EF 40mm 2.8 pancake

Hovig · Jun 27, 2012

Hi all,

I'm wondering if some of you already got the new Canon EF 40mm pancake. Any feedback? How does the STM work on film EOS cameras? I made a search in APUG posts and did not find any posting regarding this new lens.

Thanks,

Hovig

segedi · Jun 27, 2012

I'm curious too as it would compliment the Élan 7E that I have to make a very light setup.

F/1.4 · Jun 27, 2012

I checked it out yesterday, it's really small, focus is SUPER quiet, tried it on a 5D3 and Élan 7, vignettes like theres no tomorrow wide open, overall personally I think I'd go with the 50mm f/1.8. The 50 is faster, seemed sharper at 2.8, cheaper, and weighs about the same. However with a small camera like a rebel...it can fit into a messenger bag easy peaty.

Colin Corneau · Jun 27, 2012

I found this review helpful (I'm not connected in any way) -

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

For $200 it seems like a bit of a slam dunk. I'm interested in small and subtle, myself.

CGW · Jun 27, 2012

Tons of reviews online. The whisper quiet AF killed most of the noise issue for video on their DSLRs. I'm guessing there's a Canon MILC not far down the road.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1125549

Hovig · Jun 27, 2012

Thank you for your feedback, but everything out there is on digital cameras, I wanted to know how it behaves on film cameras. I find the 40mm focal length interesting, I've been using my 28-105 zoom at that focal length very often. It's my normal focal length. This may be my perfect all around carry on lens.

CGW · Jun 27, 2012

Most film shooters have 50/1.8s and probably wouldn't bother. It was optimized for digital stills and video on APS-C sensors--not 35mm film cameras. Can you sample one in Montreal?

F/1.4 · Jun 27, 2012

CGW said:
Most film shooters have 50/1.8s and probably wouldn't bother. It was optimized for digital stills and video on APS-C sensors--not 35mm film cameras. Can you sample one in Montreal?

Exactly. If you want the size advantage, than you've already justified it. Otherwise a 50mm f/1.8 (or two) is a smarter option.

As far as testing it on film, give yourself a break. It's 2012, and regular Joe Six-Pak doesn't shoot film anymore. IMO it wouldn't really make sense to test lenses out on 35mm anyway when you've got 22 and 36MP FF DSLR's that will give you far more consistent lab results than scanning slides or negs. From what I experienced with the 40mm the other day, shooting wide open, you'll have some pretty muddy corners if you're shooting color neg. The vignetting is pretty insane. I dunno...If you want the size advantage, than you've already justified it. Otherwise a 50mm f/1.8 (or two) is a smarter option.

Also, why not go with the voightlander 40mm f/2?

Oren Grad · Jun 27, 2012

F/1.4 said:
As far as testing it on film, give yourself a break. It's 2012, and regular Joe Six-Pak doesn't shoot film anymore. IMO it wouldn't really make sense to test lenses out on 35mm anyway when you've got 22 and 36MP FF DSLR's that will give you far more consistent lab results than scanning slides or negs. From what I experienced with the 40mm the other day, shooting wide open, you'll have some pretty muddy corners if you're shooting color neg. The vignetting is pretty insane. I dunno...If you want the size advantage, than you've already justified it. Otherwise a 50mm f/1.8 (or two) is a smarter option.

The sensel/microlens units in digital sensors interact with the projected image in sometimes unpredictable ways. Corner performance is often worse and vignetting often more prominent on digital sensors. We will know how the lens behaves with film when someone tries it... with film.

CGW · Jun 27, 2012

Oren Grad said:
The sensel/microlens units in digital sensors interact with the projected image in sometimes unpredictable ways. Corner performance is often worse and vignetting often more prominent on digital sensors. We will know how the lens behaves with film when someone tries it... with film.

Just a wild guess but would Canon develop a lens that vignettes on its DSLRs--whether APS-C or FF? Just asking.

Many Nikon DX lenses vignette badly on film bodies because they were made to cover APS-C sensors--not film.

Oren Grad · Jun 27, 2012

CGW said:
Just a wild guess but would Canon develop a lens that vignettes on its DSLRs--whether APS-C or FF? Just asking.

Yes, they would and they do, as do the other manufacturers. Especially with lenses at wide to normal focal lengths it can't be helped, not without making the lenses much bigger, heavier, more complex and more expensive than the market will bear.

