Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake

lensfreak wrote in post #14659295
I cant see the point of this lens?

I can't see the point of a question mark at the end of a statement

dave_bass5 wrote in post #14662092
I think its ok for close up head and shoulder shots.

This is my 8 year old son messing about.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/davebass5/74855​31604/
Mad Sam by dave_bass5, on Flickr

If you don't mind me asking, did you use much post processing for this image. It looks really really sharp, like, way sharper than any of the photos I've taken with the 40.

LowriderS10 wrote in post #14663015
I can't see the point of a question mark at the end of a statement

Its such an inexpensive lens I'd imagine anyone could benefit buying the cheap pancake.

When I first saw Canon introduce this lens I was not impressed. For me I see no benefits having a slow prime. However the only reason I can see this lens to be "interesting" is simply due to IS and size.

I dont care much for my 35L focal length so a 40mm is only beneficial due to physical size. I look at primes as a tool for low light. f/2.8 is fine for video with supplemented light but for still photography I'd rather have faster glass for a prime.

When people discuss light weight application I do thoroughly enjoy my olympus OM-D micro 4/3 system. Primes with the micro 4/3 is lighter than a 5dmk"x" or any canon crop body and has incredible IQ. I can see people owning a fuji xpro1, fuji x100, or new generation 16mp micro 4/3 bodies probably do not see the benefits of this slow 40mm lens on their canon dslr equipment. I am actually finding the IQ of the OM-D to be on par with my 5d classic (i wish I was joking). In the M 4/3 world there's a panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens that is "tiny" (equiv to 40mm on a 35mm format) and it would be more versatile due to speed than a 40mm pancake on a full frame canon.

Kudo's to canon for adding more lenses to the stable. Seems to be a "what the heck its cheap" decent lens to own.

AlanU wrote in post #14663158
Its such an inexpensive lens I'd imagine anyone could benefit buying the cheap pancake.

When I first saw Canon introduce this lens I was not impressed. For me I see no benefits having a slow prime. However the only reason I can see this lens to be "interesting" is simply due to IS and size.

I dont care much for my 35L focal length so a 40mm is only beneficial due to physical size. I look at primes as a tool for low light. f/2.8 is fine for video with supplemented light but for still photography I'd rather have faster glass for a prime.

When people discuss light weight application I do thoroughly enjoy my olympus OM-D micro 4/3 system. Primes with the micro 4/3 is lighter than a 5dmk"x" or any canon crop body and has incredible IQ. I can see people owning a fuji xpro1, fuji x100, or new generation 16mp micro 4/3 bodies probably do not see the benefits of this slow 40mm lens on their canon dslr equipment. I am actually finding the IQ of the OM-D to be on par with my 5d classic (i wish I was joking). In the M 4/3 world there's a panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens that is "tiny" (equiv to 40mm on a 35mm format) and it would be more versatile due to speed than a 40mm pancake on a full frame canon.

Kudo's to canon for adding more lenses to the stable. Seems to be a "what the heck its cheap" decent lens to own.

Yeah, perhaps for those who own smaller systems (like M4/3) this isn't a huge deal, but for those of us who can't afford or don't want too much stuff or can't justify (I fall in the latter two categories) a second system, this is a heaven-sent. I really, really wish this pancake was a stop faster, I would have been tempted to shell out twice as much money for an extra stop. (I know there's the Voigtlander, but that's MF only, which means I'd have to change focusing screens, plus I don't trust my eyes all that much).

HOWEVER...for $195 (price in Korea), I can have a walkaround setup that brings my entire body/lens/battery combo to under a kilo and makes it less conspicuous than a Rebel with a kit lens. I usually only shoot with primes for the heck of it...just for fun, when I don't mind if I miss a shot or five because I don't have the right FL. I've been looking to fill the 50mm gap, but the 1.8 is meh (I like them, but after owning 3, I've yet to completely fall in love with it), I hate the Canon 50 1.4 and the Sigma 50 1.4 is big, heavy and a hit or miss (and being in Korea, I can't take the risk of getting one with sh!t AF). So...I've been patiently waiting...this little guy seems to offer great bokeh, sharp pictures, fast enough AF for what I do and all in a super light/small package.

