Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake

[Zlatko]

There was no need whatsoever in the market to develop a 40 pancake.
....
What does Canon do? Come up with an unneeded, bleedingly expensive 24/2.8 IS, 28/2.8 IS and a 40/2.8 pancake - which at least is optically good, cheap and cute looking. ALl of these are "nice to have" in Canon's large lens-lineup, but none of them had any priority at all, whereas the 50 and 35 are in urgent need of an upgrade.

It sounds like you're criticizing Canon for not meeting your own urgent need right now. I had an urgent need for a 40/2.8 pancake lens, so I am very excited about it. I love how it gives me a super-small lens option for shooting in day time. I love how it effectively "shrinks" my full-frame camera when traveling ... I now have much less need for a smaller camera body on trips.

Looking at the huge assortment of 60 or so lenses in production, there are so many options that there is arguably nothing that needs an urgent upgrade. If they aren't upgrading the lens that you personally urgently need, it is because they are upgrading (or introducing) a lens that someone else urgently needs. And when the time comes that they do upgrade the lens that you urgently need, it will mean that they are not upgrading a lens that someone else urgently needs. There's no way to please everybody.

 

[Heavyweight67]

Canon 40mm f2.8 STM Hands-on Review

Like him love him or hate him, here is his review.

I'm still not exactly sure if the 40mm is something I will buy, maybe when I have some loose change and need a new toy or maybe a stocking stuffer.

I have my 50 1.4 which is basically neglected, but a Sigma 85 is definitely on the cards..

 

[Kernuak]

There was no need whatsoever in the market to develop a 40 pancake.

Funny. If that were the case, then why is it doing so well in the market?

Because it is "cheap", optically good and most of all "oh so cute".
An equally improved 50/1.4 II at 399 or a 35/2.0 at 299 would also do very well. And an improved 50/1.8 II for 199 with improved IQ, 8 rounded aperture blades, Ring-USM, and metal mount.

Other than that: a 5D 1/2/3 shooter never looks like a P&S snapshooter, no matter what lens is attached. The body alone is too fat for that.
And it would be very difficult to take good photos holding a 5D 1/2/3 at arms length in live view. The body alone is too heavy for that.

Canon, like any other successful business, try to bring to market, something that they think can fill a hole in that market. People have been asking for pancake lenses, Canon produced one, which is optically good, "cheap" and "oh so cute" and customers lapped it up. Therefore they did it right and the marketing department did their jobs. A 50mm is the sort of lens that people get, because it is "standard", so they think they ought to have one, but how many would actually replace the one they had (whichever version) if a new one came out? I bet it would be less than those buying the shorty forty.
The reality is, I doubt Canon had the 5D in mind (if in fact hey had any body in mind) when they came up with the concept. Those looking for AF in video, wouldn't be serious film makers in the main, but those wanting to shoot a bit of home movie, the shorty forty is ideal for that I imagine, if on the 650D, plus they mostly wouldn't be interested in manual focusing (the focus ring looks a bit small). Also, it would be very unobtrusive and look like an expensive P&S on the xxxD line.

 

[Dave T]

I just got one and like it so far. It will be my version of a "standard" until something better (than the confusing array of Cannon 50mm choices) comes along. Saw a rumor on another forum about a 42mm f/1.0 L. Now that was a cool idea. Wish that was more than a made up rumor.

Dave

 

[GMCPhotographics]

I'm still not sure why I would use this lens? I have a 50L and a 50 f1.8 mkI...If I wanted an f2.8 lens, I'd use my 24-70L...who cares about size and weight? A 5DIII and a 24-70L would spank this pancake for versatility any day.

 

[wickidwombat]

i just got mine today, got a few test shots, so far looks really nice
gotta get some more shots
I think i'm gonna use this lens a bit in studio where i find the 50 can be a bit tight
and shooting at f11 or so i think its gonna be a little weapon
gonna try it with an IR filter on tomorrow see if it hot spots or not

 

[ippikiokami]

Love this lens. I find it hard to take any of my other lenses out with me now since I got it.

Portability is AMAZING. The weight is great but the size is on another level. I'm able to stick my 5d III with a spare flash in bags I couldn't even think about before.

 

[suburbia]

I've had mine lock up on me twice now, just wont respond to focus requests from camera, not seen it happen on any other lens. Both times this has happened in dusk/evening conditions and at first I thought it might be the low light but focus still failed even if pointing at lights and high contrast areas. In both cases only a remount of the lens fixed the issue.

Looking back Im wondering if the lens got wet but the weather wasn't so bad as to make me concerned at the time.

 

[DianeK]

I've had mine lock up on me twice now, just wont respond to focus requests from camera, not seen it happen on any other lens. Both times this has happened in dusk/evening conditions and at first I thought it might be the low light but focus still failed even if pointing at lights and high contrast areas. In both cases only a remount of the lens fixed the issue.

Looking back Im wondering if the lens got wet but the weather wasn't so bad as to make me concerned at the time.

Ck
Check out this discussion at the POTN forums. You are not alone.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1203463
Diane

 

[crasher8]

MF has been unavailable at times but AF has worked just fine.

 

[Wideopen]

MF has been unavailable at times but AF has worked just fine.

You need to press the shutter button half way to send power to the lens to get MF to work. I too forget its a stm lens and wonder whats wrong with the manual focus at times.

 

[crasher8]

Perfect, Thanks!

 

[drjlo]

My 40mm just arrived today. Few quick shots on 5D III.


DZ3C5181A by drjlo1, on Flickr



DZ3C5155 by drjlo1, on Flickr


DZ3C5146 by drjlo1, on Flickr

Last 2 were with 21 mm extension tube.

 

[ocabj]

This is a very fun lens. Definitely glad I bought one. http://www.ocabj.net/canon-ef-40mm-f2-8-stm-pancake-lens/

 

[crasher8]

Filmcake

The EF Pancake shot on TMax 100, overdeveloped for contrast in Sprint, scanned into LR4

TMax 100, EF 40 Pancake by barryjohnsonphotography, on Flickr


TMax 100, EF 40 Pancake by barryjohnsonphotography, on Flickr

TMax 100, EF 40 Pancake by barryjohnsonphotography, on Flickr

TMax 100, EF 40 Pancake by barryjohnsonphotography, on Flickr

 

[dolina]

Owners,

How do you like your pancake? Worth the purchase or you rather return it?

 

[Eli]

Before I got it, I was like meh, what would I need a 40mm f2.8 for.

Then I got one..
..and absolutely love it!

Barely use it though, but it's still great for those situations where I want to bring my camera but don't want to lug around a huge lens with it.
It's awesomely sharp, even wide open, contrast is great and focuses quite fast.

Highly recommend anyone who doesn't have one, to get one.

 

[DB]

Owners,

How do you like your pancake? Worth the purchase or you rather return it?

Have not bought one as they're US$354 where I live (€269.99), so definitely not worth the purchase :-[ 2x Amazon US price of $175.

 

[crasher8]

Mine has been flawless on my 5D3 without the update but has been locking up on my film bodies….arggggh!

 

[Loswr]

How do you like your pancake? Worth the purchase or you rather return it?

Really like it. Optically it's very good, and practically, the size makes it very useful. It literally fits in a pocket - my favorite use is walking around with a 70-200/2.8 or 100-400 mounted, hanging on a BR strap connected to the tripod collar, and the 40/2.8 in my pocket. When I need a wider AoV, I can swap lenses and leave the white zoom hanging from strap while shooting with the pancake.