Just picked one up today here in Sapporo. Really impressed with how sharp it is. It's great because it makes the camera so much easier to toss in a backpack. Sure, it's a touch slow at 2.8, but who cares. It was $250 USD here (yea, I paid a bit more since I'm here for 8 more weeks and didn't want to wait. I'm super happy with it for the money.

Not exciting pictures, but just the quick snaps I took in the store.

Looks like a great lens. But I fail to see how it is attractive only for still photography. Especially since the 35/2 is tiny as well (maybe not pancake tiny, but nonetheless) and a stop faster too. Now, of course it makes sense to buy the pancake if AF video is the main goal.

Daan B wrote:
Looks like a great lens. But I fail to see how it is attractive only for still photography. Especially since the 35/2 is tiny as well (maybe not pancake tiny, but nonetheless) and a stop faster too. Now, of course it makes sense to buy the pancake if AF video is the main goal.

Yea, I see what you're saying, but it's about 1/3 the size of the 35/2. The AF is way faster, too. Oh, and it costs less.

...not everything has to make sense...

I'm waiting on mine to ship, but if they're not shipping today I'm cancelling the order and buying elsewhere.

heck, even Best Buy has these lenses in stock (in the US) so there's no sense waiting for someone that says it will ship in "July".

ndirienzo wrote:
Daan B wrote:
Looks like a great lens. But I fail to see how it is attractive only for still photography. Especially since the 35/2 is tiny as well (maybe not pancake tiny, but nonetheless) and a stop faster too. Now, of course it makes sense to buy the pancake if AF video is the main goal.

Yea, I see what you're saying, but it's about 1/3 the size of the 35/2. The AF is way faster, too. Oh, and it costs less. ]

IIRC the 40 pancake has a STM AF motor... not the fastest in the world. I wonder how it holds up against the 35/2. My guess is that they are on par or the 35/2 is faster... and louder

John_T wrote:
...not everything has to make sense...

True

I shoot with a 50D and use my 10-22mm as my "walking round" lens on vacations. The 40mm would be a nice addition that could be more conveniently carried in a shooting vest or jacket pocket than my current alternatives, the nifty 50mm 1.4 and the 24-70mm 2.8 barbell. The fact it's is also STM and video friendly is a plus because my next body purchase (likely a T4i) will be more for video than stills.

Curious about the size comparison with end cap between the 40mm and the 50mm 1.4. Could someone with both please shoot and post a size comparison?

Not next to a 50, but a comparison nonetheless

Daan B wrote:
ndirienzo wrote:
Daan B wrote:
Looks like a great lens. But I fail to see how it is attractive only for still photography. Especially since the 35/2 is tiny as well (maybe not pancake tiny, but nonetheless) and a stop faster too. Now, of course it makes sense to buy the pancake if AF video is the main goal.

Yea, I see what you're saying, but it's about 1/3 the size of the 35/2. The AF is way faster, too. Oh, and it costs less. ]

IIRC the 40 pancake has a STM AF motor... not the fastest in the world. I wonder how it holds up against the 35/2. My guess is that they are on par or the 35/2 is faster... and louder


40mm is faster and sharper than 35/2

ndirienzo wrote:
Not next to a 50, but a comparison nonetheless



David and Goliath!

Nice iq and pretty sweet blur; can't wait to get mine and thank you for posting images!

I agree with Chuck, this will be an excellent video lens, esp on the new models, where stm will come into play.

I would just like to see a pic of it on a body... please.

faremax wrote:
40mm is faster and sharper than 35/2


Sharpness is not a weakness of the 35 f/2, so I would be very surprised if the 40 2.8 was substantially better over most of the frame at any common aperture.

It may well AF more consistently and more quickly, and even be better in the extreme corners at wider apertures though.

Still, a slowish 40mm is no substitute for a fastish 35mm lens; as with the 24 and 28, Canon needs to update the 35 f/2 to have modern focusing, ergonomics, build quality, and lens coatings ASAP; IS would be a big plus.

Yakim Peled wrote:
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/06/canon-40mm-pancake-how-did-they-do-that

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Sounding more and more like an interesting lens. I've written before about my previous happy experience many years ago with a similar Pentax lens, so I like the idea of this lens.

For me, though, I can't quite see how it will fit in since I already have the little 35mm f/2...

Dan

RichardLavigne wrote:
I would just like to see a pic of it on a body... please.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1123393/1#10733282

For some reason the look of the images from this lens remind me a lot of the EF-S 60mm f/2.8. Can't quite place it, perhaps the colors and the bokeh characteristics.

Looking forward to receiving mine. I had a pre-order in for almost 2 weeks but they said it wasn't going to ship until the end of the month.. WTF? Cancel.....

Even BestBuy has these things, and I saw them sitting in overflowing bins at supermarket today.

OK, seriously, if anyone wants one there are a few places that have them in stock, BestBuy is one of them for local pickup - if you're lucky. Also, not a plug, but Norman Camera with same day shipping is who I used. Other options abound of course.

I'm impressed. Shot this image f/2.8 @ 1/125 sec ISO 1000

Picked up the new Canon 40mm 2.8 today at Norman Camera. Very pleased with the performance, especially considering the cost. If you are looking for a small, lightweight 40mm, you would probably be pleased wtih this performer. Went outside and shot a few test shots. All are shot with a 5DM2, handheld. I'll include a few 100% zoom crops as well.

2.8


2.8 100% zoom


8.0


8.0 100% zoom


2.8


8.0


2.8


8.0 shooting into the sun - nice flair control


2.8 blur - even got a little bit of a rainbow


Canon is giving its users a very nice performing lens here, and when you consider the price, its pretty remarkable. There is noticable vignetting at 2.8, but it is much better within another stop. Lens is sharp even wide open, and only gets better from there.