Pancake Lenses: Why do people get all hyped up over pancake lenses? Do they buy just to be hip but never use them and go back to the standard range zoom lens after a couple of hours...

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Why do people get all hyped up over pancake lenses?
Do they buy just to be hip but never use them and go back to the standard range zoom lens after a couple of hours leaving the pancake on the shelf collecting dust?

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

IF you REALLY want an answer to YOUR question, write a detailed personal message to each UHH member, collect al the answers you receive, and then give us the results of your findings!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

I use a Fuji 28mm X lens on an XT-4 or my soon-to-get XE-4 for street and travel imaging. 28mm is an ideal range for discrete images (holding the camera at waist level and tilting the rear screen) when doing urban exploring and pretty decent for wide-angle landscapes.

I cannot use it on my XE-1 IR converted camera, as the IR hotspot is very visible.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Architect1776 wrote:

Why do people get all hyped up over pancake lenses?
Do they buy just to be hip but never use them and go back to the standard range zoom lens after a couple of hours leaving the pancake on the shelf collecting dust?

WHT is a pancake lens? I really don't Give a rotund rodents rectum.

Chicago312 Loc: Western suburb, Chicago

I have a Nikon Z6 along with the 40mm f2 and the 28mm f2.8. They’re not technically pancake lenses - maybe more like “cupcake” lenses - but I like them for their small form factor. The camera and lens is much more discreet than say walking around with the 24-120mm f4.
I shoot both photos and videos on my Z6, and there are many times that I prefer not to draw attention to myself or my camera.
Also, there are other times that I just prefer to walk around with lighter and smaller gear - I may be carrying a smaller bag in the city and the larger zoom lens, while certainly more versatile, just doesn’t fit inside with everything else I’m carrying.
One could argue that I should just leave my camera at home and shoot with my iPhone. I’ve done that too, but the full frame camera still does a better job in low light and I shoot in manual mode, which allows me to more versatility in shooting.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

Architect1776 wrote:

Why do people get all hyped up over pancake lenses?
Do they buy just to be hip but never use them and go back to the standard range zoom lens after a couple of hours leaving the pancake on the shelf collecting dust?

I had no idea what a pancake lens was, so I looked it up on the web. Appears to be such a new idea after I read for a minute, then it came to me. It had already been done. As usual, E. Leitz had it first in a way.

The Leica 28mm f6.3 Hectar. Ernst Leitz requested the first interchangeable lens to be made for his new camera the Leica. Designed and built by the microscopic division of Leitz Optics in Wetzler. The lens can be focused by turning its focus ring. Interestingly enough is that if you set the lens to its smallest aperture and turn the lens focus ring from the infinity position to its closest place the lens will deliver a sharp image from some 18 inches in front of the lens past infinity. The glass in the lens is tiny and is quite complex in its construction. KEH sells the used Leica lenses for around $25.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Tigger1 wrote:

IF you REALLY want an answer to YOUR question, write a detailed personal message to each UHH member, collect al the answers you receive, and then give us the results of your findings!

Observe this post.
Duh.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Manglesphoto wrote:

WHT is a pancake lens? I really don't Give a rotund rodents rectum.

They are the rage of reviewers but are never seen in real life.

User ID

Architect1776 wrote:

Why do people get all hyped up over pancake lenses?

I have several of them. They are vastly preferable over other types. Given up on all other types as nothing else compares.

Whatever cannot be photographed using a pancake really isnt photogenic anywho.

Real photographers dont need zooms.

(Download)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I guess because they're small and unobtrusive? Maybe they're neat?
I have no need or desire for getting one.

RightOnPhotography Loc: Quebec,QC

Tigger1 wrote:

IF you REALLY want an answer to YOUR question, write a detailed personal message to each UHH member, collect al the answers you receive, and then give us the results of your findings!

Or create a poll.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

They're light weight, makes it feel like you're carrying just the camera body.

User ID

RightOnPhotography wrote:

Or create a poll.

Yes, thaz perfect ... a Troll Poll !!!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

User ID wrote:

I have several of them. They are vastly preferable over other types. Given up on all other types as nothing else compares.

Whatever cannot be photographed using a pancake really isnt photogenic anywho.

You appear to be a collector that I was referring to.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Architect1776 wrote:

Why do people get all hyped up over pancake lenses?
Do they buy just to be hip but never use them and go back to the standard range zoom lens after a couple of hours leaving the pancake on the shelf collecting dust?

That is a bit of an assumption. Small, fast pancake prime lenses are very unobtrusive, especially on a small mirrorless body, and are perfect for street photography and when a very small, compact, and light kit is desirable.

I don't use them myself currently, preferring my fast and small Voigtländer manual focus prime lenses, but if I was going to look for a small autofocus prime for my Nikon Z fc, I would purchase the new Nikkor 26mm f/2.8 pancake in a heartbeat.

Anyone who purchases a pancake prime lens and puts it on the shelf in favor of a zoom lens, probably bought it on a whim and was not an appropriate customer for that kind of lens. There are plenty of lenses used by many here that I will never use and never buy because they are not appropriate for what I shoot. I also had long zooms, purchased on a whim, that sat on my shelf for years until I dusted them off and sold them.