TAIPEI—Intrigued by glasses-free 3D? The Acer SpatialLabs Eyes Stereo Camera (ASEC-1), introduced this week at Computex, is a compact stereoscopic camera that records 3D video and still images that can be rendered in immersive 3D. It fully integrates with the SpatialLabs lineup of products such as the Acer SpatialLabs View ASV15-1B display and Acer Predator Helios 300 Spatial Labs Edition laptop. We got a chance to try it out.
Acer had a huge Lego setup that the camera was transmitting into streams for SpatialView monitors around the demo room. The streaming view was excellent and looked striking on the glasses-free 3D monitor transmitted from the camera.
(Credit: Mark Stetson)With 8 megapixels of resolution per eye, a built-in selfie mirror, and a weatherproof exterior, the pocket-size SpatialLabs Eyes is a great companion for capturing moments in daily life that you want to play back as if you were there. Its carefully calibrated lens alignment and advanced optical system let users photograph subjects with greater 3D depth and detail. Photo and video resolution is up to 7,680 by 2,160 pixels, with resolution up to 3,840 by 2,160 in stereo webcam mode. Still images are saved as JPEGs, and video in MP4 format. All this is possible through the twin lenses on the front face.
The SpatialLabs Eyes is equipped with auto and touch focus capabilities, as well as electronic image stabilization. More seasoned photographers will appreciate the option for manual mode, which provides flexibility to calibrate ISO, white balance, and shutter speed settings.
(Credit: Mark Stetson)The camera’s outer material is glossed with a shale black coat, while its lens cap and selfie mirror enclosures are layered with aluminum lining. The Acer SpatialLabs Eyes Stereo Camera has received the prestigious 2024 Red Dot and iF Design Awards. We found the design to resemble that of a high-end old-school point and shoot, but in this case with two side-by-side lenses.
Realtime 3D Streaming and Video Calls
In addition to capturing images and video, the SpatialLabs Eyes 3D Camera enables real-time 3D streaming and storytelling, letting users share their 3D content live on YouTube and other streaming platforms with a new Acer SpatialLabs Player 3.0. Video chatting should be available as early as Q3 through the SpatialLabs video call widget, which enables 3D video conferencing on apps such as Teams (1080p), Zoom (720p), and Google Meet (1080p), with customizable depth features available to add more layers of realism during calls.
We tried a locally hosted video call between ourselves and an Acer rep on site. Playback was smooth, and the glasses-free 3D on the monitor end was stunning...if you were in the viewing sweet spot. (Decidely, glasses-free 3D is not a shared experience.)
(Credit: Mark Stetson)Whether users are reviewing content on Acer SpatialLabs laptops or displays, VR/AR headsets, or even 3D projectors, the SpatialLabs Eyes helps present the richness and impact of their 3D content as intended. The camera also comes with a downloadable gallery feature so users can view their 3D portfolio.
Acer SpatialLabs Eyes Stereo Camera (ASEC-1) will be available in Q3, starting at $549.