Gunnar Optiks Midnight 3D Eyeglasses Review – Ready For TRON Legacy 3D

Gunnar 3D – RealD Certified

The Gunnar Midnight 3D glasses came packed in a very stylish and unique box that highlights the Gunnar lens technology on the back. Gunnar packs the glasses with a microfiber cloth carrying case. For this price, I was hoping for at least a more solid form-fitting case, but oh, well. The glasses are a solid 8 ounces and when you compare them to the ones they give you in the theater, it is almost laughable. The throw-away 3D glasses that we obtained from two different RealD theaters were exactly alike and look to be mass produced which is certainly understandable.

We took a field trip to L.A. Lives Regal Cinemas to see see Tron: Legacy in Digital 3D and test our Gunnar Midnight 3D glasses. We started off watching the previews with both the Gunnar and theater-provided glasses. I basically had one pair on my head and would alternate watching the various scenes and they appeared. With about 15 minutes of 3D previews it was a good way to see the difference the dramatic differences between the optics. The plastic theater glasses worked and the wearer could see the 3D effect, but the Gunnar Midnights made the picture jump out at you. The picture was so much clearer as well. My friends who were with me kept complaining about the fit of their ‘freebie’ glasses. I was extremely comfortable with the Gunnar Midnight’s.

By the time Tron: Legacy got started, I had made up my mind that I would never watch any future 3D movie at the theater without a set of Gunnar Optiks 3D glasses on. The clarity and the brightness level was far and away better than the throw-away theater glasses. During both bright and dark action sequences the theater glasses tended to have a ghosting effect making the action on the screen seem a little blurry. I can note this now since I essentially was doing an A/B test with the glasses and saw how huge difference was.

Today, there is an ongoing debate on which stereoscopic theater technique is the best. Is Active that much better than passive? Is it better to have circular polarization or linear? Gunnar has thrown their hat into the ring against heavyweights such as Oakley and XpanD in a bit to become king of the 3D peripheral. The one thing that sets itself apart from their competition is their styling. They all make solid optics and are head and shoulders above anything that you get for free at the movie theater. However, Gunnar has that cool factor that oozes with style. When you see the Gunnar Midnight 3D glasses on the table next to the Oakley 3D GASCAN glasses, your hand goes for the Gunnar because they look so good.

For those that think all of this is just a fad and all of this talk about 3D will disappear like Beanie Babies or Talking Elmo, just remember only 4 years ago we were seeing 3-4 major 3D feature releases a year from movie studios. In 2010, we had close to 30 3D releases! Every major studio and post-production house in Hollywood has adopted 3D stereoscopic imaging in one form or another. In the science sector NASA uses 3D stereoscopic imaging and visualization for R&D, and navigation of their Mars rovers, not to mention NASAs work in 3D planetary visualization. The military is even using 3D technology to create environments for flight, driving and operation simulations.

Of course 3D is coming to your house as well. All major television and home electronics producers such as Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Phillips, and Vizio are tripping over themselves to grab a chunk of the the 3D market. Even makers of computer monitors and peripherals like Dell, Viewsonic, NVIDIA, AMD/ATI have a huge push to get their foot in the door.

Does all of this mean you need to go out this Christmas and plunk down your $150 for Gunnars Midnight 3D glasses? Of course not. Unless you are in the business of creating stereoscopic images in entertainment, business, or government, Id say you might want to wait for prices to come down a bit. If you want to enjoy your 3D movie experience the way directors like James Cameron (Avatar) or Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy) intended, then yes, by all means pick up a pair. For those of you who are looking for 3D compatible glasses for the home, you can look at Gunnars Attach priced around $99. Right now, with the purchase of any Gunnar 3D eyewear, Gunnar and Disney are giving you a free ticket to Tron: Legacy in 3D. Gunnar even throws in a 1-year limited warranty like all of their other glasses.

Legit Bottom Line:
The Gunnar Optiks Midnight 3D eyewear is the top of the line stereoscopic glasses designed for RealD theaters. While the price is steep, these glasses enhances a film like Tron: Legacy even more when viewed in 3D. Gunnar continues their tradition of making glasses that are not only functional to the wearer but makes them look good while doing it.