Canon’s Upcoming VCM Zoom Lens

credits: Canon

A new rumour suggests Canon may be preparing a notable update to its L-series zoom lineup, specifically around autofocus technology. According to multiple sources, the company is working on a high-end L-series zoom lens that would use Voice Coil Motor (VCM) autofocus. If this turns out to be true, it would be a first for Canon, since VCM has so far only appeared in a handful of recent RF prime lenses, not in zooms.

VCM autofocus is designed for speed and smoothness, with the added bonus of being extremely quiet. Up to now, most L-series zooms have relied on ring-type USM motors, which are great for normal photos but not always ideal for smooth focus pulls on video. STM motors help in that regard, but they can feel a bit sluggish. Bringing VCM into a zoom lens would suggest that Canon is trying to better balance photo and video performance, rather than clearly favouring one over the other.

As for what this mystery lens actually is, details are still pretty vague. The rumour points to a wide-angle zoom arriving as early as March 2026, but there is no word yet on focal length or aperture. Some speculation mentions a possible RF 24–70mm f/2.8L IS VCM, though that is far from confirmed. Canon already offers several VCM-equipped primes from 20mm to 85mm f/1.4, so expanding the tech to zooms would make sense. There is also talk of a second L-series lens launching around the same time. With CP+ happening in late February, we may not have to wait long to learn more.