Two lenses YES, stereo 3D NO ( towards a built-in safety shot)
 

I don't have much use for a 3D camera yet. Maybe later.

What really would be valuable is a two lens camera where one lens is the typical zoom, but the other is a fixed 24mm wide shot set at infinite focus, recording to the same video settings as the main lens, activated simultaneously, running in basic auto.

So no matter how creative or out of focus or blown highlights or crushed shadows I'm operating with the big lens, the little ol' safety shot is chuggin' along, seeing the big picture.

It wouldn't necessarily look like the current 3D cameras. Imagine cutting and pasting an iPhone lens onto the camera somewhere, maybe alongside the big lens or above it. Simple, small, shot saving, butt saving...

Whaddaya think?

Seems the idea is in use Scott, someone said he has a HV20? on wide .. strapped to a bigger cam. Who's doing that?

Cheers.

A wide cover shot is SOP for most productions, especially those involved in any sort of 'one-off' situations. So the idea is valid - my question would go to where the data would be stored? On the same card/tape? On separate files? If you're idea of fail-safe is to be commendable - then really the logical conclusion is that the wide-cover shot is on separate media, in case something happens to the 'close-up' shot or media.

well on any high end camera (usually big) you can add a 2nd consumer level small camera.
(on the accessory shoe for example).
if same brand and using remote , you can even sync recording.

Sharp Electronics - "TwinCam" Camcorder "VL-MX7U" 1992 Ad

Yeah, Sharp did that over a decade ago with their TwinCam; it only records one cam at a time, but allows for transitions between the fixed and zoom lens.

i have done that once for sport event, so you can freely zoom on details while keeping the full view of the game. i used a laser to align the center of picture on both camera.

usefull too for air show, when it is so difficult to track small airplaines on a uniform background.

Oh dear, you can get 20yrs for shining a Laser at airplanes here and in Cal.

Cheers.