Affordable 3D Gear: From HDTVs to Camcorders to Graphics Boards

Price: $550

If you're not dead set on having a ginormous television, Vizio's 32-inch 1080p Class Theater 3D LCD HDTV (E3D320VX) should do just fine. This Internet-connected 3D HDTV is ready to entertain with preloaded apps, built-in Wi-Fi, and two pairs of Vizio passive 3D glasses. At $550, it's a bit pricey for a 32-inch HDTV; but for a 3D-enabled set, it's a steal.

Price: $250

Once you have a 3D HDTV, you need a way to shoot your own 3D videos. Enter the Sony 3D Bloggie ($250), a tiny, affordable camcorder with dual lenses and a glasses-free 3D display. The Bloggie features 8GB of internal storage, which can hold 4 hours of HD video (in 2D mode); it comes equipped with a 4X digital zoom, 5-megapixel still capture, and a flip-out USB connector. The Bloggie goes on sale in April for $250.

Price: $220

For still 3D photos, the 16.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX9 ($220) delivers three different 3D shooting modes: Still 3D; Sweep Panorama, which allows you to use a single shot to capture a 3D image that is viewable on a 3D-enabled screen; and 3D Sweep Multi Angle, which spits back an illusion of 3D that you can view on the camera's screen by tilting the device back and forth.

Price: $210

As the 3D trend makes its way to the PC--with video, FPS games, and images--you may be itching to update your rig with a 3D graphics bocard. If so, consider the AMD Radeon HD 6870, a budget-friendly midrange video card with 3D support. Currently selling for around $210, the HD 6870 implements AMD's HD3D, which also supports the Open Stereo 3D Initiative.

Price: $390

Taking 3D still photos is for kids. If you want to up the ante and shoot real 3D video, you'll need the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3 point-and-shoot camera. The W3 has one advantage over the Sony Bloggie: It has a resolution of 10 megapixels, which translates into better still photos. The W3 also has two lenses and a glasses-free display for previewing 3D shooting.

Price: $750

Get ready to pull out your 3D Blu-ray disc of Avatar and experience eye-popping 3D on a budget with the Panasonic Viera GT25 Plasma 3D HDTV line. The GT25 series, a slight improvement on the G25 series, has comparable 3D quality to the more expensive Sony Bravia 40HX800. The 42-inch model in the GT25 series is currently going for as low as $750 online--a pretty good deal, considering that even non-3D 42-inch sets usually set buyers back $1000+.

Price: $250

The latest iteration of Nintendo's handheld console line is the 3DS, which delivers authentic, glasses-free 3D gameplay. The 3DS comes with all of your favorite DS features--dual touchscreens, 2GB of installed storage, and a stylus. Sure, it's a little pricier than other Nintendo handhelds (the Nintendo DS Lite currently sells for about $90, and you can find the Nintendo DSi for $140), but an extra $100 isn't too bad for glasses-free 3D.

Price: $899

Samsung's PN51D490 HDTV may not seem all that cheap, but $899 is a great price for an HDTV with a 51-inch screen. The Plasma 490 series supports 3D playback and has a feature that allows you to convert 2D content into a 3D-like picture. The excellent price does reflect one compromise: The PN51D490 HDTV has a native resolution of 720p, not 1080p.

Price: $180 to $210

The GeForce GTX 465 is Nvidia's response to consumer demand for a budget-friendly 3D graphics board. When it debuted, this board cost $270, but you can find it online today for as little as $180. The GeForce GTX 465 can decode your 3D Blu-ray discs, so you can watch 3D HDTV on your small screen as well as on your big screen.

Price: $330

Sony's newest waterproof, dust-proof, shockproof, and freeze-proof single-lens point-and-shoot camera is also 3D capable. Like other Sony point-and-shoot models, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10 has three different 3D shooting modes, all of which utilize one lens: two panoramic modes, and a single-shot 3D mode. This camera is excellent for the intrepid users who want to record their adventures in 3D form.

Price: $145

You can't play back 3D Blu-ray discs on your 3D HDTV unless you have a 3D-capable Blu-ray disc player (or a PlayStation 3). The Sony BDP-S370 is an older Blu-ray disc player model that was updated more than a year ago to gain 3D capabilities. Today, this budget-friendly option sells online for as low as $145--cheaper than a lot of regular, non-3D Blu-ray disc players.

Price: $2 (HoloToy) and $5 (Flight Control)

Apple's coveted iPad (and now, iPad 2) may not technically qualify as a 3D device, but that hasn't stopped app developers from trying to treat it like one. Flight Control HD ($4.99) features a fully playable 3D version of the game, with a catch: It uses anaglyph 3D images, which means that you'll need a pair of retro red-and-blue 3D glasses to see the 3D effect. HoloToy ($1.99), on the other hand, simulates 3D by creating perspective based on the angle at which you hold your iPad.

Price: $6 to $20

Matinee showings at your local movie theater are still the best way to experience 3D technology without making a big-purchase commitment. You won't save a lot, but matinee pricing can trim a few bucks off the price of each ticket. In Boston, prices for 3D movies vary between $8 and $13, depending on the movie's screening time. As for the ridiculously absurd prices at the theater's concession stand, you're on your own: Sure, the popcorn is truly 3D, but $11.50 for a large bucket? Ouch!.

A slew of big-name 3D movies will be coming out this summer, including Kung Fu Panda 2, The Green Lantern, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Thor, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

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