Acer SpatialLabs Eyes: Acer's First 3D Camera

Edmund_McGowan

Please take a minute to look up from your screen, have a good look around you and take in your surroundings. What beauty lies in the three-dimensional realm that we call reality! Alas, if you tried to capture a slice of this life using your smartphone or camera, could it truly replicate the three-dimensional world around you? Let’s be honest, even a highly skilled photographer may struggle to transmit the essence of the 3D world onto a 2D photo. Given all of the recent developments in 3D display and image capturing technology, surely there must be a way to shoot the 3D world, then re-live those moments in 3D later on?

Let’s go a step further: imagine if you could not only use a camera to capture 3D images and video of the 3D world around you, but also to livestream and join meetings in realtime 3D? Well the good news is that there is. The two eyes looking back at you are the dual lenses of the Acer SpatialLabs Eyes 3D camera. This compact stereoscopic 3D camera completes Acer’s range of SpatialLabs devices, empowering users to capture the world around them in stereoscopic 3D. If it sounds technical, that’s because it is, but let us explain…

If your understanding of 3D extends no further than a pair of IMAX 3D glasses, don’t get flustered -you’re on the right track! We’ll take it one step at a time today, and explain what’s behind these two lenses of a stereo camera, as well as SpatialLabs tech, before introducing the Acer SpatialLabs Eyes 3D camera.

What is a stereo camera?

Firstly, the stereo camera is totally unrelated to Hi-Fi stereo systems. Depending on how far you pursued your Greek language studies, you may know that the commonly used “stereo” comes from the Greek word for 3D, “stereos.”  How does a stereo camera work? The two lenses of a stereo camera capture two images from different angles, mimicking our own binocular vision. Processing of the two images results in a single 2D image or video that appears to have depth, and this is called the stereoscopic effect.

SpatialLabs technology: glasses-free 3D

Acer’s SpatialLabs is an advanced suite of spatial computing solutions, enhancing 3D creation, visualization and interaction. Delivering glasses-free 3D, the stereoscopic effect (covers above) projects slightly different images to each of our eyes for immersive 3D experiences. Dual lenses are intrinsic to SpatialLabs devices, while eye-tracking cameras follow eye movements to deliver consistent, immersive 3D viewing. Integrated with 3D content applications and software, SpatialLabs devices range from laptops, to cameras, projectors, and displays.

The applications of SpatialLabs technology are pretty diverse, from 3D gaming and entertainment to real time 3D image and video creation. Professional applications include engineering and product design, where immersive 3D models can streamline and improve the product development process.

Acer SpatialLabs Eyes

Let’s take a closer look at the star of this show, Acer’s first 3D camera, the SpatialLabs Eyes. This camera (ASEC-1) will be available in North America in Q3, starting at USD 549, and in EMEA in Q3, starting at EUR 549. If you’re interested in the full specs of this camera, please check out our news page, but for now, here’s the essential tech-specs of this two lensed beauty:

• Aperture: f/2.0 
• Focal Length: 3.0 mm (equivalent to 21mm) 
• FOV: 80°(H) 52°(V) 
• Pixels: 8 megapixels (per eye) 
• Photo resolution: 2 Photo Modes:7680 x 2160 (SBS or SBS + L + R), 3840 x 2160 (SBS or SBS + L + R) 
• Video resolution: 3 Video Recording Modes: 7680 x 2160@30 SBS, 3840 x 2160@60 SBS, 3840 x 2160@30 SBS (+HDR) 
• Touch screen size: 2.41” (640 x 480 resolution) 
• Metering Mode: Multi (center AF), Spot (touch focus point link) 
• White Balance: Auto, Manual (2300K~10000K) 
• ISO: Auto, manual (100-1600) 
• Best distance from subject for comfy 3D depth: 50cm-INF (with pixel shift post-processing in applications) 
• Weight: 220g 
• Dimensions: 104 x 65.4 x 23.2 mm 
• Battery life: Up to 180 photos, up to 37 mins of video

Enter the stereosphere

First, a round of applause! The stylish shale black and aluminum appearance and innovative features have earned Acer’s SpatialLabs Eyes Stereo Camera prestigious 2024 Red Dot and iF Design Awards. Whatever your interests are, if you’re an expert photographer, or an amateur adventurer who wants to try your hand at 3D, the SpatialLabs Eyes camera is your ticket to capturing and viewing images in the stereosphere. 

Wherever you’re headed, the waterproof, lightweight design, selfie mirror and auto/ touch focus options ensure that capturing the 3D world is an obstacle-free experience. For ease of use, EIS (electronic image stabilization) means that you can get on with shooting without worrying about the odd bump here and there. For veteran photographers, manual mode lets you take control of ISO, white balance and shutter speed.

Feel the real: 3D

Content creators can edit their 3D photos and videos before posting on platforms including YouTube thanks to the new Acer SpatialLabs Player 3.0. Step into the realm of 3D video conferencing in Teams (1080p), Zoom (720p), and Google Meet (1080p) with the SpatialLabs video call widget. This widget has customizable depth features to increase realism during calls. A constantly expanding array of developer tools including SpatialLabs Unreal 5.3, and SpatialLabs Model Viewer Pro application ensure that you’ll be at the forefront of the Realtime 3D revolution.

You have a story that needs to be told, so why not tell it in all its 3D glory? 3D content can be viewed on devices throughout the Acer SpatialLabs series, including laptops and monitors as well as 3D projectors, and VR/AR headsets including Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest.

The takeaway

We hope that you’ve enjoyed today’s stereoscopic adventure, and now have a broader understanding of Acer’s SpatialLabs Eyes Stereo Camera, and its many applications. With this innovative camera, you’ll be able to seize any moment in its entirety, by capturing the depth of life in full 3D. Acer SpatialLabs Eyes is an award winning camera that will help you to create endless visual possibilities, from 3D family photos to 3D installations in showrooms and professional presentations. Keep an eye out for the Acer SpatialLabs Eyes Stereo Camera (ASEC-1), available in North America in Q3, starting at USD 549, and in EMEA in Q3, starting at EUR 549.

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