RF85mm f/1.4L VCM: A Hybrid Lens for Capturing Intimate Narratives
RF85mm f/1.4L VCM with EOS R5 Mark II
SINGAPORE, 10 September 2025 — Canon today announced the RF85mm f/1.4L VCM, the first medium telephoto lens in its professional f/1.4 VCM series. The series includes photo/video hybrid prime lenses that balance high-quality optics and a large f/1.4 aperture with filmmaker-friendly features. It is also autofocus driven with the new VCM (Voice Coil Motor), within a lightweight body.
Mr. Andrew Koh, Senior Vice President and Head of Singapore Operations Group, Canon Singapore said, "Building on the popular VCM series of RF lenses introduced last year, we are delighted to strengthen the line-up with the RF85mm f/1.4L VCM, to help content creators elevate their storytelling. We believe the latest addition will become a classic and trusted companion for all visual storytellers."
From Pleasing Portraits to Intimate Storytelling
85 mm lenses have long been a classic for capturing pleasing portraits and product images with their natural-looking perspective and compression. This makes the background appear closer without overwhelming the subject. As such, with the RF85mm f/1.4L VCM, creators can capture close-ups of facial expressions and emotional moments in an intimate way even when shooting from a respectful distance away.
The RF85mm f/1.4L VCM combines these framing possibilities with a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture and professional-grade optics, creating breathtaking results. Users can tell their stories in many ways such as engagement shots in the beautiful evening light, recording a quiet scene in a quaint café, or fleeting interactions on a busy street; each telling their own stories. Backgrounds melt away into a smooth, dreamy shallow focus blur that turns the world into a stage, while your subject stands as though in the spotlight: remains sharp and beautifully rendered.
Designed for Professionalism
At 99.3 cm long and weighing just 636 g, it is around 30% lighter than its EF-mount counterpart, the EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM. However, the difference ends there as the RF85mm f/1.4L VCM shares the same compact, lightweight size with its EF predecessor. This makes the RF85mm f/1.4L VCM perfect for creating dynamic transitions with camera movement. Its size, weight, and design are consistent with the other VCM lenses, as well as the shared 67 mm front filter thread, making it easy to swap lenses with minimal rebalancing if users are utilising them either on a gimbal or camera rig.
Like Canon's other hybrid lenses, it is equipped with a clickless iris ring for seamless aperture changes during video shooting. Much like cinema lenses, it has an optical design that mechanically suppresses fluctuations in the field of view (focus breathing) that might occur during focus transitions, allowing users to create professional-looking footage effortlessly.
Built for professional usage, the RF85mm f/1.4L VCM delivers reliable performance even under harsh conditions. Its robust dust- and drip-resistant build, smudge-resistant fluorine coating on the frontmost element caters for easy maintenance. In addition, the Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) and Glass-molded (GMo) aspheric lenses in RF85mm f/1.4L VCM provide superior aberration correction, and Canon's Air Sphere Coating (ASC) optical technology reduces flare and ghosting even when shooting in backlight.
Pricing and Availability
The RF85mm f/1.4L VCM will be available from late September 2025 at the recommended retail price of S$2,289 at Canon Authorised Retailers.
Product Specifications
| Lens Model | RF85mm f/1.4L VCM |
| Focal Length | 85 mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.4 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 0.75 m |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.12x |
| Lens Construction | 14 elements in 10 groups |
| Filter Type | Front of lens |
| Filter Size Diameter | Ø67 mm |
| Aperture Blades | 11 |
| Iris Ring | Yes |
| Maximum Diameter and Length | Approx. 76.5 mm x 99.3 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 636 g |
About Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd. is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies. Besides handling the domestic market, the company covers 22 other countries and regions. The parent company Canon Inc. has a global network of more than 300 companies and employs about 170,000 people worldwide. Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.
More information is available at https://sg.canon.
