Canon’s budget-friendly 3D lens set for November release?

Canon introduces the RF-S7.8mm F4 STM twin-lens camera, boasting stereoscopic capabilities condensed into a form factor similar to a standard 2D camera lens. During the concluding days of June, an innovative solution emerges, specifically engineered to harmonize seamlessly with the Canon EOS R7. This cost-effective software is poised to empower creators in crafting captivating 3D VR content for immersive headsets akin to Oculus and spatial movies for the cutting-edge Meta Quest.

The corporation has not yet established a specific date for the release of its new 3D lens, although it anticipates making it available sometime in November 2024, with an estimated retail price tag of $449.99. Compared to Canon’s existing dual-fisheye lenses for capturing 3D video content, such as the $1,999 and $1,099 models, this option is significantly cheaper.

Combining Canon’s innovative 3D lens with the company’s impressive 32.5MP EOS R7 digital camera, initially priced at $1,299, elevates the overall package cost to exceed $1,700. Although more affordable than Canon’s premium 3D offerings, starting at $2,498 and reaching up to $6,298 when bundled with compatible camera equipment.

Canon’s novel 3D lens boasts an expansive aperture range of f/4.0 to f/16, seamlessly integrating with autofocus capabilities. The innovative design features a dedicated button and precision-management wheel, enabling users to make precise manual adjustments for separate focus control on both the left and right sides. The key factor behind its significantly lower cost compared to Canon’s current 3D lenses lies in the limited field of view. While Canon’s premium lenses can capture expansive 180-degree vistas, akin to the human visual range, the RF-S7.8mm F4 STM Twin lens is limited to a mere 63 degrees – roughly one-third of the full spectrum.

The novel lens is designed for seamless integration with Canon’s RF mount, featuring stereoscopic components arranged along a linear optical path, which enables its dual entrance lenses to be situated just 11.8mm apart, a significantly narrower gap than the 60mm distance between the dual fisheye lenses found in Canon’s existing 3D lens solutions? Consequently, Canon asserts that the most striking 3D effect is achievable by photographing subjects or objects situated between 6 and 20 inches from the camera’s lens. When using it to capture something at a distance, the 3D effect can be significantly diminished.

Captured with this lens, photographs and videos require preprocessing before being viewed through VR or AR headsets, which can be achieved using either Adobe Premiere Pro’s available tool or Canon’s proprietary software compatible with both Macs and PCs. While each instrument requires a paid subscription, they can effectively produce 180-degree 3D, VR, or spatial video content.