Gadget Review: Carl Zeiss Cinemizer
Carl Zeiss are better known as a high-end manufacturer of lenses which grace some of Sony’s finest cameras. They’ve taken their precision pedigree and applied it to these HD OLED (Organic light-emitting diode) video goggles which are designed to simulate a 40in screen from a 2 metre distance.
This effect is achieved by two mini OLED displays, one for each eye, each with a 870x500 pixels resolution. When I’ve tried less sophisticated models by other manufacturers, I ended up getting a headache from watching two postage stamp-sized screens perched on my nose that never really merged into one. I didn’t have high hopes for the Cinemizer. The sample I tested was hooked up to an iPhone using the optional iPod/iPhone adapter dock, but out of the box the Cinemizer can be connected to practically any TV, games console or PC with a HDMI connection. Thankfully, I didn’t need to double up and wear my normal glasses as the focus adjustment dials took care of my shortsightedness.
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Hide AdThe demo video on the iPhone was a 3D movie of a rollercoaster ride, and the effect was nothing short of mindblowing. It did genuinely feel like I was a loner in my darkened personal cinema. While this may not be something to aspire to socially, in gadget terms this was a technological triumph. While the price of £525 will confine the Cinemizer to gadget diehards, it is the most immersive virtual experience I’ve had to date.
Carl Zeiss Cinemizer, £525 from www.amazon.co.uk; for more information see http://cinemizer.zeiss.com