Canon Creates Novel Dual Fish-Eye For Shooting VR

An exotic recent addition to Canon’s RF-mount system is the RF 5.2mm f/2.8 Dual Fish-Eye, which is designed to create stereoscopic 180º images for virtual reality content using just one camera. This is Canon’s first interchangeable VR lens – also a world first for digital camera systems – and is one component of the EOS VR System – this also includes newly developed Canon VR software, and the EOS VR Utility plug-in for Adobe Premiere Pro, which is required to process 180º VR content. In particular, it allows for the easy conversion of the dual circular fish-eye image to the side-by-side equi-rectangular 180º VR format. These can then be exported into various resolutions and codecs for postproduction editing and/or final playback on suitable VR headsets.

The RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Dual Fish-Eye features a pair of forward-facing fisheye lenses, each with an ultra-wide, 190º field-of-view. This enables the projection of two images onto the camera’s sensor with perfect alignment and synchronisation. Capturing two images on the same sensor ensures they're identical in both image quality and exposure, reducing the need for grading in post-production and the need to match the left and right image output. Being an L-series lens, the dual fish-eyes’ 12-element optical constructions each include two elements with ultra-low dispersion (UD) characteristics. They also employ Canon’s Sub Wavelength (SWD) multi-coating to help minimise ghosting and flare. A holder is provided at the rear to accept gelatine-type filters, including ND types for additional exposure control options when shooting in bright conditions.

The Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8 Dual FishEye will be available from late December, priced at $3,849. The supporting software is due in early 2022 and will be purchasable by subscription. For more information visit www.canon.com.au