Review of LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005 4:3 (9005B) -with Micro 4:3 digital camera (OLYMPUS E-P1)Test report by Uwe Fischer, 2010-02-18 (beta sample) to 2010-05-02 (serial production sample)

SpecificationsLens Type: 3D, parallel viewLens system: 40 mm, f11-22, 2 element, plastic polymer compositeSensor Format: 4:3 and Micro 4:3 format subframe digital SLR sensor - ~ (17.3-18) x (13-13.5) mmDiaphragm: Twin Blade, f11, f16, f22 with click stopsFocus adjustment: Focusing slider continuous from 1.5m to infinity.Focusing range: 1.5m to infinity.Accessory Lens: 58mm filter thread. Maximum outer diameter 86 mm.

Minimum rear lens diameter 44mm. Suitable for wide angle and tele converters.Special Feature: Gives a 4:3 and Micro 4:3 format subframe digital SLR camera 3D capabilities

using normal processing. Retains many of the features of an SLR camera,such as through the lens viewing, auto exposure, TTL flash.Focus coupled Parallax Compensation. Parallax feedback focus aid.

Stereo Base: 90 mm (distance between the two light paths)Digital SLR bodymounts: 2nd generation Loreo SLR mounts available for Olympus / Panasonic Four Thirds

and Micro Four Thirds format. For Canon EOS, Nikon F, Minolta AF / Sony Alpha,Samsung GX / Pentax K APS-C version please visit the 3D Lens in a Cap 9005 -APS-C Specifications page.

Digital SLRcompatibility: Four Thirds digital SLR cameras (Olympus E1, E3, E30, E300, E330, E400, E410,

E500, E510, E520, E620 etc.) and Micro Four Thirds mount digital SLR cameras(Olympus E-P1, E-P2, E-PL1, Panasonic G1, GH1, GF1) are compatible with the 3DLens in a Cap 9005 4:3 (9005B). No adapter is required. The lens ships with a 4:3 orM4:3 mount (2nd generation Loreo mount) as ordered.

Dimensions (4:3): Measured head on facing the lens: W = 165mm, H = 73mm, L = 65mm(including mount)

Dimensions (Micro 4:3):Measured head on facing the lens: W = 165mm, H = 73mm, L = 85mm(including mount)

Body: Lightweight silver-grey plastic body. Fibre reinforced chassis. Hand made.Manual lens, all mechanical parts, no electronics.

Weight (4:3) 170gWeight (Micro 4:3): 190g

3D Lens in a Cap 9005 - 4:3 (LA9005B) Box Set Packing List

3D Lens in a Cap 9005 - 4:3 (Model LA9005B)2 Lens Covers for the frontLens bag with drawstring (provisional)Operation ManualGiftbox for 3D Lens in a Cap 9005 - 4:3Lite 3D ViewerPixi 3D ViewerDeluxe 3D Viewer (Optional)

Unpacking of LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005B (beta sample)

The parcel had to be picked up at customs (has been shipped directly from Hong Kong)The product was very well packedThe lens ships in nice white box

The lens is really huge (much bigger than the regular, analog LOREO „3D Lens in a Cap“)There are nice sample pictures and 3D viewers includedIt also ships with lens covers and a bag (the final shipments also includes a valuable operation manual)

The product is made out of good quality plastics (stable fibre reinforced chassis)The product does have a wide stereo base (~9 cm, a little wider than human 6,5 cm)The unprotected lens mount enables a path for dust (a dangerous lens killer)

Mounting LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005B to Micro 4:3 OLYMPUS E-P1

The lens is not too heavyThere are no electronics in the lensIt enables a good and easy mounting, although there is no „click“, there is a sufficient locking

The LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005(B) fit’s well to the OLYMPUS E-P1It really looks huge (the Micro 4:3 mount increases the length additionally)A long focal length is expected

Although the lens is big, there is no interference with any of the control elements of the cameraIt will be hard to find a camera bag for that lensThe lens color scheme fit’s well to the OLYMPUS E-P1

Hints for use with Micro 4:3 OLYMPUS Pen Camera E-P1

Set the program to manual (M) for best resultsAdjust ISO (400...1600) and shutter (1/30...1/200) manually for best resultsSide note: The mount is not perfectly horizontally aligned (see first results)

An external flash also fits without any interferenceE-P1 and 9005 lens are remarkable „light consumers“, increase ISO setting to overcome that issueWhen using a manual flash adjust to ISO 1600...1800 and shutter 1/30...1/60 for best results

The OLYMPUS original leather case (body) doesn’t cause any interferenceWhen un-mounting the lens, it has to be protected from dust, otherwise the optics will be pollutedSide note: The use of a lens cap for the back end is recommended

