PDMOVIE 3D AIR Smart Mini – First Look

by Francesco AndreolaSeptember 17^th, 2024

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During IBC 2024, PDMOVIE was showcasing their upcoming 3D AIR Smart Mini, a compact system that integrates their LiDAR autofocus system to make 3D filming easier and more accessible. This product looks so promising that it even received one of our Best-of-Show awards. Let’s take a look!

While 3D theatrical releases appear to be marginal sideshows nowadays, devices like Apple’s Vision Pro might lead to an increased demand for spatial video content in the near future.

And while you can shoot it using an iPhone 15 Pro (or later model), PDMOVIE is now introducing a product that aims at bridging the gap between Apple’s smartphone and complex, specialized 3D rigs or cameras. So, on the show floor at IBC 2024, we caught up with Fiona Lyn from PDMOVIE to learn more about their 3D AIR Smart Mini.

PDMOVIE 3D AIR Smart Mini – features

The PDMOVIE 3D AIR Smart Mini is a compact, lightweight rig that can be paired with two mirrorless or small cinema cameras and lenses to film high-resolution, high-frame rate 3D content. The system comes with a series of automatic features so that it can be easily operated by a single user.

The rig weighs around 1159g/2.55 lbs, measures 220x105x115mm / 8.66×4.1×4.5 inches, and consists of a sunshade that can host two camera setups placed at a 90° angle relative to each other, both facing a ground lens positioned at 45° inside the rig. Thus, the two cameras can frame the same scene, while a slight offset between their optical axis makes it possible to achieve the stereoscopic effect.

Locking components secure the two camera setups in place, while the distance between their optical centers is adjustable between 0 and 60mm (0-23.6 inches). This is done by leveraging an integrated LiDAR module that, according to PDMOVIE, can automatically and dynamically adjust the stereo effect with a reaction time of just 30 milliseconds and an accuracy of up to 0.01mm. Alternatively, you can adjust this distance manually.

Finally, LiDAR technology also provides distance information to the included PDMOVIE LIVE AIR 3 follow focus motors. As a result, users can choose whether to control focus manually or entirely rely on this autofocus system.

Price and availability

Pre-orders for the PDMOVIE 3D AIR Smart Mini should open around November 2024 and shipping should begin before the end of the year. There’s currently no official info regarding the price of this system, however, according to Fiona, it should be priced between $2,000 and $3,000.

For more information, please visit PDMOVIE’s website here.

Have you ever filmed 3D content? What do you think of this new solution from PDMOVIE? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!