Canon has created a dual fisheye lens for a new VR video system

Canon has made a surprising product announcement, revealing an RF-mounted dual fisheye lens that is part of a brand new system called EOS VR. Its goal is nothing less than to transform virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) production by simplifying the workflow than current VR capture systems, while delivering the quality of a camera without full frame mirror.

The key product is the $ 1,999 RF5.2mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye Manual Lens designed specifically to be mounted on the 8K compatible Canon EOS R5 camera. This is an unusual product to say the least, with two domed fisheye lenses mounted side by side. They are placed approximately 60mm (24 inches) apart to match human interpupillary distance and provide comfortable parallax for virtual reality and augmented reality.

The lens works only with the Canon EOS R5, chosen for its 8K video capability. When shooting, it projects two circular images onto the camera’s 45-megapixel sensor. It supports 190-degree capture, enabling delivery of 180-degree stereoscopic 3D footage or photos at a resolution of up to 8192 x 4096 (8K) for AR or VR applications.

The lens has some unusual features, like a ring that focuses both lenses at once and an Allen screw adjustment that lets you adjust the focus of one lens to precisely match the other. Otherwise, you get features typically found in high-end Canon L RF mount glass, like coatings to control glare and ghosting, a dust and water resistant seal, and a beach solid aperture from F2.8 to F16. Despite the odd appearances, the lens is quite compact and not much larger than Canon’s 35mm F1.8 lens.

The goal, however, is only part of the equation. Canon is working on a firmware update for the R5 with new features to support the lens and the EOS VR system. This includes MF peak and manual focus confirmation via Canon’s Dual Pixel autofocus system, as well as a “Magic Window” user interface that helps users schedule delivery to different types of helmets. .

Additionally, Canon has created its own EOS VR Utility and EOS VR Plugin apps, each available by subscription for $ 5 per month (with a free trial period). The VR Utility app flips stereo images left to right and converts them from a circular image to an “equirectangular” square image that can be viewed on a VR headset. It also offers quick editing tools like trimming clips and applying a LUT, while letting you change the resolutions and preset file types (DPX, Pro Res, H264, etc.) before export.

There is also the EOS VR plug-in for Adobe Premiere which “will convert double fisheye imaging to equirectangular, while still allowing cutting, coloring and editing with the full control of Premiere Pro,” Canon told Engadget. It also allows you to export sequences according to the desired specifications for different types of delivery.

In addition to these apps, you will be able to use the current Camera Connect app and Canon’s EOS utility to control the capture. Both will be updated at a later date to offer “remote live view functionality for on-the-go monitoring,” Canon said in a press release.

The system can be used for weddings, journalism, sports, training, events and more, while providing a number of advantages over current VR cameras. For starters, it’s designed to deliver better quality than standalone VR cameras with smaller lenses and sensors like the $ 5,000 Insta360 Pro 2. At the same time, you get all of the R5’s tools like log shooting, RAW capture, 10-bit video, and more. . And when you’re not using the VR lens, the R5 can be used for regular video production or photo shoots, unlike dedicated VR cameras.

At the same time, the production process is simpler and cheaper than with the dual cameras used in high-end productions. These cameras need to be rigged, synchronized, focused and positioned correctly, with the end result being two files in many cases. Canon’s EOS VR system, on the other hand, delivers similar quality but delivers focus and setup like a regular camera, while leaving you with a single file to edit at the end.

The whole system isn’t exactly cheap, considering you have to pay $ 1,999 for the lens and $ 3,899 if you don’t already have an R5 camera, for a total of $ 5,898. However, given the niche and originality of the lens, it costs less than I expected. There is also the issue of the R5 overheating which limits 8K recording times to 20 minutes, with a 10 minute recovery period. You can enhance this by capturing 8K on an external Ninja V + RAW recorder, but it will add $ 1,500 to your cost.

Still, it looks very promising for VR production, which has exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic (although it’s still not exactly mainstream). It was particularly in demand for business training and collaboration, a potentially rich vein for video producers. Many of these folks, especially if they already have a Canon EOS R5, might be ready to jump into virtual reality work if Canon’s new system is as easy to use as it promises. The lens and the EOS VR system are expected to arrive in late December 2021.