Canon goes all the way with VR (Virtual Reality). A vast amount of VR products were announced at CES 2023, to elevate the immersiveness of filmmakers and moviegoers. However, there was no mention of cinema cameras. Is Canon pivoting its Imagine System in a new direction?

Canon focuses on VR filmmaking

The big CES announcement from Canon was its VR innovations, and there are plenty of those. It seems that Canon makes a kind of pivot for VR filmmaking. In a long presentation, Canon has presented its achievements, and products (software and hardware) regarding virtual reality, emphasizing its potential for enhancing moviegoers’ experience. Canon even presented a case study of this technology to be demonstrated in its booth, which is a whole film that allows a VR experience by utilizing Canon’s new technologies. For that, Canon has partnered with acclaimed filmmakers, with the goal of demoing its latest imaging innovation.

Dissolving the limits between real and virtual

We are not going to elaborate on this new technology that much, because YMCinema focuses on…cinema, and those technologies are very niche and were designed for specific purposes. We feel that VR will barely come to fruition regarding cinematography implementations. Nevertheless, we can mention some of the products in general. First, there’s the ‘Komoko’, a virtual reality software, for users to feel engaged in the action. It demands minimum devices (only headset and smartphone). Furthermore, Canon presented the Free Viewpoint Video System for arenas, which can craft VR imagery of 3D modeling from more than 100 Canon Cinema EOS 4K cameras and lenses so that the audience can feel more immersed in the event. There’s MREAL technology that helps to integrate into a real and virtual world. Last but not least, there’s AMLOS (Activate My Line of Sight) which was developed by Canon USA to help amplify how people see and interact in a hybrid environment, utilizing Canon’s PTZ cameras. All those products can be employed together to serve an impressive VR experience that Canon would like to execute in cinematography. Watch all the Canon CES 2023 presentations below: 

A new era of cinematography?

As said, not yet, at least from our personal perspective. At this stage, we can barely see the future VR headset being worn in a movie theater. Just imagine watching Avatar 6 with a VR headset, although James Cameras would probably like that. Nevertheless, Canon has been investing tons of R&D in this concept, as demonstrated in this CES, indicating that Canon believes VR filmmaking is the future. It’s interesting that during this CES, Canon puts all its efforts into the VR world, as no new camera was announced. VR products demand vast development resources. Yes, Canon is a huge company, but it will have to sacrifice some of its cake, which means more VR and less conventional cinema-related products. Is Canon changing, by pivoting its Imagine System in a new direction?

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