Canon Lens Component

Section 11. Canon Lens Component

The Canon Lens Component is a method of LensEmulation that obtains its data directly from Canon’s Compact-Servo 18-80mm lens itself. Done in partnership with Canon, this component made by ARwall does not fake the values it obtains and reports the actual values of focus distance and focal length accurately and in real time without approximation or external analog hardware.

Unfortunately, due to NDA and the proprietary nature of this method, we cannot show the visual hardware setup for this component. More in-depth instructions regarding the actual hardware used to get the data are always bundled with the hardware for those who purchase it. For this Knowledge Base, we’ll at least cover how to use it on the software side.  

You can inquire about Canon Lens Emulation support by contacting ARwall via email: hello@arwall.co

We currently only support the Canon Compact-Servo 18-80mm with this component. Extending this support for more lenses is something that may happen but is not something to look forward to. As many know, the business secrets surrounding the film lens industry are closely guarded, and there are a lot of legal hurdles our company has to follow in order to get the official OK and documentation to even do what we accomplished here!

Important

The Canon Compact-Servo 18-80mm lens is no longer in production thus support for this particular lens is limited. ARwall no longer sells this lens but that doesn't mean we will drop support for it within the ARFX Pro Plugin any time soon.

Section 11.1 The Component.

Like the Cine Cam Lens Component, there is not much here to actually do as most settings are found on the ARFX Lens Camera.

• Get Port - This button will automatically try to obtain the port number to which your lens is connected. You will be informed if the action fails.

• Port - This is the COM port that Windows has assigned the lens to after plugging in via USB.

• Disable Smoothing - If enabled, the component will report the raw data it is receiving, which has hard steps to it.

• Samples - These are available when the above is not enabled. This is the sample size used in the smooth transition between each data step. The higher the number, the smoother it can be at the cost of delay.  

Section 11.2 How to Find and Set the Port Number.

There are two methods of obtaining the lens’ COM port number.

Section 11.3 Using the Get Port Button.

This button polls your computer for a list of all assigned COM ports and the name of each one. If it finds the item it is looking for, then it assigns it automatically.

If the action fails, you will receive the following message. Please ensure that you have followed the instructions sent along with your lens cables to ensure that we can read the lens properly!

Section 11.4 Using the Log.    

This method is the original way of obtaining the COM port number.

Though this image is from Unreal 4.27, the logs we are looking for have not changed.

• Set the Port to Disabled.

• Run the scene in Play In Editor

• Open Unreal Editor’s Output Log window by going to Window > Output Log

• In the Search Log, type in __Canon__

• You are looking for entries that list out used COM ports on your machine like in the example image above.

• You are looking for an entry that contains __“VCP”__ and the corresponding COM number that will be your port. In image, it’d be _\Device\VCP0_

If you do not see any log entry with COM ports being listed or an entry that contains _“VCP”_ then ensure that your camera is on and the lens plugged in correctly.

As always, refer to the documentation provided with the lens cable that ARwall sent as we cannot detail this in this Knowledge Base.

Section 11.5 Setting Up the ARFX Lens Camera for the Canon Lens Component.

You must ensure that this option is enabled on the ARFX Lens Camera Actor to properly use the Canon lens data!

To use the Canon Lens Component, you must ensure that the above option is enabled on your ARFX Lens Camera. Doing this will ensure that the data uses raw values instead of the 0 to 100% data a typical LensEmulation setup provides.

To do this, select your ARFX Lens Camera and go to: Details > ARwall > Lens Emulation > Focus Distance.

Section 11.6 Using Canon Lens Component on a Normal Cine Camera.

Originally the use case for the Canon Lens Component was for the early days of Unreal’s Virtual Production. At the time, however, we did not have [LiveLink] or Live Link Lens to rely upon for full [LensEmulation]. Our solution was to create our own Cine Camera Actor that can use the data. Thus came the ARFX Comp Lens Camera Actor.

You can place this actor at any time from this menu.

This camera is no different from any other Cine Camera Actor. Feel free to use this in other Virtual Production methods such as green screen or composite output. Just be sure to add the Canon Lens Component to it!

Section 11.7 Ensuring the Canon Lens is Loaded and Ready.

Again, from 4.27, but this information is still accurate today.  

To ensure that the Canon Lens Component is reading the lens correctly you can go to the Output Log and find something like the above in it.

• Run the scene in PlayInEditor

• Open Unreal Editor’s Output Log window by going to Window > Output Log.

• In Search Log, type in __Canon__

• You are looking for an entry like the last one listed in the image above with the words __”Canon Lens Manager : LOADED”__

If you see __”Canon Lens Manager : FAILED TO LOAD”__ then go over the steps once more to ensure that you have set the proper Port number, ensure that your camera is on, and that your lens is connected correctly to your computer’s USB port.

Section 11.8 Common Troubleshooting Steps.        

• Ensure that you’ve followed the instructions that came with your lens data cable and components. There are steps that cannot be covered here.

• Do not use a USB hub.

• Ensure that the USB cable is an active cable for longer range.

• Ensure that your computer sees the lens via the Output Log.

• Ensure that your camera is actually powered on.

• Ensure that you are using the right cable port on the lens.

• We have had issues with external zoom controls that use the same port as our data port. It might be best to not use such add-ons the lens data is critical.

• We hace had issues with external zoom controls that use the same port as our data port. it might be best to not use such add-ons the lens data is critical.