Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 Review
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the 10 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 4.5Mb.
The Fujifilm W1 records a 3D image in the MPO format which can only be viewed on the W1's screen or the V1 photo viewer. Therefore we used 2D / JPEG images for all of our image quality tests, so that you can at least see what its "normal" quality is like.
The Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 produced 2D images of above average quality during the review period. The 10 megapixel sensor produces noise-free images at ISO 100, but there's some limited noise starting to appear at ISO 200. ISO 400 exhibits fairly visible noise and loss of fine detail but is still very usable, while ISO 800 and 1600 get progressively noisier. The Real 3D W1 didn't suffer too badly from aberrations, with limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations. The pop-up flash worked quite well indoors, with no red-eye and adequate exposure, but the 8cms macro mode isn't anything to shout about. The night photograph was OK, with the maximum shutter speed of 3 seconds just allowing you to capture enough light in most situations. The images were a little soft straight out of the camera and ideally require further sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop, as you can't change the in-camera setting if you don't like the default results.
Noise
There are 5 ISO settings available on the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting.
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ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
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Focal Range
The Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1's 3x zoom lens offers a rather restricted focal range, as illustrated by these examples:
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35mm |
105mm |
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Sharpening
Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images are a little soft and ideally benefit from some further sharpening in a program like Adobe Photoshop. You can't change the in-camera sharpening level.
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Original (100% Crop) |
Sharpened (100% Crop) |
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Chromatic Aberrations
The Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 handled chromatic aberrations quite well during the review, with limited purple fringing present around the edges of objects in high-contrast situation, as shown in the examples below.
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Example 1 (100% Crop) |
Example 2 (100% Crop) |
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Macro
The Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 offers a Macro setting that allows you to focus on a subject that is 8cms away from the camera when the lens is set to wide-angle. The first image shows how close you can get to the subject (in this case a compact flash card). The second image is a 100% crop.
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Macro Shot |
100% Crop |
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Flash
The flash settings on the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 are Auto, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro, Red-eye Reduction Auto, Red-eye Reduction & Forced Flash and Red-eye Reduction & Slow Synchro. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
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Suppressed Flash - Wide Angle (35mm) |
Forced Flash - Wide Angle (35mm) |
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Suppressed Flash - Telephoto (105mm) |
Forced Flash - Telephoto (105mm) |
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And here are some portrait shots. As you can see, neither the Forced Flash setting or the Red-Eye Correction option caused any red-eye.
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Forced Flash |
Forced Flash (100% Crop) |
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Red-eye Reduction Auto |
Red-eye Reduction Auto (100% Crop) |
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Night Shot
The Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1's maximum shutter speed is 3 seconds in the Night (Tripod) mode, which is not very good news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 1/2 second at ISO 100. I've included a 100% crop of the image to show what the quality is like.
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Night Shot |
Night Shot (100% Crop) |
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Sample Images
This is a selection of sample images from the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 camera, which were all taken using the 10 megapixel Fine setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.
Sample Movie & Video
This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 640x480 at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 15 second movie is 33.6Mb in size.
Product Images
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Front of the Camera |
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Front of the Camera / Lens Cover Opened |
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Isometric View |
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Isometric View |
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Rear of the Camera |
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Rear of the Camera / Turned On |
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Rear of the Camera / Shooting Menu |
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Rear of the Camera / F-Mode Menu |
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Rear of the Camera / Image Displayed |
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Top of the Camera |
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Bottom of the Camera |
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Side of the Camera |
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Side of the Camera |
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Front of the Camera |
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Front of the Camera |
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Memory Card Slot |
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| Battery Compartment |
Conclusion
Reviewing the Fujifilm Finepix Real 3D W1 has proved both an enjoyable and frustrating experience. Enjoyable in the sense that this a truly remarkable first-generation product, capable of creating convincing 3D photos at the push of a button, but frustrating in that they can only be viewed (currently) on the camera's LCD screen or the optional V1 photo viewer. You'll just have to take my word for it about how good the 3D images look, or try one out for yourself at your local store, as the MPO files can't be viewed in any other way.
