RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE

The new RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE lens is a dedicated RF lens equipped with two fisheye lenses, which produce parallax that can be used to create 3D 180^o VR images. When attached to the EOS R5 mirrorless camera¹ , the lens enables content creators to harness the camera’s 8K³ recording capabilities to produce ultra-high-definition video with an immersive feel. 

The light rays that enter each “eye” of the RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE lens are captured by a sole CMOS image sensor. This removes the need for certain parts of the traditional VR production workflow, such as aligning and syncing camera positions before the shoot or stitching images together in post-production, resulting in greater efficiency.

RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE is equipped with 2 Fisheye Lenses (Left and Right). Each lens incorporates an innovative 12 elements in 10 groups folder optics design, which features 2 prisms that folds the optical path to provide images with natural parallax with a baseline length of 60 mm in a camera with a full-frame sensor (36mm x 24mm). This enables using this interchangeable lens with compatible camera for simple and straightforward 3D VR shooting without the need for any special purpose camera, significantly simplifying the 3D VR production workflow. The lens covers a 190^o wide angle of view and adopts Equidistant projection design, which is ideally suitable for VR shooting.

High quality image is essential for immersive VR videos, using this lens with the EOS R5 enables the output of high-definition 8K 3D 180^o VR footage for strong immersive feel. The number of horizontal pixels is approx. 3684 pixels per lens for the final output (7368 pixels with both lenses), which demands a high image quality. Benefited from the large-diameter RF Mount and short back focus, a lens construction optimized for a folded optical path and effective placement of 2 UD lenses in the final lens group, the lens aberrations have been effectively suppressed and achieved a high image quality from corner to corner. 

SWC (Subwavelength Structure Coating)

In the past, outdoor shooting with a wide-angle-of-view VR lens was often limited to hours around noon due to factors such as shadows. Now, the RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE incorporates revolutionary Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) with exceptional antireflection performance on the first lens, for effective ghosting reduction. This allows active shooting in the morning and evening, capturing attractive images of beautiful lighting.

Developed by Canon, this remarkable anti-reflection technology is achieved by adding innumerable nanometer-sized wedge-shaped structures smaller than the wavelength of visible light (380 to 780 nm) on the surface of the lens to control light reflection with a refractive index gradient. 

UD Lens

Benefited from the large-diameter RF Mount and short back focus, a lens construction optimized for a folded optical path and effective placement of 2 UD lenses in the final lens group, the lens aberrations have been effectively suppressed and achieved a high image quality from corner to corner. 

Synchronized Focus
RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE uses manual focus operation. Its large manual focus ring operates smoothly with good damping, which made manual focus easy. The manual focus ring is connected to the focus structure of the left and right lenses, allowing the left and right images to focus simultaneously. When using RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE with EOS R5, MF Peaking is also available in magnified display to assist precise focusing.

Subject distance for the best 3D feel 
The most three-dimensional subject distance range for 180^o VR videos is between 0.5m and 2m. Shooting in this range can make the subject more prominent and bring a more intense and immersive experience.

Adjust Focus difference between Left and Right lens

When first mounting the lens on the camera or when the lens being transported for an extended period, there may be a difference between left and right focus. The differences can be adjusted with "Left-right focus difference adjustment dial" using the bundled 1.5mm Hex key. 

Dual EMD for Sychronized Exposure

The left and right lenses of RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE are equipped with an Electro-magnetic Diaphragm (EMD) to electronically control the aperture diameter simultaneously to ensure consistent exposure of the left and right images. 

Bring f/2.8 Aperture

The large f/2.8 maximum aperture of the lens, combined with the highly-sensitive CMOS image sensor and powerful noise processing capabilities of the DIGIC X image processor on the EOS R5, achieve high-quality footage even in low light situations or scenes where light is intentionally reduced for creative expression.

Rear Gelatin Filter Holder

The lens features a gelatin filter holder that enables an Gelatin ND filter (36mm x 20mm) to be installed. This makes it possible to control exposure even during daytime outdoor shoots and other high-contrast situations where the shutter speed might unintentionally speed up and helps to ensure smooth video effect with a proper shutter speed.

Fluorine Coating

Since the RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE focal length is short, a foreign object like dust on the front or rear lens can be captured on image. Fluorine coating thus added on the foremost lenses to facilitate cleaning. 

