Which lens is optically better, the 40mm pancake or the Nifty Fifty?

I have and like them both. The 40 stays on the camera 80% of the time due to its size, construction and extra 10mm of width. It also has a faster AF. Optically I have not seen much of a difference between them. If I'm shooting in the house I tend to use the Nifty.

Had both, currently with the 40. I have found IQ to be about the same, deal breaker on the Nifty was AF consistency. The 1.8 was fine, but man did that thing hunt in low light ... like Elmer Fudd blindfolded. A bit of an exaggeration, but wasn't keen on having to rip 5 shots every time for odds of a good one. The 40, spot on even wide open. I like the build better, obviously, not that the Nifty bothered me. If it works, it works.
Grabbed the 40 for $128 around xmas ... I consider the reliability more important than a pixel peep difference. Just my 2¢

I bought my 40mm f/2.8 pancake on a whim when Canon had some refurbs on sale. To tell you the truth, I don't use it all that often because it is IMO an awkward focal length on a crop camera.

I do dog rescue and keep the 40mm on an old Canon 30D to shoot my rescue dogs and their new adoptive families an rescue events; like this beautiful young lady who adopted two puppies. It does a very decent job but, IMO, it is not "quite" up to the standards of my 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens. But, then it cost about 1/10 as much when I purchased the refurb for less than a hundred dollars.

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I don't own the 40mm f/2.8, but I must say that I think the 50mm f/1.8 II is a very capable lens for its price tag. It's a little noisy and it's certainly fragile, but I found it to be a very sharp lens:

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If you don't need f/1.8 then get the 40, you'll be happier. That said, if you need the f/1.8 this isn't even a thread.

The other option is to get either the canon 50 f/1.4 or the sigma f/1.4

i'd look at the sigma 30mm f1.4 if you want wider than 50mm...i'm sorry, but i just don't see the point of a shorter f2.8 prime...if you're buying a prime, at least buy a fast one...

The biggest problem with the 50mm is AF accuracy and consistency - especially in low light. Because of that, one usually lacks confidence they nailed they shoot unless chimping. That alone is enough to pick the 40 over the 50 IMO.

DreDaze wrote in post #16656503
i'd look at the sigma 30mm f1.4 if you want wider than 50mm...i'm sorry, but i just don't see the point of a shorter f2.8 prime...if you're buying a prime, at least buy a fast one...

The 40mm pancake's best asset is it's small size. It's the only lens I know of that I can easily fit in my pants pocket and not even know it's there. I do that when we walk around the zoo - I have a 100-400L mounted on a 5D3, and can carry around something wider easily. It also takes up almost zero space as an additional lens along with all my slower zooms in my camera bag when we travel, providing a very light weight and faster walk around lens.

DreDaze wrote in post #16656503
i'd look at the sigma 30mm f1.4 if you want wider than 50mm...i'm sorry, but i just don't see the point of a shorter f2.8 prime...if you're buying a prime, at least buy a fast one...

I didn't know 30mm f1.4 can be used on Canon 6D (the OP's camera).

vengence wrote in post #16656196
If you don't need f/1.8 then get the 40, you'll be happier. That said, if you need the f/1.8 this isn't even a thread.

The other option is to get either the canon 50 f/1.4 or the sigma f/1.4

This. The sigma 50 should be getting super cheap with new one on the way, look at that thread, then look at pancake thread and judge for yourself. Like dre, I also can't see getting a 2.8 prime in that FL range.

Nick3434 wrote in post #16657388
This. The sigma 50 should be getting super cheap with new one on the way, look at that thread, then look at pancake thread and judge for yourself. Like dre, I also can't see getting a 2.8 prime in that FL range.

Even for under $200? Ounce for ounce, dollar for dollar the 40 and 50mm can't be beaten. Buy both and never look back. Have two great lenses for under $300.

mclaren777 wrote in post #16655373
I can't believe someone said the nifty fifty has "great optics". I think that lens is a piece of junk and I gave mine away for free when I sold my old camera.

Not only is the 40mm better in almost every way, it's also more consistent, which is hugely important.

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Good grief. The same query for the umpteenth time. These graphics should settle it once and for all. Henceforth anyone asking this should be banned from the forum. Clear now which one is the better lens?

Frodge wrote in post #16657427
Even for under $200? Ounce for ounce, dollar for dollar the 40 and 50mm can't be beaten. Buy both and never look back. Have two great lenses for under $300.

Yes, they can. It's called the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM, and it is superb.

pulsar123 wrote in post #16657299
I didn't know 30mm f1.4 can be used on Canon 6D (the OP's camera).

oops...guess i missed that...ok, 35f2 the older version which can be had for a little over $200 used

Abu Mahendra wrote in post #16657465
Good grief. The same query for the umpteenth time. These graphics should settle it once and for all. Henceforth anyone asking this should be banned from the forum. Clear now which one is the better lens?

all that represents is his one lens...which looks like it isn't a good copy of the 50mm...the digital-picture sites crops are closer than that...if you're not into what the question is, don't click on it...

Abu Mahendra wrote in post #16657472
Yes, they can. It's called the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM, and it is superb.

ok, i was bad for suggesting an crop sensor lens for a 6D, but an ef-m lens is even worse

Abu Mahendra wrote in post #16657465
Good grief. The same query for the umpteenth time. These graphics should settle it once and for all. Henceforth anyone asking this should be banned from the forum. Clear now which one is the better lens?

OP here. I have to come clean. Histograms/histographs and charts mean nothing to me. I don't understand them and probably never will. I love math, but but application wins me everytime. I have to see examples.

But, as far as each prime is concerned, I didn't buy either. I thought my 6D was coming in on Friday, but it didn't. Evil elves hid it in a cave, so I won't get it until tomorrow. I'll have the 28-135 to play with on he new 6D, so that will keep me occupied for a while. Had the 6D come in Friday I would have grabbed the 40 or 50 from the local yellow/blue, because the 28-125 was coming later.

Basically, I'm an impatient, childish man who wants everything, including commerce, to move at the speed of thought, and that's not realistic. So I'm sitting here with an IPhone and no camera or lens. I feel naked.

Theoretically, I'll have both the 6R and 28-135 in my possession after work tomorrow, but that ain't for sure. We'll see.

As soon as they both come in I'll get the 40mm. It wins, because I'm no longer in a hurry now that I've already had to deal with late packages, snow, and the impatience of me.

I'm choosing the 40mm (when I get around to buying it) for a few reasons:

1. It wins the autofocus contest.

2. Who know? Maybe I'll do some video after all (doubt it...I'm too lazy to edit). And he STM is quiet.

3. Most importantly, with the 40mm being so small it will be easy to convince the goofs at any venue that (this old piece of junk?) camera is not a "professional" camera. Too small of a lens to take pro shots, right?