3D camera and stabilizer combo suggestion?

Turbguy1 wrote:

You might want to consider the new QooCam EGO, on a cheap FeiyuTech G6 Max Handheld Gimbal (buy the gimbal on eBay for a cheaper price). That seems to work. Interaxial is 65mm.

It records in SBS. The EGO is so new, they (Kandao) is still issuing Firmware updates.

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/kandao-qoocam-ego-review Seem to be a thorough review, and if accurate poses issues. I don't have a phone; my mobile options are Amazon Fire tablet and laptop; I guess if it turns out to be an otherwise near-perfect solution for me that I could get a used phone, but one thing for sure: I won't get cell coverage. My immediate need is to 3D capture an event, which what I suspect will be most important to me will be in the lobby beforehand (mingling, etc.), which I'd move around and often change focus to different objects; I foresee that for the main event 3D capturing would give me little added enjoyment, thus 2D would be sufficient. The above review mentions ensuring the focus remain is difficult, and would add significant delays between scenes; extra ones since I'd have to disable the gimbal to attach the viewer then look through it.

Perhaps you have a better way to do it with the QooCam EGO or can suggest something else that would better suit my need?

The QooCam EGO in on the way; I could have saved ~50 CAD (currently = 38.76 USD = 37.17 EUR) by buying on eBay but it wouldn't have arrived in time, so Amazon it was. Do you think Feiyu Tech G6 Max 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer for Mirrorless Camera Gopro | eBay is good? It's refurbished but its seller has a 99.5% rating.

I have the EGO as part of Kickstarter. It's small and hard to hold for adult hands. All controls are embedded push buttons or display sensor.  It wasn't intuitive as I hoped. Took several days to get a good picture. And you have to use your phones hotpot to talk to it. That worked to the point of downloading some videos and updating the firmware, then it stopped working. The camera gets very hot and will shut down especially if you are hotspotting it.

The out-of-the-box focus appears to work from about 3 ft. to infinity in good light. The biggest problem is no stabilization, and the image is very unstable when handheld. Plus the L/R full frame images are slightly out of alignment. Not enough to matter when using the binocular viewer but requires post processing for projection. Although video images are HD, they are somewhat soft. The stills are very good, though.

The viewer needs to be locked in place or will fall off. I suspect, kids looking into the viewer at some point will force the viewer loose and drop it.

The camera is too complex for a non-photographer to use correctly and is more toy than pro usable, unless you are able to post process with a good 3D editor like Edius or PowerDirector. Since the images are fullframe 3D videos, you need an editor to make them into SBS compressed frames if needed. Note, I did not try to use the app editor. The stills are JPGs and need an editor to make them into MPO files for use in viewers and TVs, though some TVs will use them okay as is.

Are there alternatives for 3D video?  Not really, most 3D cameras are no longer available even at the used level.  The camera is close to the Gopro 3+ 3D system of old, and I have used that a lot, but definitely needs post processing as well.

If you are willing to put the time into it (and get another battery) and are familiar with cameras and also downloading from an SD card, you will be okay with using it. Having a stabilization gimbal might work if you are not into post processing. Even without a gimbal, a small handheld tripod would be helpful.

Oh, and the sound is weak. You have to turn it all the way up, but you will need post to bring it up to a useful level. Again, I'm still learning, and will try to post some video in a couple of weeks.

Did you perhaps miss the end of my previous post, in which I asked about a refurbished model? Also threed123 mentioned a phone hotspot is required, but I think you mentioned I wouldn't need a phone but only fix my Amazon Fire; do I need a phone or not? And if I do, do I need cell coverage? There was a problem with my credit card and the transaction was only approved ~1 hr ago, so there may still be time to cancel, especially if they only ship during normal business hours.

I--certainly--am not photographer. I don't need the 3D to look even near perfect, I just don't want it to look blurry nor the 3D to be wonky (ie moving back & forth when someone is standing still and is just talking and gesticulating a bit).

I tried to look for a store that sell 3D Gopro system and can't find one, any suggestion? As I just mentioned: There was a problem with my credit card and the transaction was only approved ~1 hr ago, so there may still be time to cancel, especially if they only ship during normal business hours.

Update 1

Although I clicked reply to threed123 for this post, if might not show up and my post from just a few minutes ago I clicked reply to Turbguy1.

You can find the 3+ System on ebay. Here is one. GOPRO Hero 3D 3plus Camera System - complete with 2 cameras | eBay

Thanks. I contacted the seller asking if the listing can be changed to Buy It Now since waiting for the bid to end would be too long. Would any 2 GoPro Hero 3D in a side-by-side case do the trick, or do they need to have the same model # or perhaps even in the same batch (thus also same model #) ?

DynV wrote:

Thanks. I contacted the seller asking if the listing can be changed to Buy It Now since waiting for the bid to end would be too long. Would any 2 GoPro Hero 3D in a side-by-side case do the trick, or do they need to have the same model # or perhaps even in the same batch (thus also same model #) ?

Any two 3+ cameras will work. That said, they will probably be a little off the alignment of the sensors like the EGO,

Attempting to Cancel
Your order is being prepared for shipment. We are attempting to cancel it now. We’ll e-mail you as soon as this status changes.

I may end up with QooCam EGO, which I think would still be a good purchase but I think I'd get more bang for my buck with a 2 x GoPro 3+ kit and I'd probably have an easier time finding batteries for it.

I'm assuming you really don't want to weigh in on the refurbished Feiyu Tech G6 Max I linked (I understand users volunteer information and other users are not entitled to an answers nor comment).

I checked like 30-40 eBay listings and I can't find a combo that will be shipped to Canada on July 17th. I'm starting to think cancelling the QooCam EGO was a mistake. Does someone know where I could find 2 x GoPro 3+ that I'd receive on time?

Update 1

I've been replying to local classified ads. It makes me nervous to purchase as-is when I'm not specialized in testing the item, but what makes me more nervous is missing the event. I'd prefer something online so it has some warranty (ie 30 days), but it needs to be here by the 17th.

Update 2

I've notices some have a square protruding part around the lens while others are round, I'm assuming I can't mix both kinds for the dual case, is that so? If I'd like to mix & match the 2 kinds, I'm assuming I'll need to have individual cases for each and I'll need to have a mount that sets one upside down while both are side-to-side, like one of those 3

, is that so?

Turbguy1 wrote:

I agree with many thing you mention.

That said, you DO NOT NEED a hotspot to use the EGO.

Additionally, the angle-of-view on GoPro's is VERY large compared to the EGO, and the interaxial is smaller, and the physical size of the GoPro "kit" will present difficulties using it on some gimbals.

Yes, you make good points about the Gopro, which I used extensively in Africa in 2016. I made a printed case for it that was very compact. I also created a way to flip the cameras for a wider interaxial. But I found the wider interaxial miniaturized the scene too much. I discussed that on this forum many years ago.

I took several 3D videos using the EGO yesterday. I tried different focus settings and found the landscape setting to the right does 3ft to infinity and works best for overall 3D around the yard shooting. Holding the camera steady is a must. I shot at 60 fps out of the box settings. I had a lot of issues wearing sunglasses, so suggest wearing regular or no glasses when looking at the display. I had a hard time determining when video was on or off based on a little light at the left top of the display, so watch out for that. Stills are really nice, but when pressing the shutter button, I found the camera tends to jerk down as you push. Plus, I find I touch the lenses a lot when just carrying the camera around. Plus getting fingers in the shots.

Seemingly for my previous post, about update 1 you couldn't find anything (online), and for update 2 my assumptions were right.