Canon dual fisheye lens for stereoscopic 3D 180° VR 8K capture

GaryPageau , ,
Canon RF5.2mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye lens

Canon U.S.A., Inc., introduced the RF5.2mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye lens, bringing stereoscopic 3D virtual reality (VR) capture to the EOS R5 camera as part of the EOS VR System, which also includes a future firmware update for the EOS R5 camera to support the use of this lens with new VR shooting specific functions. The company claims the lens is the first digital interchangeable dual fisheye lens capable of shooting stereoscopic 3D 180-degree VR imagery to a single image sensor. The Canon RF5.2mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye lens is scheduled to be available in late December 2021 for an estimated retail price of $1,999.00

“At Canon, we innovate so creators can push artistic boundaries, and this commitment to innovation is what led us to introduce the new RF5.2mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye lens. As Canon’s first entry into the world of virtual reality image capture, the EOS VR System represents an important milestone in our company’s rich history as a lens manufacturer and welcomes a bright future for VR content creation,” said Tatsuro “Tony” Kano, executive vice president and general manager of Canon U.S.A.’s Imaging Technologies & Communications Group. “This new RF lens produces a stunning 8K virtual reality image and sets itself apart through its simplified workflow. Our goal is to make immersive storytelling more accessible for all.”

The RF5.2mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye features L-series optics engineered with an interpupillary distance of 60mm for delivery of 3D imagery in VR with natural parallax closely resembling human vision when viewed through a compatible headset, like the Oculus Quest 2. tjhe comany said. The dual fisheye design provides versatile exposure control with a maximum aperture of a bright f/2.8 to a deep depth of field of f/16 with electronically-controlled apertures allowing the dual fisheye lens to operate just like other RF mount lenses.  Canon’s free Camera Connect app and Canon’s EOS Utility program both will be updated in the future to offer remote-control live view functionality for monitoring purposes while on-the-go.

Additional features of the stereoscopic 3D 180° VR 180 lens include:

  • Close-focusing distance of 7.87-inches/0.2m is possible – max magnification is 0.03x.
  • Aperture range of f/2.8 to f/16 with a 7-blade aperture and simultaneous electromagnetic diaphragm for both left and right lenses.
  • Built-in Gelatin Filter Holder – allows ND gel filters to be used in bright environments if a bright aperture is desired.
  • Fluorine Coating on the front lens elements, with a dust and water resistant design.
  • Extremely compact size – allowing it to be used in different types of productions.