Canon has doubled down on its lenses for VR content material creators with its second stereoscopic optic: the Canon RF-S 3.9mm f/3.5 STM Twin Fisheye lens.
I first noticed a prototype of the lens at The Pictures & Video Present earlier this 12 months, the place Canon defined that “we’re closely invested in digital Actuality and we need to get these merchandise out as quickly as doable.” The corporate wasn’t kidding, because the Canon RF-S 3.9mm f/3.5 STM Twin Fisheye has now come to fruition.
It is the follow-up to the full-frame Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Twin Fisheye lens launched initially of 2022. In contrast to the prevailing mannequin, the brand new 3.9mm model isn’t an L-series optic – and it is an RF-S lens, designed for Canon’s APS-C mirrorless cameras, which helps hold the worth down.
It carries an RRP of $1,099 / £1,349 (Australian pricing to be confirmed), which makes it round 35% inexpensive than the prevailing full-frame mannequin.
As well as, the Canon EOS R7 physique that it has been designed to work with at launch can also be considerably cheaper than the EOS R5 that the RF 5.2mm was initially constructed to pair with (although at the moment it is usually suitable with the R6 Mark II).
So, individually and as a mixed package deal, it prices considerably much less and can decrease the barrier to entry for anybody fascinated with creating digital actuality content material.
Whereas the RF-S 3.9mm will solely work with the EOS R7 when it launches this month, Canon mentioned that will probably be increasing lens compatibility to different fashions down the road. See the check footage beneath, taken with a beta lens pattern on an R7 shot at 4K 25p.
The very best digicam offers, critiques, product recommendation, and unmissable pictures information, direct to your inbox!
Above: Straight-out-of-camera pattern footage
The dual fisheye lenses have an ultra-wide focal size of three.9mm, which works out to be 6.24mm in full-frame phrases when you’ve factored within the 1.6x APS-C sensor crop issue, however that’s nonetheless an astonishing 144º discipline of view.
Canon added that “the lens makes use of a 60mm inter-pupillary distance which resembles human eyes to create a practical 3D viewing expertise.”
Additionally on the spec sheet you’ll discover an STM (Stepping Motor) within the left lens for quick and clean autofocus, although that is One-Shot AF for fast and exact setup of your photographs. There isn’t any servo mode for steady AF, so to regulate focus as soon as filming you should utilize the Regulate change on the facet of the lens barrel.
There’s additionally a big Management ring on the barrel, which works greatest as a handbook focusing ring however may be personalized for different settings similar to ISO.
The Canon RF-S 3.9mm f/3.5 STM Twin Fisheye is smaller and lighter than the RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Twin Fisheye, but manages to pack in two ultra-low dispersion lenses to make sure excessive picture high quality and forestall aberrations.
The lenses additionally profit from Canon’s premium Air Sphere Coating – the primary time this options on a non-Le-series optic – to cut back ghosting and flare and ship pristine picture high quality.
I used to be initially informed that the Canon RF-S 3.9mm f/3.5 STM was slated for launch in July, however Canon has since confirmed that it’ll go on sale in June at a value of $1,099 / £1,349 (Australian pricing to be confirmed).
Picture 1 of 5
Check out the greatest Canon RF lenses for mirrorless cameras, and remember that EOS R our bodies can simply adapt one of the best Canon lenses for DSLRs.