Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake Coming [CR3]

[Canon Rumors]

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<strong>It’s coming


</strong>We <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/02/new-lenses-coming-cr3/" target="_blank">reported this a long time ago</a>, it’s good to hear about it again. There will be an inexpensive “pancake” lens coming to the Canon lineup.  It will be  an EF 40mm f/2.8, non L lens. How much? I’m told less than $300 USD.</p>
<p>For those that don’t know, a pancake lens is a very thin, small and light lens. It could be fun mounted to the front of a 5D3 or a smaller Rebel.</p>
<p>Expect it to be announced in June with the T4i and a new EF-S 18-135 IS II.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[TheGoondocks]

I don't think the 40mm pancake is meant for the dSLR. I think its going to be for the soon to be announced Mirrorless camera. What is the point of strapping a pancake lens to a dSLR? That makes as much sense as strapping a 70-200 f/2.8 IS to a small mirrorless camera.

If that is the case, it would stand to reason that the sensor in the mirrorless will either be full framed or perhaps APS-H (1.3x) since that would be fairly close to a 50mm "standard" focal length.

 

[preppyak]

If that is the case, it would stand to reason that the sensor in the mirrorless will either be full framed or perhaps APS-H (1.3x) since that would be fairly close to a 50mm "standard" focal length.

I agree with you its odd on a DSLR, especially since the 50mm f/1.8 isn't exactly large (1.5" basically).

But if it means the mirror less is EF mount, then it makes it interesting. Though I'd probably rather it had the ability to use FD lenses in addition to EF with an adapter

 

[unfocused]

Odd size. Odd price. Odd speed. I don't see much demand for a pancake 40mm f2.8 on a DSLR, when you can get a "pancake" 50mm f1.8 for one third the price.

 

[Loswr]

I'm not interested, unless it comes with a LOT more syrup...and a cherry on top.

 

[DB]

Does this mean that the 35mm f/2 is destined for the 'Discontinued List', as it is at an almost identical price point and is so close in focal length, plus considered very soft (easier to make f2.8 a lot sharper)?

 

[drjlo]

Does this mean that the 35mm f/2 is destined for the 'Discontinued List', as it is at an almost identical price point and is so close in focal length, plus considered very soft (easier to make f2.8 a lot sharper)?

Who says 35 f/2 is "very soft"? My copy certainly isn't, and it, along with 50 f/1.8, is what saves the masses from also-ran zoom lenses with entry-level dslr bodies.

 

[crasher8]

64mm FL on a 1.6…..Hmmmm, lemme check the common FL's used on my 24-70. Not sure if I'd prime at that length so much.

 

[BRNexus6]

Why a 40mm lens? Those of us that use crop sensor cameras could really use an inexpensive 30mm 1.8 standard lens. I swear a bunch of Monkeys are running Canon these days.

 

[RC]

I don't think the 40mm pancake is meant for the dSLR. I think its going to be for the soon to be announced Mirrorless camera. What is the point of strapping a pancake lens to a dSLR? That makes as much sense as strapping a 70-200 f/2.8 IS to a small mirrorless camera.

If that is the case, it would stand to reason that the sensor in the mirrorless will either be full framed or perhaps APS-H (1.3x) since that would be fairly close to a 50mm "standard" focal length.

Yip

 

[mws]

Odd focal length. My only guess is APS-H, puts it at around 50mm. I seem to remember Canon saying they were done with the H sensor though.

I'm also curious about the speed. Maybe someone who knows more about lens design could comment on it. Is it harder to make a useable pancake with speeds greater then 2.8? I've been reading about micro 4/3rds lately and they all seem to complain about slow prime pancakes.

Either way it will be curious to see what happens with this. I was so close to getting a Pen E-P2 with a 17mm for a compact street shooter, but decided to wait and see what Canon does here instead.

 

[Hillsilly]

Historically, 40mm is a popular size for a pancake lens. And its actually a handy focal length. Although, f/2.8 throws me - f/2 would be more appealing.

 

[preppyak]

I'm also curious about the speed. Maybe someone who knows more about lens design could comment on it. Is it harder to make a useable pancake with speeds greater then 2.8? I've been reading about micro 4/3rds lately and they all seem to complain about slow prime pancakes.

