Pancake Lens
Apr 17, 2024 07:13:01 #
Has anyone ever produced a really good pancake lens? It seems all the ones I've ever seen just rate ok, not excellent. I would like to have a very good copy of one of these to do street photography with. In the z system, even the 50mm looks like a short telephoto and is more lens than I would like to show when doing discrete shooting.
Apr 17, 2024 07:21:33 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Bridges wrote:
Has anyone ever produced a really good pancake lens? It seems all the ones I've ever seen just rate ok, not excellent. I would like to have a very good copy of one of these to do street photography with. In the z system, even the 50mm looks like a short telephoto and is more lens than I would like to show when doing discrete shooting.
Nikon had one back in the film days, it was really cool and produced great images.
As far as I know many camera manufactures have one, and they are really good and produce very sharp images.
When I do street photography I use a 70-200 mm 2.8 lens, and yes, it allows me to shoot from a distance, which makes me discrete.
And if I really like someone, I will ask if I can take there likeness, I have yet to be refused.
Besides, when you ask, you get a smile, and isn't that what you really want?
Apr 17, 2024 12:28:36 #
Bridges wrote:
Has anyone ever produced a really good pancake lens? It seems all the ones I've ever seen just rate ok, not excellent. I would like to have a very good copy of one of these to do street photography with. In the z system, even the 50mm looks like a short telephoto and is more lens than I would like to show when doing discrete shooting.
Been looking a loooong time. Pancakes are really stacking up here.
Do you need AF and-or other automation for your street approach ? And what format are you trying to cover ? The smaller the format the better the choices, incuding automation.
Whatz your lighting situation ? At their wider apertures pancakes will all have more corner shading than standard designs. OTOH, dimly lit scenes will often camouflage that problem.
Fortunately for me I dont need automation. Acoarst a zero regrets approach to missed shots helps with that !
The SLR pancakes were actually better cuz they were further from the sensor, but with the Z-mount adapter theyre no longer flat :-( A Z isnt a small camera anywho so even if there were an optically perfect pancake that fits directly, whatz that really accomplish ?
Look at the Sony a6XXX and m4/3 bodies wearing pancakes ... not with intent to buy one, but just for situational perspective. It might show you how wanting the benefits of pancakes but on FF cameras just may be a fools errand anywho.
FWIW, to minimize lens bulk on my FF cameras my fave solution is Voigtlanders. Downsides are:
Corner Shading
High Prices
Odd Ergonomics
No Automation
Apr 17, 2024 12:34:13 #
billnikon wrote:
Nikon had one back in the film days, it was really... (show quote)
But a fast 70-210 is toadally unrelated to pancake lenses :-(
Apr 17, 2024 14:39:00 #
Pentax has made a bunch, I had the little Canon 40mm f/2.8 which was very nice.
Since you say Street photography -part of that tradition, especially with a Leica was Zone focusing.
If you can deal with that, just look for older film lenses in 28 or 35mm f/3.5 or 2.8 many of those are tiny by today's standards.
Whatever you choose, my advice is pick the focal length you want to work with FIRST and don't get too hung up on Pancake
Since you say Street photography -part of that tradition, especially with a Leica was Zone focusing.
If you can deal with that, just look for older film lenses in 28 or 35mm f/3.5 or 2.8 many of those are tiny by today's standards.
Whatever you choose, my advice is pick the focal length you want to work with FIRST and don't get too hung up on Pancake
Apr 17, 2024 17:27:19 #
rlscholl
Loc: California
The Canon EF 40mm f2.8 pancake lens is optically very good, especially considering its price. It was highly rated by a number of reviewers. Canon stopped making it a few years ago.
Apr 17, 2024 17:49:31 #
MJPerini wrote:
Pentax has made a bunch, I had the little Canon 40mm f/2.8 which was very nice.
Since you say Street photography -part of that tradition, especially with a Leica was Zone focusing.
If you can deal with that, just look for older film lenses in 28 or 35mm f/3.5 or 2.8 many of those are tiny by today's standards.
Whatever you choose, my advice is pick the focal length you want to work with FIRST and don't get too hung up on Pancake
Since you say Street photography -part of that tradition, especially with a Leica was Zone focusing.
If you can deal with that, just look for older film lenses in 28 or 35mm f/3.5 or 2.8 many of those are tiny by today's standards.
