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We reported a couple of weeks back that Canon would be releasing two more VCM lenses, and that at least one of them would not be f/1.4L like the current lineup of 5 lenses. This makes sense, especially if they go wider than 20mm or longer than 85mm.
Whining
To stay consistent with my decade long whining, I'd like an RF 28mm f/1.4L VCM. I'm not asking for a RF 10-1000mm f/1.4L IS VCM for under $2000.
Canon RF 14mm f/2L VCM
We were told today that one of those lenses would be an RF 14mm f/2L VCM. I do want to caution that this information didn't come from the previous source of VCM lens announcements, most recently the RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM.
I'm not a lens designer and Canon have come up with new lens design philosophy with these VCM lenses to keep them equal in size and weight. Along with the auto iris, aperture ring and a voice coil motor.
When we look at the Sumire series of cinema prime lenses, the Sumire CN-E 20mm is T1.5, and the Sumire CN-E 14mm is T3.1. While cinema lenses are obviously very different than the VCM set of prime lenses.
The CN-E 14mm T3.1 and CN-E 20mm T1.5 are very close in size and are identical weight, so there is some precedent here when it comes to Canon's philosophy when designing lenses designed for videographers.
There's some plausibility to this information, though I can't be as certain as I have been in the past when it comes to the VCM line of prime lenses.
Sadly, there is no Sumire CN-E 28mm T1.5.
When Can We Expect an Announcement?
We don't know for sure, but we don't expect another VCM lens announced in 2025, so 2026 is likely to fill out the VCM line of prime lenses.
Then maybe some photographer lenses such as an RF 35mm f/1.2L? Throw in a new RF 50mm f/1.2L an RF 85mm f/1.2L for good measure.
Next VCM 1.4L ... 120mm 😉
The real question IMO is how the proposed 14/2L will compare against Sony's 14/1.8GM. I'll get hate for this, but Canon's fast(ish) ultrawide primes have never been great. Nor have they ever been particularly fast. This will be new ground. Canon still charges US$2100+tax @ B&H for the EF 14/2.8L II, and it's just not that great a lens. Love or hate Sony, the 14/1.8GM is an absolute gem, and even after all the recent price increases it's $1750 @ B&H. (Ridiculously, it's $1110+tax here in Japan! The EF14/2.8L II is $1627+tax here.)
More competition in the market will be great and I hope Canon comes through with a stunner of a lens and doesn't slap a $2500 price onto it.
As for me, the new Viltrox AF 14/4 Air at $199 delivered is much more in line with what I want to spend on a lens I won't use all that often. Reviews have been very positive!
The 1 stop difference between F2 vs f2.8 for my samyang would be good (assuming reasonable coma) but doesn’t really fit the rumour of a ‘wild’ wide prime
As a portrait shooter, you’re already hauling a strobe, a stand, a softbox, a second camera… so wasting weight on a Chinese anchor lens just isn’t acceptable.
On the other hand, Chinese manufacturers are slashing prices like crazy, so I believe the rumor about an RF 45mm f/1.2 non-L might actually be true.
You mean the 14mm DG HSM? At 1170 grams for a UWA prime, it’s not exactly practical for the general audience.