3D Cameras vs 3D TVs?

Getting a 3D TV right now is silly. There's a serious lack of content, and the "right" way to do 3D — at least for the general consumer — hasn't even been invented yet. It'll get better over the next few years, but there's one area where 3D is good right now: cameras.

3D TVs had a respectable enough consumer adoption rate last year and companies such as Sony and Samsung are making predictions for this growth to expand from one million units to six or seven million this year. Shelving the argument of relevance for a moment, let's look at what we have here, thanks to the introduction of 3D cameras: the ability to show 3D footage on a beautiful big TV and shoot your own, too. For less than $5,000, one trip to the store and you're all set.

Sony is committed to 3D more than any other exhibitor at CES, and it makes a lot of sense considering the company produces everything from TVs and cameras to the PlayStation 3 (with tons of upcoming 3D games) and more — in short, Sony can roll out 3D on many more levels than, say, a company that only manufacturers television sets. For example, Sony is even rolling 3D features into its inexpensive Bloggie lineup, but also into the dazzling new HDR-TD10 (pictured), which is a fully featured 1080p 3D beast. Its viewfinder is goggle-free 3D, so the effects are more apparent while filming.

Think about how much fun skateboarding movies would be in 3D — or dogs skateboarding in 3D!

Getting a 3D camera is smart for a few reasons. First, if you've got a 3DTV already, making your own content for it seems like the best way to celebrate the technology you've invested in. Second, even if you don't have one, there's a million people out there who do, and there's not a lot of content for them.

3D is fun. Get shooting it now, get good and by the time YouTube is hosting 3D content, you'll already be a pro.