Seriously, if owning this lens NOW gives you more freedom with your dslr due to its size, then I think your kidding yourself. Slr cameras are big for a reason. This lens was a stupid introduction by canon. They could have really put the $$$$$ to a better more flexible lens than dropping10mm from a 50mm.

The images produced from it look like any other lens. What's next canon, a 60-180mm version to take ver the 70-200mm?

If you want a small kit for traveling and think the pancake is the go, then your wrong. Get a decent point and shoot and move on. Slr are mechanically big for a reason.

Waiting for canon to produce something worth buying.

deeselcyde wrote in post #14663072
If you don't mind me asking, did you use much post processing for this image. It looks really really sharp, like, way sharper than any of the photos I've taken with the 40.

I only used LR4 on this shot.
First off it was shot with flash, I'm not a lover of indoor natural light shots unless I have to.
In LR I pushed the contrast and Clarity almost right up, highlights down and took the vibrancy down a bit.
It's not natural looking but I felt it fitted this shot.

lensfreak wrote in post #14663727
Seriously, if owning this lens NOW gives you more freedom with your dslr due to its size, then I think your kidding yourself. Slr cameras are big for a reason. This lens was a stupid introduction by canon. They could have really put the $$$$$ to a better more flexible lens than dropping10mm from a 50mm.

The images produced from it look like any other lens. What's next canon, a 60-180mm version to take ver the 70-200mm?

If you want a small kit for traveling and think the pancake is the go, then your wrong. Get a decent point and shoot and move on. Slr are mechanically big for a reason.

Waiting for canon to produce something worth buying.

You seem to be really worked up about this.

For starters, if you think that this is merely a 50 with 10mm dropped you need to learn a LOT about photography and equipment. A lot.

I'll tell you something...when I slapped my old 50 1.8 or my current 100 f2 on my camera after lugging around the 16-35L II, I absolutely loved it...it was much lighter, and I was much, much more likely to grab the camera for a day of just random bumming around town than the big/heavy setup. When I wander around either my own city or Busan (big city near my city), I have a tendency to aimlessly walk around for 8-10+ hours. I have a f*cked shoulder/back thanks to getting hit by a car while biking, so the less weight I carry on my shoulders, the happier I am.

Also, Korea is an extremely densely populated place where social norms (such as not shoving and invading someone's personal space) are not observed like they are in the west. Therefore, when I have a long lens (even a 16-35L II) my camera gets knocked around quite a bit more (on subways, shopping centres, markets, etc) than if I have a short lens on it.

Finally, for several reasons, I hate it when people pay a lot of attention to my gear and remark on how expensive it must be...when I put a small lens on the 5D this almost never happens...put the 16-35L II or other big lens on it and it gets attention...

In conclusion: This lens fills several needs for me. If you don't like this lens, that's great, don't buy it. But stop telling the rest of us (those of us who, for one reason or another, feel that this lens will be a valuable addition to our kit) what to do.

The lens is selling well, people are very enthusiastic about it, i cant understand why some people are so adamant that its pointless.
Its not for everyone but to dismiss those who have it, and have it for a reason seems a bit of a waste of time to me.
Personally i feel if you have to justify your purchase to someone else then you are wasting your time, it will just drag on and on.
On the web we need to remember that someone else always knows best.

Lensfreak's post made me laugh.

I personally think DSLR is meant to be intimidating...It's big for a reason. That's why I love using my 5D2 gripped with a big white lens.

Putting a pancake on a DSLR just makes it look stupid....it's like fitting a big 4WD with a 14" rims...

You want to shoot un-noticed? If it means that much to you, get a mirrorless such as a X-PRO1 or OM-D with a fast normal prime.

dave_bass5 wrote in post #14663860
The lens is selling well, people are very enthusiastic about it, i cant understand why some people are so adamant that its pointless.
Its not for everyone but to dismiss those who have it, and have it for a reason seems a bit of a waste of time to me.
Personally i feel if you have to justify your purchase to someone else then you are wasting your time, it will just drag on and on.
On the web we need to remember that someone else always knows best.