Well, the point of a pancake lens is to be as small as possible. If you look at Canon lens design (for example, the 35mm lenses), the lower the aperture, the wider the diameter and the more elements. The 35mm f/2 has 7 elements in 5 groups, the 35mm f/1.4 has 11 elements in 9 groups. It's twice the length as a result...which would destroy the pancake design. Seems to go away with the longer focal lengths to a point. Also, Canon doesn't offer any cheap wide angles under f/2.8 anymore.

The other factor is that mirrorless is working with a smaller sensor, so they need even faster primes to begin with, by about 2/3rd's a stop to APS-C. So they'd have to pump out f/1.4 primes to match something like the 50mm f/1,8

 

[RLPhoto]

This is dumb. F/2 or faster for primes otherwise, WHATs THE POINT?! Just use good zooms.

I think the canon mirrorless will suprise us with a EF mount system with 1.3X crop factor. It will be not a low end entry level, but a mid-range camera like the fuji X-pro 1. This would make sense for them not to cut into the rebel sales or the G1X sales.

Fingers crossed that its a optical rangefinder style camera... Or has a VERY VERY good LED viewfinder. ;D

 

[sjp010]

I'm interested in this one, honestly. As long as it's very sharp at f/2.8 and has ring USM. I have 50mm and 28mm primes and often wish I had something wider than 50 and longer than 28 to walk around with.

$300 sounds right for a f/2.8 prime, if the IQ is there. $800 does not, unless it can do the laundry too.

 

[Zlatko]

I would love to have a 40/2.8 pancake lens, as long as the AF is the quiet USM type. A pancake lens is the perfect way to "shrink" a large DSLR like the 5D3 and make it more portable for trips and family photos. This way you can carry a very high quality DSLR with a very useful focal length, but without the size & weight of a big lens. A new 35/2 would be fantastic too as the old one has the noisy non-USM autofocus.

 

[wickidwombat]

Odd focal length. My only guess is APS-H, puts it at around 50mm. I seem to remember Canon saying they were done with the H sensor though.

I'm also curious about the speed. Maybe someone who knows more about lens design could comment on it. Is it harder to make a useable pancake with speeds greater then 2.8? I've been reading about micro 4/3rds lately and they all seem to complain about slow prime pancakes.

Either way it will be curious to see what happens with this. I was so close to getting a Pen E-P2 with a 17mm for a compact street shooter, but decided to wait and see what Canon does here instead.

i'm hoping it heralds anew APS-H camera

 

[Zlatko]

Odd focal length. My only guess is APS-H, puts it at around 50mm. I seem to remember Canon saying they were done with the H sensor though.

I'm also curious about the speed. Maybe someone who knows more about lens design could comment on it. Is it harder to make a useable pancake with speeds greater then 2.8?

On a full frame camera, 40mm is closer to a true normal lens than a 50mm. A true normal would be 43mm. A 35mm is a bit on the wide side of normal, and a 50mm is a bit on the telephoto side of normal. The point of a pancake lens is its smallness. It should be very, very small. Pentax has an amazingly small pancake lens. A faster aperture would make it bigger and likely compromise the whole "pancake" aspect of it. Canon already offers a bunch of excellent (but big) fast primes, so a pancake is for when you want to carry something much lighter and don't need the speed. That said, I would still love to see an updated 35mm f/2 with USM, and perhaps a high quality 50mm f/1.8 or f/2 with USM.

 

[coldcaption]

Good; Canon needs smaller gear! I started shooting film a few months ago and find that my Minolta X700 is far superior to my 30D and 50mm f/1.4 for the actual purpose of taking pictures. It's not in my way when I'm not shooting and it barely is when I am. Size isn't the only reason I like it more (ask me about focusing!), but it's a big reason. What's the use in having awesome gear if it's too cumbersome to facilitate shooting?

 

[clarkia]

perfect pocket lens if you don't want to carry around a zoom. i agree, a 2.0 would be nice but it would no longer be pancake-ish in design. those who say, "why wouldn't you just carry a 2.8 zoom instead" are missing the point - small, less intrusive (to the subject), lightweight and a good focal length. we'll see how it compares to the voightlander. could be a great street photo lens. carry this and an 85mm 1.8 for a nice street package.