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Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR Lens

BH #CA5228L • MFR #5554C002
Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR Lens
Key Features
  • RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/16
  • Captures Stereoscopic 3D 180° VR imagery
  • Two Ultra-Low Dispersion Elements
Unlock new dimensions in visual storytelling with the RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR from Canon. Currently compatible with the EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital Camera, this L-series lens is the world's first digital interchangeable lens that can capture stereoscopic 3D 180° VR imagery to a single image sensor. The dual high-performance L-series fisheye lenses combine imagery onto a single image sensor delivering impressive results to a single file. This helps simplify your workflow by eliminating the need to sync and stitch multiple video files. Creators can go from traditional stills or video shooting to stereoscopic 3D capture with a simple lens swap, and the pairing of this lens with the EOS R5 provides for high resolution video recording at up to DCI 8K 30fps and DCI 4K 60 fps.
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Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Overview

  • 1Description
  • 23D 180° VR Capture
  • 3VR with Ease
  • 4EOS R5 Camera with Updated Firmware (Version 1.5.0 or Later)
  • 5Canon's EOS VR System
  • 6Stereoscopic 3D Imagery
  • 7Dual-Synchronized Electro-Magnetic Diaphragm
  • 8L-Series Lens Elements
  • 9Subwavelength Structure Coating (SSC)
  • 10Manual Focusing
  • 11Large Aperture
  • 12Compact, Lightweight, and Portable
  • 13Dust- and Water-Resistant Sealing with Fluorine Coating

Unlock new dimensions in visual storytelling with the RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR from Canon. Currently compatible with the EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital Camera, this L-series lens is the world's first digital interchangeable lens that can capture stereoscopic 3D 180° VR imagery to a single image sensor. The dual high-performance L-series fisheye lenses combine imagery onto a single image sensor delivering impressive results to a single file. This helps simplify your workflow by eliminating the need to sync and stitch multiple video files. Creators can go from traditional stills or video shooting to stereoscopic 3D capture with a simple lens swap, and the pairing of this lens with the EOS R5 provides for high resolution video recording at up to DCI 8K 30fps and DCI 4K 60 fps.

With firmware 1.5.0 or higher and one of Canon's VR software solutions, you can create immersive 3D that can be experienced when viewed on compatible head mount displays including the Oculus Quest 2 and more. Viewers will be able to take in the scene with a vivid, wide field of view by simply moving their heads. Creatives, industry professionals, and newcomers to VR can create an immersive experience, capturing dynamic scenes for entertainment, tourism, training and education, real estate, storytelling, or anywhere you want to bring your audience to.

3D 180° VR Capture
Designed for use with the Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital Camera, this lens gives you the ability to create an immersive 3D experience. When captured imagery is viewed on compatible head mount displays such as the Oculus Quest 2 and more, a viewer can feel like they are a part of the story that you create. With stereoscopic 3D 180° VR, your audience can see life-like depth and can move their head to look around the viewing environment. The lens features a beautifully engineered and optimized folded optical design, with separate left and right optical systems. This enables you to capture stereoscopic 3D imagery with a 180° field of view to a single full-frame image sensor.
VR with Ease
Pairing this one lens to an EOS R5 camera provides you with the ability to deliver a single file. This lets you create a powerful and convenient solution compared to traditional VR systems that capture a 3D scene with two separate fisheye lenses, recorded to two separate cameras, which write two separate files. This saves you time and effort behind the camera and in post-production by helping to solve issues such as multi-camera positioning, multi-lens syncing, image stitching, audio syncing, encoding, and more.
EOS R5 Camera with Updated Firmware (Version 1.5.0 or Later)
To help improve the user experience when shooting with the RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR lens, special features have been added to the firmware to optimize VR shooting. This firmware provides metadata information for the software to convert the image from fisheye to equirectangular. One of the features enabled with the use of this lens is a Magic Window on-screen overlay, accessed by tapping the INFO button that assists in framing the central resting position, which shows an approximate field of view in the composition. The user can magnify at 6x and 15x magnification and also use MF Peaking while magnified. Additionally, you can swap between the left and right lenses with a simple tap of the INFO button while magnified, which is incredibly useful when manually focusing the lens.
Canon's EOS VR System
Canon's EOS VR System is comprised of this lens plus an EOS R5 camera with updated firmware and subscription-based software, either Canon's EOS VR Utility or EOS VR plug-in for Adobe Premiere Pro, both of which are currently in development. Availability and details to follow on or about early 2022. This powerful and convenient combination provides much desired flexibility and efficiency, helping save you precious time accessing your content so you can prepare it and share it more quickly. With either solution, conversion of fisheye to equirectangular imagery is possible, as well as processing and exporting at various resolutions and formats to help you capture, convert, and process high-quality VR images and movies.
Stereoscopic 3D Imagery
Featuring dual 5.2mm fisheye lenses positioned with 60mm of spacing between left and right lens centers, this lens provides an interpupillary distance closely resembling human vision. This provides for a powerful and immersive experience that brings the viewer to feel as if they are within the scene where the video or stills image takes place. Also, this lets the viewer change their viewing angle within a recorded scene so they can look around with the use of a compatible head mount display.
Dual-Synchronized Electro-Magnetic Diaphragm
Each of the left and right fisheye lenses have their own optical system, including separate but coordinated aperture mechanisms. Together they seamlessly and simultaneously control the exposure of both lenses, so setting your aperture is the same process as with any other RF lenses.
L-Series Lens Elements
Engineered with 12 elements in 10 groups and highlighted by two ultra-low dispersion glass elements and prisms in both the left and right lenses, this lens delivers impressive color and clarity with minimal chromatic aberration.
Subwavelength Structure Coating (SSC)
SWC technology decreases ghosting and reflections that may occur when shooting in more challenging lighting conditions such as during strong backlight, providing versatility and more uniform color balance in the scene.
Manual Focusing
Coordinated manual focusing of both lenses allows you to focus each lens using the manual focus ring. Additionally, a left-right focus adjustment dial lets you refine focus of the right lens separately from the left lens by using the included hexagon wrench.
Large Aperture
Providing a highly adaptable aperture range, the RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR lens allows you to go from a bright f/2.8 aperture in low light shooting, to a deep depth of field of f/16 for more control of your exposure in brighter environments. Additionally, a gelatin filter holder is located at the rear of the lens allowing optional gel filters to be used similarly to previous ultra-wide-angle Canon lens offerings.
Compact, Lightweight, and Portable
Thanks to the RF mount and the folded optical design, the size and weight of this lens makes it easy to use in tight spaces and easy to carry in a camera bag. The lens weighs under 1 lb and is just slightly over 2" in depth from the rear mount to the front side of the lens, creating a compact, portable, and lightweight solution.
Dust- and Water-Resistant Sealing with Fluorine Coating
Built to L-series lens specifications, the lens features a highly durable RF mount design. With dust- and water-resistant sealing, you can confidently shoot in challenging weather conditions. Fluorine coating is used on the front element to help prevent water, oil, and other surface residue like fingerprints from sticking to the lens, and this also facilitates quick and easy wiping without the use of solvents.
UPC: 013803346701

Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Specs

Key Specs
Focal Length
5.2mm
Maximum Aperture
f/2.8
Lens Mount
Canon RF
Lens Format Coverage
Full-Frame
Focus Type
Manual Focus
Image Stabilization
No
Filter Size
Gel Filter (Rear)
Maximum Aperture
f/2.8
Minimum Aperture
f/16
Lens Mount
Canon RF
Lens Format Coverage
Full-Frame
Angle of View
190°
Minimum Focus Distance
7.9" / 200.7 mm
Maximum Magnification
0.03x
Optical Design
12 Elements in 10 Groups
Diaphragm Blades
7
Focus Type
Manual Focus
Image Stabilization
No
Filter Size
Gel Filter (Rear)
Dimensions (ø x L)
4.8 x 2.1" / 12.2 x 5.3 cm
Weight
12.4 oz / 352 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight
1.62 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
8.6 x 6.8 x 6"

Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Reviews

Incredible image quality - software needs work.

By Jeff
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2023-06-17

Image quality is exceptional. The lens is fantastic. The software not only requires a subscription for video longer than two minutes, but also seems absent the ability to work with XF-AVC encoding as well. It does do RAW. Pictures can be edited without subscription. The software interface is dated, but simple enough. There are far too many constraints to justify any kind of subscription unless absolutely necessary. Hopefully this software will become irrelevant as soon as it's equirectangular mappings become common info.

Its good for what its intended for

By TaberMedis
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-04-28

I bought it to vr tours for real estate developers for commercial projects.

Great but the Canon software needs work

By Daniel
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2022-08-10

Love this lens and what it can do. Very disappointed its so difficult to get a great result out of the Canon VR software - and you have TO PAY FOR A SUBSCRIPTION TO USE IT! Crazy. Software will only work with .jpeg and .mp4 files, crippling the ability to use this lens with 8k RAW footage or RAW images on the R5C.