Deciding on an appropriate rating for the Fujifilm W1 is also somewhat problematic, as it relies almost entirely on your personal interest in 3D imagery. As a conventional 2D camera, the W1 is merely competent, with noisy images at slow ISO speeds, average operational speeds and a rather restrictive 3x zoom lens. As a 3D device, though, it obviously makes a lot more sense, replacing the need for two cameras and greatly implying the process of recording and making a 3D image, with several advanced in-camera options for further refining the effects that can be achieved. If you've got any interest in stereoscopic photography, then you'll probably have already placed a pre-order for the W1.
Which leaves the rest of us - family snappers, prosumers, even professionals - can the Fujifilm Finepix Real 3D W1 convince us to pay the rather sizeable cost of entry? I'm afraid the jury's still out on that one. While the Fujifilm Finepix Real 3D W1 definitely achieves its 3D ambitions with utterly convincing images, the high price, bulky size and limited 2D capabilities mean that it will probably remain something of a niche product. We're already looking forward to the hopefully smaller and cheaper W2...
| Ratings (out of 5) | |
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| Design | 4 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Ease-of-use | 3.5 |
| Image quality | 4 |
| Value for money | 4 |
Review Roundup
Reviews of the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 from around the web.
pocket-lint.com »
We first saw Fujifilm's 3D concept camera at Photokina 2008 and struggled to take it seriously. There are so many questions and seemingly so few answers. Now the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 has come to fruition. But can we now take the first 3D production camera seriously, or is it still just a little too niche?
Read the full review »
ephotozine.com »
Making it's début in July 2009, the Fujifilm W1 3D camera breaks new ground by producing the most realistic 3D images to date. Fujifilm have managed to give the coolest 3D images by using two lenses to take pictures with. Each lens has it's own dedicated 10Mp CCD sensor which are then merged into one final image in the camera for viewing on the 3D screen on the back.
Read the full review »
Specifications
| Number of effective pixels *1 | 10.0 million pixels |
| CCD sensor | 1/2.3-inch CCD x2 |
| Storage media |
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| File format |
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| Number of recorded pixels | L: 4:3 3,648 x 2,736 / L: 3:2 3,648 x 2,432 / M: 4:3 2,592 x 1,944 / S: 4:3 2,048 x 1,536 pixels |
| Lens | Fujinon 3x optical zoom lens, F3.7(W) - F4.2(T) |
| Lens focal length | f=6.3 - 18.9mm, equivalent to 35.0 - 105.0mm on a 35mm camera |
| Zoom |
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| Aperture | Wide: F3.7 / F5 / F8, Telephoto: F4.2 / F5.6 / F9 |
| Focus distance (from lens surface) |
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| Sensitivity | Auto / Equivalent to 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (Standard Output Sensitivity) |
| Exposure control | TTL 256-zones metering, MULTI, SPOT, AVERAGE |
| Exposure mode | Programmed AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual |
| Shooting modes |
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| Shutter speed |
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| Continuous shooting |
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| Focus |
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| White balance | Automatic scene recognition Preset: Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm white), Fluorescent light (Cool white), Incandescent light, Underwater lighting |
| Self-timer | Approx. 10sec. / 2sec. delay |
| Flash | Auto flash Effective range: (ISO AUTO):
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| LCD monitor | 2.8-inch, Approx. 230,000 dots color LCD monitor with Light Direction Control, Approx. 100% coverage |
| Movie recording | 640 x 480 pixels / 320 x 240 pixels (30 frames/sec.) with stereo sound * Zoom function cannot be used during movie recording. |
| Photography functions |
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| Playback functions |
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| Video output | NTSC / PAL selectable |
| Digital interface | USB 2.0 High-speed |
| Power supply | NP-95 Li-ion battery (included), AC power adapter AC-5VC (included) |
| Dimensions | Approx. 123.6 (W) x 68 (H) x 25.6 (D) mm / 4.9 (W) x 2.7 (H) x 1.0 (D) in. (excluding accessories, battery and memory card) |
| Weight | Approx. 260g / 9.2oz (excluding accessories, batteries and memory) |
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