We Review the First Three Canon VCM-Prime Lenses

Canon has released a set of lenses that carry the abbreviation VCM, short for Voice Coil Motor, a fast and silent autofocus system. The first three primes of this series are the RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM, the RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM, and the RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM. Let’s have a look.

Canon has added three primes to this new series of VCM lenses, and the fourth is on its way as we speak. The lenses I received from Canon Nederland were the 24mm, 35mm, and the 50mm. All lenses have the same maximum aperture of f/1.4 and feature a dedicated aperture ring.

These VCM lenses are targeted at hybrid users, with a silent autofocus that works with a combination of the Nano Ultra Sonic Motor for floating focus and the Voice Coil Motor for the rear focus. The aperture ring is without clicks and works in increments of 1/32 stop for a smooth transition in exposure.

The RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM, RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM, and RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM have the same size and weight. This allows for fast lens changing without the need to rebalance a gimbal with each change. The filter diameter is also the same, which is convenient when using variable neutral density filters.

The lenses have a wide and smooth electronic focusing ring, the well-known control ring, and a focus switch. There is a programmable button and a spring-loaded iris-lock switch. You have to rely on in-body image stabilization since these lenses have no built-in stabilization system.

Mandatory Image Correction

Similar to many modern lenses from various manufacturers, these VCM primes rely heavily on in-camera lens correction. Without the lens correction enabled, the performance appears to be weak. Especially the RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM has the strongest vignetting and barrel distortion of the three, closely followed by the RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM.

Closing the aperture to f/8 improves things significantly, but it is still mandatory to apply lens correction. Canon promises the best possible image quality thanks to the design optimized for high-resolution imaging and claims it allows for better quality compared to optical correction alone.

Looking at the sharpness of the center and right top corner reveals good detail, only slightly soft in the corner at f/1.4. Closing the aperture to f/8 improves sharpness, as expected. The examples were captured with in-camera lens correction enabled. It shows how the lens correction doesn’t seem to degrade sharpness noticeably, if at all.

Bokeh and Flares

These three VCM primes all offer a maximum aperture of f/1.4. This allows a lot of light through the lens, which is ideal in low-light conditions without needing to raise the ISO too much. This is especially convenient for video when there is no opportunity to change the shutter speed. It also allows for a shallow depth of field and a pleasing bokeh.

The size of bokeh balls depends on both distance and focal length. The shorter the focal length, the smaller the balls appear. However, in all three cases the balls look smooth, round, and don’t appear to have any onion rings. Towards the corners, the balls take on a cat-eye shape.

I used the lenses during a wedding under harsh sunlight, without the lens hood. Although this doesn’t show the full extent of potential flares, it reflects a real-world shooting scenario. I didn’t experience any significant flaring.

Autofocus

The combination of the Nano USM and VCM autofocus systems allows for silent and extremely fast performance. The image is focused the second you activate the autofocus. With servo AF, the subject stays in focus.

The lens doesn’t extend during focusing, which is a blessing, as the autofocus is entirely by wire. Without power, it isn’t possible to change focus manually or otherwise.

I checked for any focus breathing and didn’t notice any. I’m not sure if this is due to the focusing system of the lens itself or digital correction in the camera.

Real-World Use

I used these three VCM prime lenses mainly for an engagement shoot and a wedding. I think these lenses are best suited for that kind of photography. My experience is mostly based on that use.

The compact size and reduced weight were very convenient compared to the lenses I usually use—especially during a long day at a wedding. However, the similar size and appearance made it difficult to grab the right lens by touch. I was forced to check the focal length every time. It’s not a real issue, but something to be aware of.

At first glance, the aperture ring is a nice addition. I would have liked a button to activate clicks, making it easier to keep the aperture at the same setting, and offering some feedback when changing aperture.

However, to use the aperture ring for photography, the EOS R1 or EOS R5 Mark II is required. I used a Canon EOS R5 and a Canon EOS R5 Mark II for this wedding. The aperture ring worked on the latter, but not on the former.  To keep things simple, I set the aperture ring set to auto with the iris-lock button. This way, it behaved similarly on both cameras.

Night Sky Photography

The RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM has potential for night sky photography. However, I’ve had bad experiences with lenses that rely on in-camera lens correction. Especially when stacking is involved, lens correction can lead to serious banding issues. You could disable lens correction for this purpose, but the vignetting and distortion are extreme with this lens.

I expected banding to occur when stacking multiple images for a short star trail. Surprisingly, banding was almost completely absent. I did find some mixed results when stacking images in StarStaX, but Photoshop posed no problems.

Conclusion

To be honest, I’m not a fan of lenses that rely heavily on lens correction. I prefer lenses that have an optical formula that reduces lens errors as much as possible. This usually means larger and heavier lenses, which I accept.

Canon hasn’t released an RF 24mm or RF 35mm with large apertures yet, except in this VCM series. I like the compact size in combination with the f/1.4 aperture. I also like having an aperture ring. But I don’t like the mandatory lens correction, especially with the 24mm, which I would like to use for night sky photography and stacking.

To my surprise, even with lens correction applied, the images are perfectly usable for the purpose I have in mind. So I’ve had to change my opinion on that. These lenses are worth considering, especially at their reasonable price point.

However, I do have a problem with the aperture ring and how it’s implemented. I would have preferred the option to enable clicks. But more than that, I don’t understand why the aperture ring doesn’t work for still photography on cameras released before 2025. It works for video, without exceptions, so why not for photos?

There is always the option to use the auto setting and control the aperture with the scroll wheel. But if I have an aperture ring, I want to use it. This is a significant drawback for me. It makes me hesitant to buy one of these lenses. But if you’re okay with it, these VCM lenses are worth the money.

What I Like

• Small size and light weight

• Similar size and weight for lens changes while using on gimbal

• No notable focus breathing

• Aperture ring without clicks (for video)

• Fast, silent, and reliable autofocus

• Programmable button

• Good image quality after lens correction

• Minimal banding when stacking (depends on software)

• Weather-sealed

• Reasonable price

What I Dislike

• The aperture ring doesn’t work for stills on older cameras

• Mandatory in-camera lens correction

• No possibility to activate the clicks on the aperture ring

• Hard to distinguish by touch due to identical size and weight (debatable)

• No lens stabilization (debatable)