Fascinating and immersive for still images

By Sidney
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2022-04-11

As a serious amateur with a focus on still images, I decided to be an early adopter to explore the creative and expressive ways to use this unique lens. While build and image quality are at the expected L level, learning how/when to use this lens along with the very different approach to composing pictures has been a challenging yet fascinating journey in the 3 weeks since this lens arrived. The perspective of pictures generated with this lens is truly immersive and incredibly realistic. Viewing the images in 180 degree 3D VR is just fascinating, but you have to get the composition (subject, surrounding), and exposure right - not as easy as I expected it to be. I continue to explore adding this lens to my trilogy of lenses to see how its unique perspective adds to my craft. A couple of key pointers for taking/processing/viewing pictures: Just as going from a 50mm to a 16mm lens requires a different approach to taking pictures, going to a 5.2mm lens which generates 180 3D VR pictures requires its own unique approach. Second, the software Canon provides is not at the L level. A $2k lens should not require a subscription for converting pictures (and movies) to the format viewable (equirectangular projection) on a VR headset. Canon's EOS VR utility only converts JPEG images (not RAW images) and only when taken directly out of the camera. Modifying the original JPEG image or processing the RAW imaging and exporting it as a JPEG alters something and prevents importing into the Canon software. Converting the original JPEG with the Canon software and then modifying the picture is a workaround but being able to work on a RAW file before exporting as a JPEG is definitely the preferred method to process pictures. More robust Canon VR Software or preferably a Lightroom Classic plug-in to output a corrected JPEG image for VR viewing (and a plug in for video for Final Cut Pro) is needed and limits generating still images on par with the cost/professional characteristics of this lens. I do believe Canon needs to significantly step up its support for still image use to make this more widely desired by photographers and include the cost of software as part of the lens purchase price. VR headsets are still undergoing their maturation phase - I found additional viewing software better than that from the VR headset manufacturer worked best for viewing my images. I can promise you that if you do purchase this lens it will open your perspective to taking pictures in a new and immersive way.

The Lens is Great, The Required App is Very limiting

By Peter
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2022-04-08

I bought this lens to pair up with a Canon R5C so that I could record glorious 8K VR videos at 60fps. Unfortunately, you can only record 8K 60fps videos in raw, and the required EOS VR Utility can't handle raw files (for stills or video), so I am out of luck. And to be clear, your VR images and video are unviewable (no matter what capture device you use) unless you run them through Canon's paid VR utility. The fact that they charge for the VR utility is a joke. All the utility does is perform simple image transformations, so that the two circular images recorded on the image sensor get stretched to the full frame, such that they are then easily viewable on VR headsets as a stereoscopic image (it also filps the left and right eye). Now, if Canon would be so kind as to share the specs behind those transformations (probably less than a dozen parameters), one would be able to just do the transformation themselves (e.g., when working with the raw video files in Resolve). But I'm guessing Canon won't do that, because they are eager for the measly $5 extra per month. Seriously Canon, if someone pays $2,000 for a lens, and $4,500 for a camera, maybe don't lock them out using their equipment for chump change? At the very least, you should be able to use the VR Utility to transform other MP4 files. At least that way you could work with the raw video files in an NLE, render as an MP4, and then let the utility make the necessary transforms as the last step. But no, the VR utility only works with the MP4 files right out of the camera. Nevertheless, since the utility provided by the EOS VR utility software is so simple, I'm guessing it won't take long to figure out how to sidestep it completely. All that aside, the lens itself seems to be great. The still images (even when being forced to work in JPEG), are amazing. The amount of distortion you get towards the edges is best in class. i.e., if you look 90 degrees left or right there is very little distortion to the VR image. If Canon fixed their VR Utility, I may come back and increase the grade.

EOS VR utility is crippled

By Benjamin
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2022-02-28

Only supports jpg/mo4 and costs 5 per month. No RAW/DLOG support so quality is limited by the software. Optics are great.

New Adventure

By Perry
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-23

So far, my experience with this lens is nice. The Canon software is a bit frustrating. There are YouTube videos that by Canon as well as third parties that help a great deal in understanding how to use the lens and how to process the footage afterwards. I wish it was simpler to add a ND filter but it isn't too hard to get a gel filter and cut it to size.

Raw support without paid subscription

By William
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-02

After reading the other reviews I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Canon EOS Utility was better than I imagined. Beyond the 90 days you still can create for free any 2 minute videos without having to purchase the subcription. And, although many of the reviews said the utility didn't work with Raw pictures, it does work with Raw 8K videos. There are Raw adjustments like sharpening and noise reduction as well as applying the correct Lut for Clog3 for each video. The lens is very sharp and the Parallax adjustment straightened up the curves very nicely. There is also an horizontal correction. The lens is not heavy and easy to use. Although the still pictures use Jpeg for the utility, the camera does take the Raw image also. There is no IS so using a tripod or a very steady hand works best. If I want a Raw image to project to 3D I just take a 1 second video at 8K Raw and the utility will create a short adjusted video/image that can be uploaded to my phone or to any Web based video streaming service. Since your phone can loop the video you can either use a side-by-side 180-3D-vr projection or using software like adobe premiere pro or other software like VideoSolo converter to make a Red/Blue 3D projection. To get the sharpest 3D videos always use the higher resolution like 8K when capturing with your R5. You can use Google's Cardboard 3D viewers or other cell phone adapters to view the side by side or just use the 3D glasses if you convert the video to Red/Blue.

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Will this work with PTGUI?

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Yes. PTGui does not require any special hardware, even for stitching large panoramas. The following lens will work.
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Asked by: Bernard
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Is the focusing mechanical or fly-by-wire? Also ...

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Answered by: Dan
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Will this lens work with the Canon EOS R5 C Mirrorless Cinema Camera?
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The Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR Lens is compatible with the Canon EOS R5 C Mirrorless Cinema Camera.
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