Around the middle of 2024, there was talk about Canon’s upcoming EOS R7 lens. First previewed at Apple’s WWDC event, it’s finally more than a glint in the camera maker’s eye.

It’s also a pricy option for a single-purpose lens that is only compatible with a single camera. American pricing puts the hardware’s cost at R8,000 or so ($450 before tax), so locals looking to shoot virtual reality with their Canon camera can expect to pay over R10,000.

Virtually improves the EOS R7

Having the hardware official means it’s now possible to assign Canon’s lens a searchable name. Being Canon, that’s not much of an improvement on the previous situation. Buyers can ask for the Canon RF-S7.8mm F4 STM Dual lens for their EOS R7 cameras. If there’s a more unwieldy title, it’s probably being used to refer to a Street Fighter game.

Why do you want to own one of these? Canon says it provides “a practical and affordable way to explore storytelling in the expanding world of VR and 3D content creation”. It makes video compatible with Apple’s Vision Pro VR headset but the Meta Quest 3 will also display your 180° VR video. We’ve got an inkling what most of these lenses will be used to shoot but we’re not allowed to refer to that here.

RF-S7.8mm F4 STM Dual refers to the various aspects of Canon’s EOS R7 lens. RF-S is Canon’s mount system for this setup. The 7.8mm refers to the focal length, while the STM designates the stepping motor technology included in the hardware. Finally, Dual is there because… well, there are two lenses.

Canon’s new lens features a 60° angle of view and, with the assistance of the company’s EOS VR plug-in for Adobe Premiere Pro, exports content to 3D 180° VR, 3D Theater, and spatial video formats. Might be another compelling reason to purchase an EOS R7.