“Point and shoot” was a term used to describe cameras in a day where taking a good picture often required skill and focusing.  This has often been the case in 3D scanning, to get quality you needed the mechanical or software equivalent of a manual focus.  The new Fuel3D scanner allows users to quickly capture objects without sacrificing quality.  The goal is to create, “A handheld 3D scanner…most independent game developers, designers and artists can afford.”  Sure there are a few other “point and shoot” scanners like the XBox Kinect, but not with this type of quality for under $1,000.  This could be for video games and animation what handheld HD cameras were for film, taking what was normally reserved for the big budget projects and making it available for everyone.

The company is currently rolling out its first batch of equipment through a Kickstarter campaign.  I know Kickstarter often equals vaporware, but I think you’ll agree with one glance at the page that these guys have it together with an already viable product.  The detail on the sample scans is amazing!

Checkout their Kickstarter page and you can be one of the first to have it!