Canon Announces RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM in L-Series Lineup
Canon has announced the RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM, the latest addition to its line of hybrid RF prime lenses. The lens follows the RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM introduced in June 2024, the 24mm and 50mm versions launched later that year, and the 20mm model released in March 2025. It becomes the fifth lens in the series, which is designed for both still and video use and shares uniform physical dimensions across focal lengths.
The RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM covers full-frame sensors and is built around a 14-element, 10-group optical design. It incorporates one Ultra-Low Dispersion (UD) element, one glass-molded aspherical element, and Canon’s Air Sphere Coating (ASC) to reduce flare and ghosting. Additional coatings, including Super Spectra and a fluorine layer on the front element, are intended to improve clarity and facilitate cleaning. The lens employs an 11-blade rounded diaphragm, which is consistent across the series, and has a minimum aperture of f/16. Its close-focus distance is 0.75 m, yielding a maximum magnification of 0.12x. The front filter diameter is 67 mm.
The lens measures 76.5 mm in diameter and 99.6 mm in length, dimensions that match the other f/1.4L VCM primes, although it is the heaviest of the group at 636 g. In comparison, the 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm versions weigh between 515 g and 610 g. The construction includes weather sealing and multiple protective measures against dust and moisture, in line with Canon’s L-series standards.
Autofocus is driven solely by a voice coil motor (VCM). Unlike the 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses, the 85mm does not use a floating element design and therefore does not incorporate a secondary Nano USM motor. Canon notes that the VCM generates a low-level magnetic field and advises caution for users with pacemakers or similar medical devices. The focusing system is designed to minimize focus breathing, a feature relevant for video recording.
As with the other f/1.4L VCM primes, the RF 85mm includes a dedicated, de-clicked iris control ring for smooth aperture adjustment during filming, a customizable control ring, and a lens function button. Both front and rear filter options are supported.
Here are some sample pictures, courtesy of Canon:
The Canon RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM should be soon available, with a suggested retail price of $1,649 in the United States.
