p.1 #1 · Canon 40mm Pancake Experience and Test Shots
I've used the 40mm Pancake for about 2 weeks, and I think I might be suitable to offer some of my experience with it.
I use it on 5D Mark III, you might already know it does not come with USM, and it is power focus. Focusing is not as quite, but not noisy at all. Focusing speed is quite OK. I say quite ok, because it is not as fast as a 70-200 F2.8 II, but it is fast enough for moving objects.
It is light (almost no weight), which makes it a winner if you want to have something light.
Sharp wide open - a bit ridiculous since the fastest aperture is f2.8 But still wide open, right?
Build quality is fine. Not as good as a 50L, but I am satisfied with it. It is way better than a 50 1.8 II.
I would argue that at same aperture, this lens outperforms 35L and 50L. My recommendation is that if you don't need the F2 and faster apertures, this lens will serve you well. I've used 50L and 35L and loved them, but this time, my pick is the 40mm.
Final word, it is only $200, I guess on the flea market you will probably be able to pick up one for $150-175. For this price, how can you go wrong?
p.1 #4 · Canon 40mm Pancake Experience and Test Shots
I had to order one. Hopefully it will show up before I leave for a family reunion/birthday party Wednesday. I am looking forward to the decreased weight and bulk for the hours long event.
p.1 #5 · Canon 40mm Pancake Experience and Test Shots
PCKit wrote:
I had to order one. Hopefully it will show up before I leave for a family reunion/birthday party Wednesday. I am looking forward to the decreased weight and bulk for the hours long event.
it is definitely something to own if you are not looking for fast apertures...
p.1 #8 · Canon 40mm Pancake Experience and Test Shots
Nozzleforward wrote:
Very nice shots, every image I see from this lens sells me on it.
Huevito589 wrote:
How it works focusing?
Just to add my two cents to the OP's thread...Yes, the lens is absolutely sharp & contrasty even wide open and focuses very accurately. It also focuses fast enough for most anything you will be shooting at that focal length. Some people deride the 'bokeh' quality but that is subjective and in any case, the bokeh quality will differ at different distances...I have generally found it to be 'OK-ish' to quite pleasing depending on the background distance . However, I purchased the 40mm for it's compactness to use as a travel/vacation lens...and in the first vacation oppurtunity I had to use it, it performed great and well exceeded my expectations. I'm so happy with it, that I also purchased the 35/1.4 to compliment it and to sell my 35/2. I always really liked the 35/2 but it was always a 'compromise' lens for me...even though it's small, it was never quite as compact as I wanted and although fast, never quite as fast either...so now I have a perfect combination for me. Of course, YMMV.
p.1 #9 · Canon 40mm Pancake Experience and Test Shots
If you do not mind my asking, did you take those photos with one of your 5D cameras. Just wondering how people like the lens on a full frame DSLR. Thanks for sharing,
Jim
p.1 #10 · Canon 40mm Pancake Experience and Test Shots
Jim_Escalante wrote:
If you do not mind my asking, did you take those photos with one of your 5D cameras. Just wondering how people like the lens on a full frame DSLR. Thanks for sharing,
Jim
Again, I don't want to hi-jack the OP's thread but to add my two cents (again)...I have used the 40mm on FF and I REALLY like it...alot! I like the 'normal' view on FF and I also wanted a super compact lens....it was perfect (for me).
p.1 #13 · Canon 40mm Pancake Experience and Test Shots
omarlyn wrote:
Again, I don't want to hi-jack the OP's thread but to add my two cents (again)...I have used the 40mm on FF and I REALLY like it...alot! I like the 'normal' view on FF and I also wanted a super compact lens....it was perfect (for me).
Omar
yeah, agreed. I like 40mm too, it is almost same as normal view of a person (about 43mm on ff?)
p.1 #19 · Canon 40mm Pancake Experience and Test Shots
I shot these images with this lens the other night. The two of the side of the Police car have no post work at all, just converted to jpg and resized for the forum.
All in all, I love this lens. It's small enough to fit (comfortably) in a pocket, gives great colors, focuses fast, doesn't stick out away from the camera very far (so it doesn't bang into stuff), and it was inexpensive! if anyone is on the edge about it, just buy it. You'll be glad you did once you start shooting it.
The first one shows how well it seems to control flare, especially since it didn't have a UV filter on it (the B+W MRC is in the mail still) and those LED overheads are BRIGHT. In this first image, the overheads are a few inches out of the frame.
This one was shot a few seconds after the first, with the Blue LED overheads "off" on my side.
This last shot I had to adjust the shadows/fill light on a bit because I ended up underexposing to control the LED lights and street lighting
p.1 #20 · Canon 40mm Pancake Experience and Test Shots
Nozzleforward wrote:
I shot these images with this lens the other night. The two of the side of the Police car have no post work at all, just converted to jpg and resized for the forum.
All in all, I love this lens. It's small enough to fit (comfortably) in a pocket, gives great colors, focuses fast, doesn't stick out away from the camera very far (so it doesn't bang into stuff), and it was inexpensive! if anyone is on the edge about it, just buy it. You'll be glad you did once you start shooting it.
Yes indeed, the little thing was a pleasant surprise for me. I really hope it has a fast aperture of F2, then I can dump both 35L and 50L