Whatever you choose, my advice is pick the focal length you want to work with FIRST and don't get too hung up on Pancake
Amen. A true pancake doesnt really change the game with a camera the size of a Z and zone focusing is easy fun.
My 25mm Voigtlander is designed for zone focus. It has a normal focusing scale, but it also has a few click stops in its focus travel allowing for quick zone focus by touch.
Seen below is my home brewed quick zone focus solution for video. Lens hood rotates with focusing.
Apr 17, 2024 20:42:28 #
MJPerini wrote:
Pentax has made a bunch, I had the little Canon 40mm f/2.8 which was very nice.
Since you say Street photography -part of that tradition, especially with a Leica was Zone focusing.
If you can deal with that, just look for older film lenses in 28 or 35mm f/3.5 or 2.8 many of those are tiny by today's standards.
Whatever you choose, my advice is pick the focal length you want to work with FIRST and don't get too hung up on Pancake
Since you say Street photography -part of that tradition, especially with a Leica was Zone focusing.
If you can deal with that, just look for older film lenses in 28 or 35mm f/3.5 or 2.8 many of those are tiny by today's standards.
Whatever you choose, my advice is pick the focal length you want to work with FIRST and don't get too hung up on Pancake
Your mention of older lenses, and someone else mentioned pancakes for SLRs were better. That is a consideration but after adding the adaptor to use old lenses on z cameras, it gets back to not being a pancake lens! I think my best bet is to get a 35 or 40-mm lens in the z system. It will most likely be the best compromise between a small lens and good quality.
Apr 17, 2024 21:44:18 #
I can highly recommend the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm F/2 pancake lens.
I have had the Nikon mount version for quite a few years and in my opinion it is an excellent performing optic, excellent in my nature/landscape work,....very comfortable and easy to work with.
I use it often with the camera's on board pop up flash because of its easy quick focusing when shooting people type occasions.
Its short length profile makes it ideal for comfortable carrying as a walk around lens as well.
It is a mechanical operation only lens built very solid,...not an auto focus,....great for my work since I only shoot manual mode using a Nikon D810 or D800E.
Hope my experiences are of interest and useful in your search.
The images are outstandingly sharp as well,....IMHO.
I have had the Nikon mount version for quite a few years and in my opinion it is an excellent performing optic, excellent in my nature/landscape work,....very comfortable and easy to work with.
I use it often with the camera's on board pop up flash because of its easy quick focusing when shooting people type occasions.
Its short length profile makes it ideal for comfortable carrying as a walk around lens as well.
It is a mechanical operation only lens built very solid,...not an auto focus,....great for my work since I only shoot manual mode using a Nikon D810 or D800E.
Hope my experiences are of interest and useful in your search.
The images are outstandingly sharp as well,....IMHO.
Apr 18, 2024 00:03:01 #
Apr 18, 2024 09:10:39 #
By “pancake” one implies a Tessar formulation, these 4 element lenses have a reputation for high color saturation and high quality centers, by definition these lenses rarely exceed f2.8. It was the reduction of elements that give the tessar its unique image qualities. Modern coatings have reduced the internal lens flare and have increased both speed and sharpness with the addition of modern lens coating providing for more correctove lens elements.
Apr 18, 2024 12:39:38 #
Apr 18, 2024 13:28:38 #
chasgroh wrote:
I really like my Z 40 f2...
That seems to be the best bet. It is small enough and 97 reviewers give it a 5-star average rating. The only rating below a 4 said it was sharp and well-made for an inexpensive lens. The only reason he downgraded it to a 3 was because the connecting plate was plastic rather than metal. This fact did not seem to bother others and it doesn't bother me as I see this lens as a one that will not get a great deal of use. I only plan to use it for occasional walks through towns or crowds like at fairs or carnivals.
Apr 18, 2024 13:53:55 #
You have a problem there - a pancake lens tends to have a shortish focal length - which (absolutely) distorts features - if that is what you want - OK - but for feature presentation that isn't distorted you are going to have to end up somewhere around 100mm - a 50-55 on a crop frame (Nikon D500) might be about what you want
Apr 18, 2024 14:00:15 #
Bridges wrote:
Your mention of older lenses, and someone else mentioned pancakes for SLRs were better. That is a consideration but after adding the adaptor to use old lenses on z cameras, it gets back to not being a pancake lens! I think my best bet is to get a 35 or 40-mm lens in the z system. It will most likely be the best compromise between a small lens and good quality.
Thaz the story, Morning Glory !
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