Canon has introduced their fifth hybrid VCM prime lens, becoming a member of the 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm VCM line, all with a large f/1.4 aperture, encased in an equivalent exterior chassis. These primes be part of the Canon 24-105mm f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM Z hybrid zoom lenses. However what precisely is a “hybrid lens”? Be a part of us and Canon’s Mark Fensome for some insights, straight from the IBC commerce present in Amsterdam.
The Canon RF 85 mm f/1.4 L VCM is the most recent addition to the corporate’s rising hybrid lens collection, comprised of 4 primes and two zooms as of the writing of this text. Lens units have been very fashionable within the cinema world, providing each mechanical and optical consistency throughout the focal vary. These units weren’t a factor within the nonetheless images phase, since consistency wasn’t as vital there. The hybrid phase has principally advanced as nonetheless cameras gained cinematic functionality. This led hybrid shooters to make use of optics designed for stills of their filmmaking. As time glided by, hybrid creators honed their craft and observe to a degree at which lenses designed for stills began to impose limits on their creativity.
Canon RF 85mm f/1.4 L VCM. Picture credit score: CineD
Enter the hybrid lenses
Hybrid lenses, like hybrid cameras, attempt to merge each stills and movement seize options right into a single lens, hoping to get the very best of each worlds. The sharpness, compactness, and protection of still-oriented lenses are strengthened with elementary cine options:
- Optical consistency all through the vary
- Mechanical consistency for rigging
- minimal focus respiratory
- parfocal design for zoom lenses
- clean aperture/iris ring
- Linear focusing
Canon’s Hybrid lens set. Picture credit score: CineD
The lens that began Canon’s hybrid lens set, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM, consists of all these, adopted by the remainder of the collection and the newest RF 85mm f/1.4 L VCM.
With the brand new RF 85mm f/1.4, Canon tremendously expands the VCM vary to incorporate a traditional portrait focal size that may tremendously cater to the wants of each photographers and videographers. Together with its 4 sisters, it ought to cowl most artistic wants.
Canon’s Hybrid lens set, the 50mm is a mockup, not the precise lens. Picture credit score: CineD
Value and availability
The Canon RF 85mm F/1.4L VCM must be obtainable this month for $1,649. At roughly half the scale and weight in comparison with the RF 85mm F1.2L USM, this lens is a strong choice for filmmakers and content material creators on the lookout for a light-weight, skilled, portrait prime lens.
Do you utilize hybrid lens units in your workflow? Are you utilizing them for filmmaking? Stills or a little bit of each? Tell us within the feedback.
