FAQ
How much of the scene does the lens capture?
The lens captures a full 360° spherical view, with no gaps or missing areas. This includes the camera body itself. If you can see the lens, it can see you.
What cameras are compatible?
The lens is equipped with a Nikon F bayonet mount and produces an 18.3mm diameter image circle appropriate for full-frame cameras. The F mount is easily adaptable to the Canon EF mount via a passive adapter ring.
Optical adapters are available for short focal flange distance mounts like the Sony E mount and Micro 4/3rds mount.
What's the resolution?
The final resolution (in pixels) is the area of the image circle, and the maximum image circle diameter is constrained by the vertical height of the sensor. On an 8K/SUHD frame (7680x4320) the maximum image circle diameter is 4320 pixels, which gives a total pixel count of about 14.7 megapixels (pi * radius squared).
Can you focus the lens?
Focus is fixed, but can be adjusted if a helicoid adapter is used. The focus distance is technically set at 40 inches, but everything should appear in similar focus from just past the surface to infinity. The lens is particularly suited for close-ups due to the lack of stitching artifacts.
How do you aim the lens?
The normal orientation for the lens is camera pointing straight up, as the optical quality/pixel density is best at the equatorial region and worst at the poles. If important content is situated upwards, it may be better to point the lens at something less important, like a blank wall. The areas immediately above and below the lens are ‘dead zones’ analagous to the area in between your eyes, where objects such as microphones or lights may be placed to avoid showing them in the image.
How do you convert native circular imagery to rectangular?
The easiest way to convert is to use an ST/UV map file in software such as After Effects or Nuke to remap the annular projection into the common equirectangular format. A 3D mesh with associated UV map data can also be used to easily view circular recordings as equirectangular or rotatable in real time. UV map / mesh files are available from the Downloads section.
How can I get one?
Please send us a message via our Contact page for more information. Currently, our inventory is extremely limited due to the complexity and expense of fabricating such an unconventional lens.