Three-Dimensional Cinematography: A Flexible Approach

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop a procedure for three-dimensional cinematography in which 2 or more cameras could be placed in any position with the only restrictions that a common origin point must be in the field of view and that the optical axes should intersect. Each desired point lies on a line defined by the nodal point of the lens and the projection point. The projection point lies on a plane which is parallel to the film plane, perpendicular to the optical axis, and contains the common origin point. Two lines so defined, 1 from each camera, theoretically intersect at the desired point. The positions of two 35-mm Nikon cameras with 50-mm Nikkor lenses were determined with the use of a transit and were relative to an arbitrary Cartesian coordinate system. To validate the procedure a 17-point coordinate grid, two 8-point concentric circles and the origin were drawn on the floor. A plump bob was suspended over each point with markers at each foot level up to 4 ft. A Vanguard film ana...