Canon introduces RF-S dual fisheye lens for 3D video

Camera maker Canon has brought out another dual fisheye lens for its RF-S cameras, which could be used to make 3D video for the Apple Vision Pro.

Content creators have a few ways to produce new video for the Apple Vision Pro and other mixed-reality headsets. While they can use an iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Apple Vision Pro itself, Canon's offering a way to do it with their cameras.

Tuesday's launch of the RF-S 3.9mm F3.5 STM Dual Fisheye is a new lens designed for producing video content for headsets. It uses two separate lenses positioned side-by-side to simulate human binocular vision.

The camera's sensor ends up creating two separate images in one video, relating to the left and right eye's points of view. This is then played back to the user wearing a headset, giving a 3D effect.

The new lens has a 144-degree field of view, a little smaller than the usual 180-degree field of view for such footage. It also has a large depth of field, making it easier for users to keep attention on their subject, by keeping them more in focus.

A focus ring can be assigned to handle other functions, such as aperture or ISO.

The lens is the first 3D lens from Canon with Autofocus, including a one-shot autofocus setting to simplify the filming process. It's also the first non-L series lens to use a premium Air Sphere coating to prevent aberrations like flares and ghosting.

Each lens has two UD elements, promoting sharp images. A rear-mounted filter holder is also available, handling both gelatin and screw-on filters.

This is not the first lens from Canon that enables its cameras to capture stereoscopic video. It previously introduced the RF 5.2mm F2.8L Dual Fisheye, which is designed for its full-frame RF-system cameras and costs $1,999.

The RF-S is designed to be used by the APS-C RF-S camera range, such as EOS R7. It's also intended to be a cheaper and overall easier lens for content creators to get and use, so they can quickly get started making content for headsets.

The Canon RF-S 3.9mm F3.5 STM Dual Fisheye Lens is available for preorder from retailers such as B&H Photo, priced at $1,099.

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8 Comments

Kierkegaarden 244 comments · 1 Year

About 5 months ago

Interesting option, along with the lens shown during the keynote. Not sure if the workflow will be improved and if users will be required to subscribe to the Canon software to process.

Stabitha_Christie 569 comments · 3 Years

AppleInsider said:
The RF-S is designed to be used by the APS-C RF-S camera range, such as EOS R7. It's also intended to be a cheaper and overall easier lens for content creators to get and use, so they can quickly get started making content for headsets.

Per the Canon website the lens is only compatible with the EOS R7.

"Exclusively compatible with EOS R7 APS-C 32.5MP camera with the firmware 1.5.0+"

Kinda weird that they don't work with the more expensive full frame cameras like the R6, R5 and R3.

melgross 33607 comments · 20 Years

Stabitha_Christie said:

AppleInsider said:
The RF-S is designed to be used by the APS-C RF-S camera range, such as EOS R7. It's also intended to be a cheaper and overall easier lens for content creators to get and use, so they can quickly get started making content for headsets.

Per the Canon website the lens is only compatible with the EOS R7.

"Exclusively compatible with EOS R7 APS-C 32.5MP camera with the firmware 1.5.0+"

Kinda weird that they don't work with the more expensive full frame cameras like the R6, R5 and R3.

It’s not surprising at all. It’s an APS-C lens. That makes sense. This is meant, mostly, for people who want to create content but without spending big bucks doing so, or having more weight. Bloggers are already working on content and I see unhappiness at the expense and weight. I wouldn’t be surprised if Canon and others will have a camera dedicated to this in the future if they think they can sell enough of them. Something small and relatively inexpensive, under $1,000 for a fixed lens model.

melgross said:

Stabitha_Christie said:

AppleInsider said:
The RF-S is designed to be used by the APS-C RF-S camera range, such as EOS R7. It's also intended to be a cheaper and overall easier lens for content creators to get and use, so they can quickly get started making content for headsets.

Per the Canon website the lens is only compatible with the EOS R7.

"Exclusively compatible with EOS R7 APS-C 32.5MP camera with the firmware 1.5.0+"

Kinda weird that they don't work with the more expensive full frame cameras like the R6, R5 and R3.

It’s not surprising at all. It’s an APS-C lens. That makes sense. This is meant, mostly, for people who want to create content but without spending big bucks doing so, or having more weight. Bloggers are already working on content and I see unhappiness at the expense and weight. I wouldn’t be surprised if Canon and others will have a camera dedicated to this in the future if they think they can sell enough of them. Something small and relatively inexpensive, under $1,000 for a fixed lens model.

Cost isn’t relevant. This is a software limitation on the part of Canon, it a hardware one. I can use other non-full frame lenses on my R6. Like I can use EF mount lenses made for film camera in the 1980s. They just don’t take full advantage of the full frame
sensor.

Stabitha_Christie said:

melgross said:

Stabitha_Christie said:

AppleInsider said:
The RF-S is designed to be used by the APS-C RF-S camera range, such as EOS R7. It's also intended to be a cheaper and overall easier lens for content creators to get and use, so they can quickly get started making content for headsets.

Per the Canon website the lens is only compatible with the EOS R7.

"Exclusively compatible with EOS R7 APS-C 32.5MP camera with the firmware 1.5.0+"

Kinda weird that they don't work with the more expensive full frame cameras like the R6, R5 and R3.

It’s not surprising at all. It’s an APS-C lens. That makes sense. This is meant, mostly, for people who want to create content but without spending big bucks doing so, or having more weight. Bloggers are already working on content and I see unhappiness at the expense and weight. I wouldn’t be surprised if Canon and others will have a camera dedicated to this in the future if they think they can sell enough of them. Something small and relatively inexpensive, under $1,000 for a fixed lens model.

Cost isn’t relevant. This is a software limitation on the part of Canon, it a hardware one. I can use other non-full frame lenses on my R6. Like I can use EF mount lenses made for film camera in the 1980s. They just don’t take full advantage of the full frame
sensor.

Cost is always relevant. It’s not software. Almost no one wants to use an APS-C lens in full frame.