This week, leading consumer and professional camera hardware vendor Cannon announced a new XR lens to expand its range of products for capturing 360-degree and VR content.
Increasingly, leading XR hardware leaders like Meta and Apple are entering partnerships with leading media brands like ESPN and Disney to bring immersive broadcasts to homes – providing a much-needed boost to viewer engagement.
Cannon’s new RF-S3.9mm F3.5 STM Dual Fisheye lens – compatible with EOS R7 cameras – aims to support this trend by debuting a product the firm believes will bring an accessible route into capturing VR content.
Cannon is debuting the lens later this month for $1,099.00; just in time for Apple’s international rollout of the Vision Pro – Brian Mahar, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Canon USA, added:
The RF-S3.9mm F3.5 STM Dual Fisheye lens offers a solution to the growing demand for more affordable and accessible tools in the VR market. Whether you’re a social creator looking to expand your content into VR, or a filmmaker interested in making the jump from 2D to 3D content, this lens enables creators of all levels to comfortably explore VR content creation and generate amazing content.
The RF-S3.9mm F3.5 STM, Dual Fisheye lens, presents a 144-degree wide-angle view and utilizes equidistant projection to support diverse VR content creation. It is ready for handheld and static usage. The lens also features one-shot autofocus, Left/Right focus adjustment, Air Sphere Coating (ASC) to minimize ghosting, and additional filter support.
Moreover, to help with post-production workflows, Canon is also providing EOS VR Utility software as a separate subscription service, which streamlines the editing process.
Canon Kokomo ImmersiveCalling Solution
Last year, Canon opened early access to its Kokomo ImmersiveCalling platform in Canada and the United States for the Meta Quest 2, which allows face-to-face immersive communications.
The software connects a compatible smartphone or tablet to the Meta headset, allowing for facial imaging technologies in immersive environments.
Canon’s solution generates digital avatars of a caller, creating a full-body digital twin to help users feel connected in an immersive environment. Callers can also share data and digital media in real time.
Meta Quest users can find Kokomo ImmersiveCalling in the App Lab storefront. The app will pair with Canon’s mobile app for Android and iOS devices. However, as of April 2024, Canon closed the early access rollout, perhaps signalling a broader release.
