the Panasonic is great for large scale 3D art installations and product launches. We shot a 3D production around Australia earlier this year for a client and the only reason it ended up filming 3D was due to the Panasonic. It's the difference between keeping a client through innovation, and allowing them to look around at what our competitors are doing - and I don't like working that way. | |
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Dave is surprised that 3D hasn't exploded in Australia. “The motor companies and a few other industries are just now developing an interest as their competitors begin doing some clever work, although I feel that production companies are not really helping themselves at the moment either, because many of them are focussed on working more cheaply than their competitors, not smarter,” he said. The Shoot-to-Edit Workflow |
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| The AG-3DP1G is fitting well into the existing facility. Its HD twin-lens system has wide angle and 17x zoom telephoto settings that work in applications required for sports projects, TV series, live events and independent movie production. It is a P2 HD shoulder-mount camcorder with 10 bit, 4:2:2 independent-frame, 1920 x 1080 resolution AVC-Intra recording. The unit can capture broadcast-level 3D images due to its integrated, twin zoom lens system, high-sensitivity sensors and AVC-Intra codec. Focus, zoom and iris adjustments are accurately synchronised for the left and right lenses and do not require pre-shooting adjustment. The 58mm inter-axial distance allows a shooting range of approximately 1.1m to 30m. Dave said that Chocolate Studios is considering buying a second system, as initial rental demand for the first unit has been substantial so far. www.panasonic-broadcast.com.au |
