Will Canon Introduce a VCM Lens for Portrait Photographers?

Canon has always introduced some wonderful lenses over the years. The L-series, for instance, has some of the most popular focal ranges in the history of the company. With the innovation of mirrorless, Canon has pushed boundaries for the better, and it appears that they are going to fill in the blanks with a new, much-awaited lens. What could it be? Have a look.

According to Canon Rumors, Canon is set to introduce the next lens for its prime series lineup: the 105mm f1.4L. The report notes that the VCM prime lineup is keen on launching a lens that benefits portrait photographers.

While there are 50mm and 85mm, they are still not enough for those who want more. As a result, there is a sparring match between two focal ranges: 105mm and 135mm. Of the two, the most common outcome seems to be the former. Why? Because the latter with f1.4 aperture will be a challenge, especially with the physical consistency of a company prime. Moreover, Canon already offers the 135mm f1.8L, a well-regarded lens, which can make the f1.4 a bit redundant.

If the 105mm arrives with the VCM motor, it could also be the final lens for the creators. At the moment, Canon already has six VCM lenses: 14mm, 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. If the 105mm is introduced, that will make the 7th lens in the series. There have been talks of the 35mm f1.2L VCM for a while now, which further raises eyebrows about the future of long-range prime lenses. However, the more logical step will be catering to 105mm or 135mm users, who have been waiting for one such offering for a while now.

The announcement has since raised questions about the 67mm filter thread, and how a true 105mm f1.4 may not fit into that. Some suggest that one will require a 77mm filter thread, or they may have to introduce a slower lens, of approximately f1.7 aperture. In fact, the existing 105mm from Sigma uses a larger thread, highlighting how big a “real” f/1.4 at this focal length tends to be.

There are some who are also suggesting that Canon has a tendency to round up numbers for simplicity. The existing 85mm is closer to 81mm, while the 45mm is closer to 49mm. There is a belief that the 105mm, thus, could be closer to 100mm, which will help the lens to feature a 67mm filter thread.

Despite the clash of options, the question is whether the lens will work. The f1.4 for 105mm is a lens that is not just compact but also fast enough for low-light photographers. However, since the VCM lineup is all about compactness and lightweight build, Canon may have to compromise a bit. Or, they can make the 105mm slightly larger with a bigger filter thread, and stand a chance to actually make some sales.

The report suggests that a Q4 2026 announcement could be on the horizon, but nothing has been confirmed yet. It remains to be seen what Canon finally has in store, but for now, it seems that they are trying to win the audience back.