Lensfreak's post made me laugh.

Agreed.

kin2son wrote in post #14663906
I personally think DSLR is meant to be intimidating...It's big for a reason. That's why I love using my 5D2 gripped with a big white lens.

Putting a pancake on a DSLR just makes it look stupid....it's like fitting a big 4WD with a 14" rims...

You want to shoot un-noticed? If it means that much to you, get a mirrorless such as a X-PRO1 or OM-D with a fast normal prime.

Agreed

kin2son wrote in post #14663906
I personally think DSLR is meant to be intimidating...It's big for a reason. That's why I love using my 5D2 gripped with a big white lens.

Putting a pancake on a DSLR just makes it look stupid....it's like fitting a big 4WD with a 14" rims...

You want to shoot un-noticed? Get a mirrorless such as a X-PRO1 or OM-D with a fast normal prime.

Ahhhh....you're one of thoooooose. I've seen your kind before in the car world, camera world, bike world, etc...

Who gives a crap if it "looks stupid?" For one...that's your opinion. I think it looks kinda cool/different/neat. But...as long as it does the job and it does it well I'm not concerned about the looks.

Finally...I'd LOVE to get an OM-D...I'll give you my paypal address, so you can forward me the necessary funds (about $1,500 should cover the body and a good fast prime). Until then, for $195 I'm gonna love the hell out of the Pancake.

LowriderS10 wrote in post #14663919
Ahhhh....you're one of thoooooose. I've seen your kind before in the car world, camera world, bike world, etc...

Finally...I'd LOVE to get an OM-D...I'll give you my paypal address, so you can forward me the necessary funds (about $1,500 should cover the body and a good fast prime). Until then, for $195 I'm gonna love the hell out of the Pancake.

haha, actually i thought about getting one as it's so cheap...but i have 35L and Sigma 50 already...the only advantage i can see is its cheap price. Size to me isn't an issue as my camera is big in the first place, I don''t mind a lens that actually weights a bit

I might still get one one day just for fun...:p

LowriderS10 wrote in post #14663235
Yeah, perhaps for those who own smaller systems (like M4/3) this isn't a huge deal, but for those of us who can't afford or don't want too much stuff or can't justify (I fall in the latter two categories) a second system, this is a heaven-sent. I really, really wish this pancake was a stop faster, I would have been tempted to shell out twice as much money for an extra stop. (I know there's the Voigtlander, but that's MF only, which means I'd have to change focusing screens, plus I don't trust my eyes all that much).

HOWEVER...for $195 (price in Korea), I can have a walkaround setup that brings my entire body/lens/battery combo to under a kilo and makes it less conspicuous than a Rebel with a kit lens. I usually only shoot with primes for the heck of it...just for fun, when I don't mind if I miss a shot or five because I don't have the right FL. I've been looking to fill the 50mm gap, but the 1.8 is meh (I like them, but after owning 3, I've yet to completely fall in love with it), I hate the Canon 50 1.4 and the Sigma 50 1.4 is big, heavy and a hit or miss (and being in Korea, I can't take the risk of getting one with sh!t AF). So...I've been patiently waiting...this little guy seems to offer great bokeh, sharp pictures, fast enough AF for what I do and all in a super light/small package.

This is exactly how I feel. I just ordered the 40mm and will put it through a test to see which I like better, the 40mm or 50mm f/1.4. As of right now, I hate my 50mm, but every time I use it I love it. It's just too soft wide open to be usable, but the lens is so much fun to use. I really do love the focal length and the vignette it gives off wide open is something I love/can use, but the fact that it is so soft makes me use my 17-40L @40mm, or 70-200L @ 70mm over the 50mm. It doesn't get sharp until f/2.8, but guess what..... The 40mm starts at f/2.8 and it's sharp!!