Claimed to be a first for digital interchangeable lens cameras, the 3D optic will go on sale later this year, in a bid to tap into the growth in 3D-enabled televisions – a market that Panasonic is already heavily in with its Viera TV sets.

Panasonic hasn’t yet revealed any specifications for the lens, which we asume is primarilly intended for video capture, but a statement released today went some way towards explaining how its approach differs from current 3D capture systems.

“Until now, 3D shooting with an interchangeable lens system camera has only been possible by using panorama systems or a combination of two lenses and two CCDs, but these systems have drawbacks including the need for a dedicated 3D camera and the difficulties of capturing moving objects.

“Panasonic's new 3D lens for the Lumix G micro system features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses, to be processed with a 3D image processing system. Thanks to Panasonic's advancements in optical technology, image processing system, and lens barrel design, the 3D lens still manages to retain an extremely compact size.

“This new compact 3D-capable interchangeable lens allows easier handling and instant 3D shooting, producing 3D images without distortion or time lag between left and right images, even for moving objects.”

Pricing has yet to be announced for Panasonic's 3D lens, and it says it will only reveal which cameras will be compatible nearer the time of release, indicating it might only work with the company’s own Micro Four Thirds devices.

Fujifilm introduced the first 3D camera a year ago. The FinePix Real 3D W1 features a newly developed “Real 3D Lens System”, unveiled at the Photokina trade show in 2008, and uses two Fujinon lenses to capture two pictures almost simultaneously, then combine them to create a 3D image. An in-camera processor synchronises the data from the two lenses and two CCD sensors, and determines shooting conditions such as focus, brightness and tonality to blend this information into a single, symmetrical image for both stills and movies.

But Fujifilm’s first foray into 3D photography didn’t create the buzz expected, largely because users had to buy a 3D-enabled screen or order 3D prints from Japan to enjoy their images.

Earlier this year, Sony – which is also invested in 3D TV sets, and cruciually, is also involved in producing 3D films – revealed that its new range of NEX micro cameras can shoot 3D.

Christian Brown, a senior product manager for Sony’s consumer electronics division, told BJP that, “The 3D technology relies on our sweep-panorama technology,” referring to a feature first introduced to its Cybershot point-and-shoot cameras last year, which automatically stitches together several photos taken as the users pan the camera horizontally or vertically across a scene.

Brown said Sony chose to use that technology to enable 3D photography because “the camera records a series of images that are close to one another”. This allows the camera’s processing engine to take two images that were shot within milliseconds of each other – pulling one image for the left eye, the other for the right eye – and combine them to create a 3D image. “Otherwise, you would need a camera with two sensors and two lenses".

It will become available this month, after a firmware update that will include Nvidia’s 3D image processing software, and the introduction of the 3D Vision Photo Viewer. Brown says he hopes to see the 3D capabilities of the NEX cameras trickle down to other product lines, although that’s unlikely to include its professional digital SLRs.

Nintendo is also making a foray into 3D photography. In 2011, the Japanese gaming firm will release its Nintendo 3DS console, which sports two outward facing stereoscopic lenses with a resolution of 0.3 megapixel. Both cameras are capable of taking images of up to 640×480 pixels, and, when combined, will create 3D images viewable on the console’s 3.53-inch top screen – the Nintendo 3DS also has a 3.02-inch bottom touch screen.

But the console’s greatest strength resides in the fact that players won’t need glasses to view 3D images. The screen uses parallax technology, which, when the player is positioned in front of the console, broadcasts one image to the left eye and another to the right one. Nintendo says the console will also support 3D movies released by Disney, Dreamworks and Warner Brothers, and will play a wide range of 3D games.

Current 3D technologies are limited to the amateur market, with no plans from any of the camera manufacturers to develop it for the professional market. That’s largely down to the fact that 3D photos are only be viewable on 3D-enabled screens and, until 3D television becomes more widespread, 3D photography is unlikely to take off.

It’s the classic chicken-and-egg struggle, says Michael Cai, vice president of research at Interpret, a market analysis firm. But Sony, along with its competitors, is confident that the technology will gather momentum. Sony expects 40% of British TV sets to be 3D friendly by 2014. However, scientists at the Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute believe that by 2015 3D LCD televisions will be available without the need for expensive viewing glasses, rendering today’s crop of 3D televisions obsolete.