Canon today announced a more affordable lens option designed for social media creators and videographers interested in creating VR and 3D content.
In June, Canon announced its RF-S3.9mm F3.5 STM Dual Fisheye lens, which was designed to enable its range of cameras to capture spatial videos and photos – priced at $1,099.00.
Now the company is expanding its range of dual lens optics with an even more affordable VR lens system with the introduction of the RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens, which goes on sale in November for $449.99.
As the name suggests, the lens offers a focal length of 7.8mm and an angle of view of 60 degrees. Like the previously released Dual Fisheye lens, the new lens is also compatible with Canon’s latest cameras that support RF mounts, including the EOS R, R5, R6, RP and the R7.
While it does offer a lower field of view (FOV) than its bigger brother’s 144-degree field of view, it’s also less than half the price.
Showing at Apple’s WWDC 2024, Canon plans to use the new lens to meet the growing demand for accessible spatial video creation.
Notably, the new RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens is said to work like a traditional 2D RF lens, making installation easy for newcomers and allowing anyone with the latest RF mount cameras to create immersive content for headsets like Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3.
According to Hiroto Kato, Canon’s vice president of Imaging Products & Solutions, the RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens is “an exciting step” in making 3D content creation accessible.
“With the RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens, Canon not only offers a new visual aid, but also improves the way creators communicate using emerging VR, spatial and 3D technologies,” says Kato. “This lens allows users to capture immersive content, bridging the gap between traditional content creation and the latest VR and spatial imaging. It is an exciting step forward in making high-quality 3D content more accessible to everyone.”
The new dual lens is scheduled for release in November 2024 and will cost $449.99. View the specifications below:
| Specification | Detail |
| Focal length | 7.8mm |
| Maximum and minimum aperture |
f/4.0 – f/16 (1/3 stops, 1/2 stops) |
| Lens mount type |
Canon RF mount; Plastic holder |
| Interpupillary distance/baseline length | 11.8mm |
| Minimum focusing distance |
0.49 feet (5.9 inches) / 0.15 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.07x |
| Angle of view (diagonal) | 63° 00′ |
| Lens construction (any lens) | |
| Special elements (any lens) | |
| Lens coating | |
| Filter size diameter | |
| Rear mounted gelatin filter holder | Not supported |
| Aperture blades (any lens) | 7 |
| Lens switches |
Left-right focus difference adjustment mode switch |
| Dust/water resistance | Not provided |
| Focus system | |
| Left/right focus difference adjustment |
Included, user adjustable with the Control Ring |
| Dual Pixel CMOS AF |
As long as; Horizontal: approx. 30%, vertical: approx. 30% 46% |
Focus Guide – Shooting Mode |
|
| Photo mode |
Left lens only supports focus guide |
| Photo mode with L/R adjustment switch enabled |
Both the left and right lenses support the focus guide |
| Video mode |
Left lens only supports focus guide |
| Video mode with L/R adjustment switch enabled |
Both the left and right lenses support the focus guide |
| Full-time manual focusing |
Both the left and right lenses support the focus guide |
| Control ring | As long as |
| Optical image stabilization | Not provided |
| Stabilization with built-in IS (EOS R7) | Not supported |
| Dimensions |
ø2.7″ x 1.6″ L (ø69.2 mm x 41.5 mm) |
| Weight | |
Accessories |
|
| Sun hood | Not supported |
| Lens cap | E-58II (included) |
| Dust cover |
Dust cover for Canon lens RF (included) |
| Lens housing |
Canon Lens Case LP1014 (sold separately) |
| Extension tubes | Not compatible |
| Close-up lenses 250D / 500D | Not compatible |
| Canon RF Extender 1.4x/2x | Not compatible |
| Canon Gelatin filter holder III/IV | Not compatible |
| Rear gelatin filter holder | Not compatible |
