HDTV News

Last week, Panasonic announced the first consumer 3D camcorder, the HDC-SDT750 (Camcorderinfo.com just published the first hands-on preview today). The significance isn't so much the existence of a 3D camcorder, but that Panasonic managed to beat everyone else to the punch. After all, four manufacturers – Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, and LG – all have 3D TVs already on the market, and all but LG also happen to manufacturer a wide range of camcorders and cameras. Panasonic is first out the gate, but you can be sure others will follow. So is this the dawn of the new 3D revolution that the electronics companies want so badly?

The short answer is, probably not. As quickly as the promise of a rosy, 3D future was being painted, a backlash had taken place. James Cameron's Avatar showcased the best of what could be done with 3D, followed by a bevy of truly terrible movies with 3D post-processing forced upon them. Critics revolted and audiences stayed home. The first-generation home 3D TVs were a fun novelty, but expensive and far less immersive than their theatrical counterparts. Then Gizmodo ran an article last week asking the question 'Is 3D Already Dying?' The headline was surely meant to inject some shock value, but it's a valid point. The real question is whether electronics companies and Hollywood pushed too much too soon, rather than letting an infrastructure and media library build up slowly over time.

With the introduction of the Panasonic HDC-SDT750, it's possible that consumers can now have the complete ecosystem for capturing, then watching 3D video, but will anyone bite? At minimum, the cost for such a system is around $3400 ($1999 for the LG 47LX6500 HDTV and $1399 for the SDT750 camcorder) – not exactly cheap. And to be frank, we didn't care for the LG 47LX6500, so let's trade that out for the next cheapest, the Samsung UN40C7000 HDTV, retailing for $2499. That makes for a grand total of $3900. Sure, you love your kid's birthday parties, but that $200 point & shoot camera and the TV you already own are looking pretty attractive right now, aren't they?

Panasonic's speed in getting the HDC-SDT750 to shelves will certainly help to solidify a reputation as the 3D market leaders. In Televisioninfo.com evaluations of the current 3D TVs, the Panasonic TC-P50VT20 was far and away the best '3D experience,' though it was by no means a perfect TV. Only time will tell if 3D is destined to become another industry 'Betamax' tale.

Read the exclusive first impressions review of the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 camcorder at Camcorderinfo.com.