The Fuji Finepix Real 3D is the world’s first camera that allows you to take and view 3D images, and it does so without the need to wear any 3D glasses. The simplest explanation for how Fuji has managed this feat is that the Finepix Real 3D uses two lenses and two 10 megapixel sensors to achieve a stereoscopic 3D effect. This simultaneously takes and layers together two 2D images into a single 3D composite.

Along with the camera you can buy an 8 inch 3D picture viewer and there is a 3D printing service (direct with Fuji film). What must be made clear is that you are only able to view the images in 3D on the camera screen, the viewer or as a print. The Fujifilm W1 can also be used as a regular 2D camera at any time, with the Dual Capture shooting mode letting you simultaneously take two shots at different settings.

3Dcamera

The Finepix Real 3D W1 is by no means a small camera weighing in at 260g but that is to be expected when there are two lenses. The camera though is a good looking piece of kit coated in glossy black and silver.  When it comes to lay out the zoom lever and shutter button are located on top of the camera, along with an infra-red port that allows you to send/ receive photos. The base of the camera you will find the battery and memory card compartments.

The display screen on the Finepix 3D is fantastic, the 3D effect is clearly visible on such a small screen.  Although it is not true 3D (actually a stereoscopic image, creating the illusion of depth in a 2D picture) the camera records a 3D image in the MPO format, with the option to record a JPEG at the same time.

Exprience third dimension photography

Taking a 3D image with the camera is pretty easy. There are control buttons on the rear of the camera used to manually adjust the 3D images but there is an automatic feature that can do it for you.  As there are two lenses you can also achieve interesting affects in 2D mode such as the Tele/Wide two-shot function. The Fujifilm Finepix Real 3D W1′s Mode button allows you to quickly change the camera shooting mode including Auto, Natural Light & Flash, Manual, Aperture Priority, Advanced 3D etc.  There is also a nifty face detection function which can focus on up to 10 faces.

When it comes to editing your photos the Fujifilm Finepix Real 3D offers a great range of post-editorial features such as zooming in and out, sort images by date, remove red-eye, resize for blogging etc.

So to conclude as a first-generation piece of kit and a pioneer in the field of 3D digital photography the Finepix Real 3D is an extraordinary and fun camera that produces effective 3D images at the touch of a button. As a standard digital camera it is pretty average and let us not forget it is certainly not cheap but let us face it you have bought it because it takes 3D photos and you want to show this off to your friends!

Fuji’s official review