Virtual reality storytelling professionals have a new gadget to try, as Canon has launched its first dual fisheye lens to record 180º videos.
The Japanese company presented this unusual stereoscopic lens with a new 3D System “in response to demand for high-quality 3D 180° VR content,” said Canon in a press release.
How does Canon contribute to VR storytelling innovation?
The new dual fisheye lens must be used with compatible Canon’s EOS VR SYSTEM to capture two images in one sensor and create a high-quality 3D video.
This is the first recording the company released using this new technology:
Video: 8K Virtual Reality Demo Video – Canon RF5.2mm f/2.8L Dual Fisheye
This Canon’s first-ever interchangeable VR lenses were designed to make things easier for 3D content creators. Its single mount makes camera setups a lot quicker.
To try them, though, we will still need to wait: the lens can already be pre-ordered for almost £2,000, but the release isn’t expected until early 2022.
Can Canon’s dual fisheye lens be useful for VR storytelling in journalism?
Lately, many journalists have been using VR storytelling to tell immersive stories. Like the award-winning project about Hong Kong protests, Battleground PolyU.
Video: Battleground PolyU (by DJ Clark)
So, Canon’s dual fisheye lens could bring high-quality images to immersive journalistic projects like this one.
But we cannot deny that its prohibitive price and its large dimension might make this new gadget slightly less handy than the widely used 360º compact cameras. Especially, when reporting extreme situations like protests or wars.
I’m a digital-skilled journalist, interested in social issues and Human Rights. I’ve published in El País and ElNacional.cat, among others.
MA Interactive Journalism at City, University of London.