Canon announced a new dual fisheye lens for VR applications on APS-C cameras. The lens is currently compatible with the EOS-R7. The Canon RF-S 3.9mm f/3.5 STM Dual Fisheye lens’s main role is to lower the threshold of VR content, allowing more content creators to venture into this world. Like its older full-frame sister, the Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8, the new lens utilizes equidistant projection, making it ideally suited for virtually hassle-free VR production, with no complex syncing needed. VR motion capture is quite a challenging endeavor. It requires wide-angle coverage, sufficient resolution, and perhaps the trickiest feat – precise synchronization between two parallel lenses and capture devices. One could try to rig two GoPros together and press both Rec buttons simultaneously, but professional footage will require precisely aligned recording, so there’s not the slightest dissonance between both streams. Canon RF-S 3.9mm f/3.5 STM Dual Fisheye lens. Image credit: Canon The Canon way To simplify both frame synchronization and focus synchronization, Canon opted for a single-sensor solution. The 8K-capable EOS-R5 was the camera of choice. Mounting the RF 5.2mm f/2.8 Dual Fisheye lens, the camera has two separate image circles projected onto its large, high-resolution sensor. With a unified focus mechanism and one sensor capturing both video streams, Canon managed to overcome most VR challenges, creating one of the most streamlined, easy-to-use VR platforms. While more affordable than some alternatives, this system would still set you back several thousands of dollars, $2000 for the lens and around $3000 for the...
Published By: CineD - Monday, 10 June, 2024