GunMetal Industries is proud to announce two new ground-breaking 3D camera products with the release of the GunMetal Pipe Bomb 3D Camera System.

Pipe Bomb is a professional HD-based 3D camera system that uses distinct dual-camera (left eye/right eye) recording in an extraordinarily small package. Pipe Bomb cameras are a major contrast to very complicated–and very expensive–3D cameras on the market today. Presently, there are over a dozen manufacturers of 3D rigs for cameras such as RED Digital Cinema, Silicon Imaging, and other camera sensors. There are also manufacturers creating integrated 3D camera systems such as Sony and Panasonic.

Due to the complexity and expense of these systems, there are limitations which are automatically imposed when shooting certain subjects in 3D. With wires and attachments coming everywhere off the cameras, these costly solutions can present barriers to shooting quality 3D in these situations and environments:

* Situations that pose environmental hazards to the camera operator or camera equipment
* Filming that requires multiple expensive 3D camera setups
* Shoots requiring fast deployment and breakdown
* Academic environments that need multiple 3D production systems for student training
* Shoots requiring deployment by non-stereo production personnel

For producers looking to strap a traditional 3D camera to a skydiver–traditional cables can present a massive safety issue to operators. Shooters of a pit change at a race track from a dozen angles are challenged because most 3D budgets don’t allow for even two cameras, let alone twelve. For many schools, the budget required for a 3D camera along with a qualified post production system would make 3D completely out of reach.

Pipe Bomb was created and patented (U.S. patent pending) by GunMetal to address these issues. Pipe Bomb is not a replacement for more expensive 3D camera systems–it is a complement to them. Pipe Bomb allows crews to deploy multiple 3D cameras in locations that would otherwise present significant production challenges–while keeping production value high and budgeted costs low.

GunMetal christened these little units “Pipe Bombs” because they are very small compared to other 3D systems, but pack a big punch by shooting 3D in HD up to 60 FPS. Based on the Contour HD camera platform, Pipe Bomb 3D systems are small enough to fit anywhere. With up to five 1/4-20 mounts on each system, Pipe Bombs can be mounted virtually anywhere. Pipe Bombs are simple to operate: power up and slide the RECORD buttons forward and you are shooting 3D–its that simple. They offer powerful modularity: each camera (left eye or right eye) can be replaced if damaged or disabled–something that is either not possible with other 3D systems, or not practical due to cost.

Finally, Pipe Bombs are a huge value and come in two different configurations. Pipe Bomb CQB (“Close Quarters”) is a two-camera system for $2795. Pipe Bomb CQB is intended for shoots such as vehicle interiors, rooms, and close-in action sports. Pipe Bomb XL is a 3-camera system for $3495 that adds a third camera for additional flexibility in production and post-production. Pipe Bomb CQB system includes the following:

* One (1) GunMetal 3D Aircraft-Grade Housing (35mm IO) (black anodized)
* Two (2) Contour GPS HD Camera Systems
* Two (2) Contour Bluetooth Cards for iOS Viewfinder
* Four (4) High-Capacity Li-Ion Battery Packs
* Two (2) Battery Charging Systems
* Two (2) 16 GB MicroSD Cards
* One (1) Apple iPod Touch 8GB as wireless viewfinder
* One (1) iPod Touch Mounting System
* One (1) Pelican 1400 Waterproof Case (interior customized fit)
* One (1) 3D Processing Software

Pipe Bomb XL is the same configuration as Pipe Bomb CQB, but the housing is slotted for more cameras (three cameras are included in the Pipe Bomb XL kit as well as an additional battery and charger.) Because of the capability of using more than one camera, Pipe Bomb XL allows operators to mount 3D systems to vehicles where the distances between the camera and the objects being shot dynamically change–such as racing events. Having three camera viewpoints in post-production provides a level of 3D flexibility that other cameras can’t match.

GunMetal housings are constructed of aircraft-grade rust-proof aluminum that will stand up to the roughest usage. Pipe Bomb housings are CNC milled and anodized right here in the USA. Because 3D production benefits from high-precision, our housings are milled accurately to within thousandths of an inch. Pipe Bomb CQB has imagers spaced at precisely 35mm center-to-center of the left and right image sensors. Pipe Bomb XL has imagers spaced at precisely 35mm, 70mm, and 105mm center-to-center of the image sensors.

“When I first saw the Pipe Bomb camera system, I was blown away” said Davis-based SkyDance SkyDiving senior skydiving instructor Nick Armstrong.

“I’ve been jumping and instructing for years–and we’ve never seen anything like GunMetal’s Pipe Bomb.” Armstrong added “Not only are these units fun to use, but they are very compact and fit perfectly on our dive helmets. We found that using Pipe Bomb cameras was no different from using any other existing camera hardware which we’d use to film our jumps. From a safety standpoint, all of our skydivers who used the Pipe Bomb on their jumps felt very comfortable, and that the systems presented minimal hazard during operations. Watching our jumps in 3D has been incredible–we’ve never shot in 3D before, so getting perfect footage the first time out was amazing.”

“We’re thrilled to see the Pipe Bomb hit the market” said GunMetal CEO Chad J. Cruchley. “We’ve already seen some fantastic footage during our tests, and we’re very excited to see the various ways users will implement these new cameras.” Cruchley adds “As an indie film producer myself, I was shocked to see how much 3D production and post-production can cost. With the release of the Pipe Bomb 3D camera system, we have the capability to put a significant amount of dollars back into the budgets of the production community.”

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