Creators who have always wanted to push their talents to new heights now have the opportunity to do so with a Canon VR lens. The leading lens manufacturer has recently released the Canon RF5.2mm F2.8L Dual Fisheye Lens which completes its Canon EOS VR System.
In the past years, shooting VR scenes involved multiple cameras that were aligned, positioned, and synced together. This resulted in separate recordings that had to be stitched during post-production. It was a laborious process that daunted many creatives.
Canon sought to solve this problem with its EOS VR System. The system includes a Dual Fisheye Lens, the EOS R5 camera, and the EOS VR Utility software. Together, these components create beautiful and easy-to-edit VR scenes.
Telling a Story Using Canon VR Lens
One such project that has fully utilized Canon’s EOS VR System is the short film “This is Bike Life.” The short, produced by Media.Monks, is a story of New York’s Wheelie crew, which is composed of a group of kids living the bike life. They meet up in urban settings to do bike tricks, hang out, and support each other. It’s a group full of positive vibes.
Alan Bucaria, the film’s director of photography, shared that he wanted to represent the crew in a real way. By using Canon’s great color science and image fidelity, he was able to create beautiful 3D portraits of the group members and their daily life.
Bucaria shared that they had fun and had a lot of positive moments throughout the day. The gang was a cool bunch of kids who were delightful to shoot. But what excited him was using Canon’s RF5.2mm F2.8L Dual Fisheye Lens. At that time, it wasn’t officially released yet and he was among the first users.
According to Bucaria, the Canon VR Lens was very easy to use. It removed the extra gear he previously needed to create stereoscopic videos. With the new lens, he can now capture two images in a single full-frame sensor in 8K. He was no longer limited to 4/3 sensors or large sensors with a large IPD (interpupillary distance). The Canon VR Lens has a 60mm IPD which gives a very accurate representation of our vision.
Furthermore, since no stitching was involved in the post-production, the final product gave a very accurate representation of stereoscopic scenes at near and far distances. One lens with one focus ring was enough to bring images to life.
Unleashing Creativity With the Canon EOS VR System
Everyone loves a good and immersive story. The Canon EOS VR System allows creators to create lifelike scenes effortlessly. You can shoot in 8K60 using the new Canon EOS R5 C camera and enjoy Canon’s beautiful color science.
The system offers fantastic low light, slow motion, and clog profiles. The Canon RF5.2mm F2.8L Dual Fisheye Lens has a filter slot in the back of the lens that allows rear mount filters on bright days. Bucaria further stresses that these are all packaged in a DLSR-sized body that’s easy to set up. This lightweight capability opens the doors for endless creative possibilities.
Bucaria believes that the ability to shoot with two lenses, that provide a 190° optical field of view , on a single sensor is groundbreaking. Currently, there are no lenses like this on the market. The entire system, compared to a traditional stereoscopic system, is also less expensive. It is also built on the new Canon RF camera mount system which will be the standard for several more years. Creators who wish to expand their skills with VR scenes will make a wise investment in the Canon EOS VR System.
Bucaria and his team are currently working on several other projects using the Canon EOS VR System. He advises new VR creators to not shy away from trying new things. Shooting with VR is different from shooting with cinema. It’s an exciting new frontier with lots of opportunities.
Newbie VR creators won’t be alone in the journey. Bucaria shares that the community is a tight group that’s very friendly and resourceful. They are present in forums and online groups and he encourages new creators to join them.
The filming industry is being revolutionized with stereoscopic 3D 180-degree VR. Alan Bucaria’s “This is Bike Life” featuring the Wheelie crew is just the start.
