Cyclopital3D PMW-TD300 User Manual

Cyclopital3D

Stereo Base Extender for the

Sony PMW-TD300

What’s in the package:

1 Stereo Base Extender 2 Lens Hoods

NEW!

1 15mm Mounng Clamp 2 Lens Covers 2 37mm Rear Caps

Cyclopital3D Stereo Base Extender for Sony PMW-TD300

This Stereo Base Extender (SBE) for the PMW-TD300 helps you to produce amazing 3D images of more distant subjects by maintaining accurate depth portrayal when you use longer than normal focal lengths. It is especially useful for capturing the action in sporting events, getting up close at concerts, or shooting wildlife while maintaining your distance. Anytime you want to get a close look at your subject without getting too close to it.

The Sony PMW-TD300 allows you to “zoom in” increasing the scale of "X" and "Y" up to a factor of seven (7X Zoom). Now, using the Cyclopital3D Stereo Base Extender, you can increase the scale in the "Z" dimension too! The SBE increases the interaxial (lens spacing) by 4 times from 45mm to 180mm. The 4x interaxial makes your subjects appear four times closer than they

actually are; if you also zoom to make them four times bigger,

then it’s like you have moved your camera to a position four times closer.

Using the SBE with lesser values of zoom will add depth to the scene, but the expanded scale in Z can also make the world appear somewhat “miniaturized.” Zooming in without the base extender will make the world look “bigger,” but also “flatter” with less depth, particularly in the subjects themselves. Taken to extreme, zooming without increasing the stereo base can cause “card-boarding,” where the subjects do not show the “roundness” one sees in the real world, instead subjects may look like they are painted on cardboard cutouts.

Errors in the scale of X and Y (errors in the aspect ratio) of an image are clearly visible (and often “disturbing”) with less than a 20% difference in the scale of X vs. Y. Fortunately, our sensitivity to scale errors in the Z dimension is much more “forgiving”. However, as the error in the scale of Z approaches 200% the “artifacts” mentioned above (miniaturization and card-boarding) become more and more apparent.

Having a Z-scale to “play with” is the miracle of 3D cinematography. The SBE gives you an important and much needed tool to address the creative opportunities of 3D depth and opens up a whole new dimension of possibilities!

Event Broadcasters and Film-makers will quickly discover this Stereo Base Extender to be an indispensable addition to their tool kits. Optimal depth portrayal is a major key to achieving fantastic results with 3D film and video and the Cyclopital3D Stereo Base Extender further enables professionals to reach their goals.

Installation:

There are two ways to mount your Stereo Base Extender to the camera: 15mm Rod Mount or Directly over the front of the camera bezel.

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Rod Mount:

An adapter in included that can be used with a 15mm rod mount system to attach the Stereo Base Extender to camera without needing to remove any screws. The height is adjustable to accommodate different configurations. The height should be adjusted so the SBE fits smoothly over the bezel.

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Installing directly to the camera:

To attach the SBE directly to the camera instead of using the rod mount, you will use the new thumb screws stored on the back of the SBE (see photo below). You must first remove the four small screws from the front lens bezel of the camera using a cross-point screwdriver. You do not need to remove the bezel because the SBE fits over the top of it and the new thumb screws will go into the same holes. The camera’s stock screws can be stored in the same place that the thumb screws were stored on the back of the SBE base.

Attach the SBE to camera with the word “Cyclopital3D” on the top. Only tighten the thumb screws enough to secure the adapter to the camera– finger tightening is sufficient.

Tips for use:

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To use the adapter you will need to zoom in until there are no obstructions seen on the sides of the image– zoom to approximately Z=60.

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This SBE is only needed for subjects farther than about 4m from camera. It is important to remember that your subject should generally be the closest object in the scene. When using the SBE, objects in the foreground closer than 4m could cause excessive deviation and make the image uncomfortable to view in 3D, depending on the background.

Care and Maintenance:

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If you drop the Stereo Base Extender it will break. Please treat it with the same care you would give to any expensive camera lens. If the unit sustains impact damage it may be possible to repair it using super glue (cyanoacrylate), which bonds well to the composite material used in its construction.

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If internal mirrors of the unit gets dirty, Cyclopital3D can disassemble the unit and clean them for a small fee.

• This unit is NOT waterproof. If you get it wet, it is possible that condensation could result inside, which is difficult to eliminate.

Warranty

Your adapter comes with a Limited Warranty against defects in workmanship and materials for 30 days from the date of purchase. The limited warranty does not apply if the product has been damaged by accident, mishandling, misuse, abuse, or alteration.