diff --git a/yt/data_objects/tests/test_data_containers.py b/yt/data_objects/tests/test_data_containers.py
index d0f99c6a79..8c3455fd10 100644
--- a/yt/data_objects/tests/test_data_containers.py
+++ b/yt/data_objects/tests/test_data_containers.py
@@ -126,8 +126,12 @@ def test_to_frb(self):
             data_source=dd,
         )
         frb = proj.to_frb((1.0, "unitary"), 64)
-        assert_equal(frb.radius, (1.0, "unitary"))
-        assert_equal(frb.buff_size, 64)
+        assert_equal(frb.radius, ds.quan(1.0, "unitary"))
+        assert_equal(frb.buff_size, (64, 64))
+
+        # exercise field access
+        # see https://github.com/yt-project/yt/issues/4789
+        frb["r"]
 
     def test_extract_isocontours(self):
         # Test isocontour properties for AMRGridData
diff --git a/yt/visualization/fixed_resolution.py b/yt/visualization/fixed_resolution.py
index 7e1123cdf6..04d869a06b 100644
--- a/yt/visualization/fixed_resolution.py
+++ b/yt/visualization/fixed_resolution.py
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 import sys
 import weakref
 from functools import partial
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from numbers import Real
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Union
 
 import numpy as np
+from unyt import Unit, unyt_quantity
 
 from yt._maintenance.deprecation import issue_deprecation_warning
-from yt._typing import FieldKey, MaskT
+from yt._typing import FieldKey, MaskT, Quantity
 from yt.data_objects.image_array import ImageArray
 from yt.frontends.ytdata.utilities import save_as_dataset
 from yt.funcs import get_output_filename, iter_fields, mylog
@@ -581,18 +583,51 @@ class CylindricalFixedResolutionBuffer(FixedResolutionBuffer):
     that supports non-aligned input data objects, primarily cutting planes.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, data_source, radius, buff_size, antialias=True, *, filters=None):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        data_source,
+        radius: Quantity,
+        buff_size: Union[int, tuple[int, int]],
+        antialias: bool = True,
+        *,
+        filters: Optional[list["FixedResolutionBufferFilter"]] = None,
+    ):
+        if data_source.ds is None:
+            raise TypeError(
+                "CylindricalFixedResolutionBuffer requires an actual dataset "
+                "be attached to data_source (got None)"
+            )
         self.data_source = data_source
         self.ds = data_source.ds
-        self.radius = radius
-        self.buff_size = buff_size
+        self.radius = self._sanitize_radius(radius)
+        if isinstance(buff_size, int):
+            self.buff_size = (buff_size, buff_size)
+        else:
+            self.buff_size = buff_size
+        self.bounds = self._get_bounds()
         self.antialias = antialias
-        self.data = {}
+        self.data: dict[str, ImageArray] = {}
+        self.mask: dict[str, MaskT] = {}
         self._filters = filters if filters is not None else []
+        self.ds.plots.append(weakref.proxy(self))
+
+    def _sanitize_radius(self, r: Quantity) -> unyt_quantity:
+        if isinstance(r, unyt_quantity):
+            return self.ds.quan(r).to("code_length")
+        elif (
+            isinstance(r, tuple)
+            and len(r) == 2
+            and (isinstance(r[0], Real) and isinstance(r[1], (str, Unit)))
+        ):
+            return self.ds.quan(*r).to("code_length")
+        else:
+            raise TypeError(
+                f"Got unparsable radius value {r!r}, expected a unyt_quantity-like)"
+            )
 
-        ds = getattr(data_source, "ds", None)
-        if ds is not None:
-            ds.plots.append(weakref.proxy(self))
+    def _get_bounds(self) -> tuple[float, float, float, float]:
+        dx = dy = self.radius.item()
+        return (0.0, dx, 0.0, dy)
 
     @override
     def _generate_image_and_mask(self, item) -> None:
@@ -604,7 +639,7 @@ def _generate_image_and_mask(self, item) -> None:
             self.data_source["theta"],
             self.data_source["dtheta"],
             self.data_source[item].astype("float64"),
-            self.radius,
+            extents=self.bounds,
             return_mask=True,
         )
         self.data[item] = ImageArray(