n. The right lens on a pair of passive 3D glasses blocks the odd lines while the left lens blocks the even lines. Each eye therefore sees a slightly different image simultaneously, creating the illusion of one three-dimensional image.
The table below compares the features of active and passive 3D, including the glasses, image quality, and compatibility.
Features |
Active |
Passive |
|---|---|---|
|
Glasses |
The glasses are relatively heavy, expensive, and battery-operated. |
The glasses are lightweight, inexpensive, and require no batteries. |
|
Image Quality |
Full resolution is viewable with active glasses, but the image is slightly dimmed due to the lenses’ quick blocking of light during shuttering. |
Resolution is cut in half (1080p becomes 540p) with passive glasses because each lens polarizes half of the pixel lines. Image artifacts are sometimes present, but there is no loss in brightness. |
|
Pricing |
Active technology is comparable to passive technology, but the glasses are more expensive. |
Passive technology is less expensive due to the low cost of glasses. |
Both active and passive 3D technologies have their benefits and limitations, but they do provide the kind of 3D entertainment experience that used to only be available in movie theaters. Both technologies are suitable, so it comes down to personal preference when deciding between active and passive 3D.
Three-dimensional technology is still relatively new to television. It is an exciting development in home entertainment, but there are still some limitations to it that may give consumers pause as to whether now is the right time to invest in a 3D TV or whether it is best to stick with a 2D high-definition TV for their next purchase. There is no need to sacrifice the standard features of 2D HD in buying a 3D set, as all of these features are still available on 3D TVs. It is more of a matter of deciding whether the 3D technology is currently good enough to satisfy demands as a viewer and whether it is therefore worth the extra expense of having this feature on a television. This section discusses the availability of 3D content and the cost of having the technology on a TV, helping readers to determine if it is presently a good time to invest in a 3D TV.
In order to watch content in 3D, whether it is a movie or a television program, the content must be designed for 3D viewing. At this point, the availability of 3D content is still relatively limited, but it is growing. More and more films are becoming available in 3D on Blu-ray Disc, and television channels are broadcasting more of their programming in 3D as well. It is currently possible to watch sports in 3D, and there are some channels that broadcast exclusively in 3D. While much television content may not be available in 3D, the selection is steadily growing. Some 3D televisions even have a feature that converts 2D to 3D, even if the program is not broadcast in 3D. Though the 3D quality may not be as vivid as when the content is designed for 3D, this conversion can still offer an acceptable three-dimensional viewing experience. All of this is indicative of an industry-wide effort to make 3D a more common feature of the home entertainment experience, which is a good reason to invest in bringing the technology into a home now.
3D TVs were significantly more expensive than 2D HDTVs without the technology when they first hit the market. Since then, prices have dropped significantly and it is possible to buy a brand-new 1080p 3D TV with a screen size over 40 inches for a very affordable price. In fact, pricing is coming close enough to 2D HDTVs that it is worth the expense for a TV with the 3D feature. The added cost of active 3D glasses can still be an issue, though, especially if a whole family wants to watch the TV together. Four pairs of active 3D glasses can cost a good chunk of money on their own. Passive 3D, on the other hand, uses inexpensive glasses, making the cost of outfitting a family with them negligible.
There are a number of different places where it is possible to buy 3D TVs. Retail stores that specialize in home entertainment equipment, or at least have a section of the store that is dedicated to home entertainment equipment, are good places to purchase. These stores often stock a good selection of 3D TVs, and the employees that work at these locations can often provide helpful information about the TVs and 3D technology to customers. The bigger the store is, the larger the stock of 3D TVs that they will usually have on hand.
Those who are looking for the broadest possible selection of 3D TVs may wish to shop online instead of at a traditional brick and mortar store, however. Online retailers of 3D TVs generally have large stocks of these TVs and customers can make purchase orders any time of day or night and from anywhere they have an Internet connection, which makes shopping online for a 3D TV very convenient. Although there are generally no employees on hand to explain the features of 3D TVs to customers, online retailers do generally provide detailed product descriptions to help customers make informed decisions about their purchases.
Although 3D technology is relatively new to televisions, it may be possible to purchase a used 3D TV via classified ads. There are entire classified ad websites that are designed to help buyers and sellers arrange local, in-person transactions and it is possible to find used 3D TVs on these websites. Buyers who are looking to use this channel to purchase a used 3D TV should remember that sellers found there are generally not home entertainment equipment sales professionals, and buyers should therefore exercise a degree of caution.
Those who are looking online for a broad selection of 3D TVs may want to visit eBay . They will be able to find a large stock of 3D TVs there that they can easily search through to find the 3D TVs they want. Furthermore, many sellers on eBay offer free shipping on 3D TVs, which can save buyers a great deal of money on their purchases, which can be even more important when buying large ticket items like 3D TVs.
You can start your search for 3D TVs on eBay at the site’s homepage . Once there, select TV , Audio & Surveillance from the Electronics menu. On the next page, choose the Televisions option to bring up all of the televisions for sale on eBay. You can then sort this list by televisions that have 3D technology.
The 3D Features menu offers options for Active 3 D Technology, Passive 3D Technology, 2 D to 3 D Conversion, and Built - In 3D Transmitters. After you choose the specific 3D technology you want, you can then filter for other features, such as screen size and resolution. If you choose active 3D, for example, you can then see televisions with a screen size between 50"-60" by choosing that option from the Screen Size menu, and a maximum resolution of 1080p by choosing that option from the Max. Resolution menu. You can also see which sellers include 3 D glasses by choosing 3D Glasses Included from the Additional Features menu.
One great feature of eBay is that it is easy to find sellers there who offer free shipping on 3D TVs. If you want to save money by getting free shipping on an active 3D TV with a screen size between 50"-60", filter for 3D TVs with those features by following the directions in the previous section and then select the Free shipping option from the Show only menu. This will display all of the sellers who are offering free shipping on these TVs, helping you save money to buy glasses with which to watch.
3D TVs are the latest frontier in the quest to bring the movie theater experience into the home. While 3D technology in televisions has some room for improvement, it still impresses a great many people with the viewing quality that it provides. There are a few different 3D technologies to choose from, with active 3D and passive 3D being the main categories. One is not necessarily better than the other is, and both do require some sacrifice in quality from the 2D images they display, so it comes down to personal preference when deciding between the technologies. Both do a very good job with regard to creating a 3D experience, though. In addition to comparing the two predominant 3D TV technologies, this guide has detailed the availability of 3D content, which is another important factor in deciding whether it is the right time to bring a 3D TV into a home. Cost is an additional consideration, though price points have reached the point where it is well worthwhile to have 3D as an available feature on a TV. 3D has always seemed like the future, but when it comes to 3D TV, the future is now.