Dust and Water-Resistant Design*

Dust and water-resistant construction is used on the mount and focus ring etc., to improve the reliability and durability of in different environments

*With EOS R5 C or EOS R5, however it is not recommended for use under rain.

Before viewers can view the 3D VR footage on a head-mounted display (HMD), the footage captured by the camera must first be converted into a VR file. The conventional VR image production workflow therefore consists of 4 stages: shooting, checking, post-editing, and file conversion. Conventional 3D VR shooting requires 2 cameras (2 sensors) and 2 lens for capturing left and right images, it is necessary to aligning the positions and synchronizing the settings of the left and right cameras before the shoot. It is also necessary to stich footages before file conversion to 3D VR format. Moreover, , there tends to be differences in color and brightness between two images due to sensor characteristics, additional post processing is needed for correction.  

Under Canon’s VR imaging system, images are captured using just one EOS R5 camera with one CMOS image sensor and one RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE, rendering the parts of the workflow that were necessary with a two-camera system redundant. It is also no longer necessary to stich footage before file conversion. Additionally, when users convert files with either the EOS VR Utility computer software or the EOS VR Plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro dedicated plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro , they can also automatically correct horizon and  lens parallax during conversion, improving workflow efficiency.

3D VR Workflow comparison of EOS VR System vs Conventional Two-camera system

EOS VR System 3D VR Production Workflow

In addition to compatible mirrorless cameras¹ and RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE lens, the Canon Remote Control and Format Conversion applications play an important role in the EOS VR system 3D VR production workflow. 

VR production often requires remote shooting. Users can use the EOS Utility computer software to adjust camera settings and transfer images from the camera to the computer, or use the Camera Connect smartphone app to adjust camera settings and check images from a smartphone.

After shooting, users can choose EOS VR Utility computer software (paid subscription service) or EOS VR Plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro (paid subscription service) to simply convert the image into a 180^o VR format Equirectangular Projection, It can also automatically correct the horizon and lens parallax during conversion to further improve work efficiency. Among them, EOS VR Utility supports image conversion and basic editing, and allows adjusting image quality and file format flexibility according to post-production and display environment needs. The EOS VR Plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro allows users to perform file conversion and post-editing in Adobe Premiere Pro editing software.

Workflow of EOS VR System 3D VR Production

EOS Utility (Free of Charge)

• Remote shooting and changing camera setting with computer
• Import camera’s image (including 8K videos) to computer
• Supports Live View display of left/right image switched
• Supports Live View display of circular fisheye or equirectangular projection
• Magnified display

Camera Connect (Free of charge)

• Wireless remote shooting and changing camera setting 
• Supports Live View display of left/right image switched
• Supports Live View display of circular fisheye or equirectangular projection
• Magnified display

EOS VR Utility (Paid Subscription Service)

• A computer software application that lets users convert images into equirectangular projections (180^o VR format) and perform simple editing on them.
• Supports switching images/footage shot by the left and right lenses. Also supports toggling between circular fisheye and equirectangular projection displays.
• Supports horizontal correction and parallax correction for VR images
• Supports playback and basic cutting of 180^o VR images on computer monitors.
• Videos recorded in 8K can be converted and saved in a different size, file specification, or format.
• LUTs (Lookup Tables) can be applied to videos recorded in Canon Log mode.
• Supports output to DPX (Digital Picture Exchange) and Apple ProRes (Mac OS version) for NLE (non-linear editing) purposes.
• Free of charge conversion for photos and videos shorter than 2 minutes to 180°VR format
• Subscription charge via Canon Imaging App Service Plans will be required
  with Canon ID registration for conversion of movie over 2 min to 180°VR format

EOS VR Plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro (Paid Subscription Service)

• A computer software plugin for video creators who edit with Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Supports switching images/footage shot by the left and right lenses and converting image into equirectangular projection. (180^o VR format)
• Supports horizontal correction and parallax correction for VR images
• Free of charge conversion for photos and videos shorter than 2 minutes to 180°VR format
• Subscription charge via Canon Imaging App Service Plans will be required
  with Canon ID registration for import of movie over 2 min to 180°VR format

¹ Compatible with EOS R5 C or EOS R5 with Firmware version 1.5.0 or above.
² VR videos that have a 180° field of view. A VR video format commonly used on video distribution platforms such as YouTube
³ 8K resolution fisheye video footage is recorded into the camera.