First test shots with LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005B + OLYMPUS E-P1

Good pictures are possible even by using a manual flashThere is a very slight misalignment, due to not perfectly horizontally aligned lens mountThe focus coupled parallax compensation system works very well (like real eyes)

Although E-P1 and the 3D lens require a lot of light, in-house pictures also feasible without flash„Steady hands“ are needed, when setting to “slow” shutter speeds of 1/30 ... 1/60Side note: Since the 3D lens acquires a lot of „attraction“, it is easy to take nice pictures

The lens is working perfectly outside, when manually adjusting the shutter speed (program M)The camera can also be set to any “Aperture Priority” program (A or P), but with manual focusOnly the automatic white balance wasn’t working in all cases (in this case it is a camera issue)

During first shots with a beta sample of the LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005B, in certain casesthe right picture tended to be unsharp, while the left picture was always sharpThis has been remarkably improved with the serial production sample (see next pictures)

With the serial production sample of the LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005B, the left and rightpicture are very sharp, when adjusting the focus properlyUnder certain circumstances, there may still be very minor focus difference between right and leftpictures, but without any harm of the stereo result

Fast exposure times enable nice 3D pictures from “moving objects” (e.g. water fountain)The rather small aperture size (11...22) results in a good and long depth of field (see manual)But depending on the aperture setting, it may become important to set the focus properly

The general optical distortion of the lens(es) is very lowThe lens is suitable for rather “huge” motives like buildings and monumentsThe focal length is rather long and not adjustable, so this has to be respected when shooting

A “drawback” for monuments is an advantage for portraitsThe 40 mm focal length enables nice portraits

If the general hints for 3D shooting (see manual) are being respected, the resulting 3Dpicture will give a much more realistic impression of any object compared to 2D onlyThe side effects of “bad” reflections of the internal mirrors are very minor only (negligible)

With the LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005B a picture of a statue will be really “plastic” whenviewing later onHowever, the subject has to be away from the edges for best viewing results

HD videos with LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005B + OLYMPUS E-P1

Since the E-P1 can take HD videos (1280 x 720), the LOREO lens turns it into a real 3D video cameraThe video quality with the loreo lens is fine (just the white balance issue has to be taken into account)Side note: Due to the lens shape, cars are driving remarkably slower, when taking movies at the street ;-)

For best video results, the focus adjustment is very importantDue to the internal focus coupled parallax compensation, it may have an advantage to set the focus toinfinityThis reduces the flare in the center and increases the resulting 3D area (bad example above)The slight mount misalignment of the lens mount can be corrected by some post processing of the video

Post processing of pictures shot with LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005B

Easy conversion of pictures into different viewing options is possible with „StereoPhoto Maker 4“The program is available from http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/The described lens mount „misalignment“ can be easily corrected by using the Auto alignment option

An optional export to a web flash gallery enables a very versatile picture sharingSeveral viewing modes are supported including analglyph and LCD shutterA similar application for videos is also available

Summary

Although the LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005 (4:3 and Micro 4:3 9005B) is very “light consuming”, it is easyto take good and impressive 3D “day light” pictures. An optional flash helps to take “in house” pictures. Thereare almost no annoying reflections, caused by an external flash light. The side effects of “bad” reflections ofthe internal mirrors, when taking day light pictures are very minor only (negligible). Bad ghost images effectscan be avoided when respecting the hints of the operation manual.

Due to the quite long and not adjustable focal length of 40 mm, the lens is almost “tele-zoom” for a Micro 4:3camera. This makes it sometimes difficult to take pictures from persons which are closer than 2...3 m awayfrom the lens. Probably this is a technical compromise because the same lens technology is already used forother camera types (with different CMOS sizes). But once this has been “learned” and adapted by the photo-grapher, this is no longer an issue.

The general optical distortion of the LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005 (4:3 and Micro 4:3 9005B) is very low.The noticed slight mount misalignment, when mounted to an OLYMPUS E-P1 camera, can be easily correc-ted with some postprocessing (e.g. by using the auto alignment option of “StereoPhoto Maker”) for best 3Dresults. However, the 3D pictures can also be print out without any post processing and right away sharedviewed by use of various LOREO 3D viewers.

All-in-all the LOREO 3D Lens in a Cap 9005 (4:3 and Micro 4:3) is a good quality product which producesimpressive and nice 3D pictures and movies when mounted to a Micro 4:3 camera like the OLYMPUS E-P1..With a rather low investment one could turn a regular digital (SLR) camera into a real 3D photo and HDvideo camera. The lens is also very easy to use, and a very valuable accessory for the creation of real lifememories.