CGW · Jun 27, 2012

Oren Grad said:
Yes, they would and they do, as do the other manufacturers. Especially with lenses at wide to normal focal lengths it can't be helped, not without making the lenses much bigger, heavier, more complex and more expensive than the market will bear.

Funny but the reviews so far haven't found this to be an issue.

Hovig · Jun 27, 2012

Photozone rated it ''Highly recommended"", testing it on 5D MKII.

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/752-canon_40_28_ff

trojancast · Jun 27, 2012

F/1.4 said:
Exactly. If you want the size advantage, than you've already justified it. Otherwise a 50mm f/1.8 (or two) is a smarter option.

As far as testing it on film, give yourself a break. It's 2012, and regular Joe Six-Pak doesn't shoot film anymore. IMO it wouldn't really make sense to test lenses out on 35mm anyway when you've got 22 and 36MP FF DSLR's that will give you far more consistent lab results than scanning slides or negs. From what I experienced with the 40mm the other day, shooting wide open, you'll have some pretty muddy corners if you're shooting color neg. The vignetting is pretty insane. I dunno...If you want the size advantage, than you've already justified it. Otherwise a 50mm f/1.8 (or two) is a smarter option.

Also, why not go with the voightlander 40mm f/2?

Sorry, what forum are we on again?

F/1.4 · Jun 28, 2012

For christ's sake..

munz6869 · Jun 28, 2012

Seriously, if the OP asks how it performs with a film camera, on a film forum, then that's fair enough! I am curious too - I'm also curious how it suits digital Canons, but there are other useful spots on the internet for that. Singularity is APUG's strength & usefulness.

Marc!

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Jun 28, 2012

Easy, guys; the thought police hasn't heard you yet...

jakeblues · Jun 29, 2012

CGW said:
Just a wild guess but would Canon develop a lens that vignettes on its DSLRs--whether APS-C or FF? Just asking.

Many Nikon DX lenses vignette badly on film bodies because they were made to cover APS-C sensors--not film.

Yes, Canon develops lenses that vignette worse on a FF DSLR than a film body (crop DSLR's crop much of the vignetting from FF lenses). Film does a better job with light hitting the film plane at odd angles. In some cases, this means a noticeable reduction in vignetting.

Nikon DX lenses vignette badly on film bodies because they're designed for crop sensors, not FF. Many lenses designed for FF DSLR's perform better on film for the reasons mentioned above.

Oren Grad said:
The sensel/microlens units in digital sensors interact with the projected image in sometimes unpredictable ways. Corner performance is often worse and vignetting often more prominent on digital sensors. We will know how the lens behaves with film when someone tries it... with film.

Exactly.

Hovig said:
I'm wondering if some of you already got the new Canon EF 40mm pancake. Any feedback? How does the STM work on film EOS cameras? I made a search in APUG posts and did not find any posting regarding this new lens.

Thanks,

Hovig

I'm curious about this, too. I'm planning to buy the 40mm pancake, but only after I get back from a trip in a month or so. In the mean time, if anyone has purchased this lens and shot it on film, I'd love to see samples.

F/1.4 said:
Also, why not go with the voightlander 40mm f/2?

The voigtlander is over twice the price and not AF. I'd love to have the Voigtlander, but I'm attracted to the Canon as an inexpensive compact lens with a lot of character to shoot at bar-b-ques and tailgates. The nifty fifty is too long for my taste (plus I have dozens of 50's), and I've always had a thing for pancake lenses.

CGW · Jun 29, 2012

Yes, Canon develops lenses that vignette worse on a FF DSLR than a film body (crop DSLR's crop much of the vignetting from FF lenses).

Gee, there must be some really cheesed off EOS FF owners...

Vanishing Point Ent. · Jul 8, 2012

JUST ANNOUNCED ! Canons New EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake Lens Doesnt Waffle on Quality.

Hovig said:
Hi all,

I'm wondering if some of you already got the new Canon EF 40mm pancake. Any feedback? How does the STM work on film EOS cameras? I made a search in APUG posts and did not find any posting regarding this new lens.

Thanks,

Hovig

Also see;
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

HOWEVER;

B&H: Canon’s New EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake Lens Doesn’t Waffle on Quality.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth...f-40mm-f28-pancake-lens-doesnt-waffle-quality

EF 40mm 2.8 pancake

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