Pancake Day!

PCPhil

PCPhil

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My new Canon 40mm Pancake lens should be with me this morning. I'm hoping it will be ideal to let me take my camera on most of my business trips in a nice compact form. I'll try to post some pics later for others who may be interested.

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

Edit: Pics of lens on 5D2 added. Weather is awful so haven't got any good pics yet. But, the simple snapshots I have taken seem to be at the level of my 50mm 1.4.
Focus is very smooth and quiet. Interesting that with the camera off you cannot manually focus. This becomes more interesting when you turn the camera on and manually focus. It is surprisingly very good. Clearly the power works with motors to enable manual focussing and this give a nice smooth feel that can be done with one finger but doesn't whizz round.

tn.jpeg


tn1.jpeg


Image added: Didn't get up in time for the first light but very happy so far with this lens performance.

IMG_3689 by PCPhilpot, on Flickr

f.2.8 tests below. No pp, straight conversion from RAW to jpg.

IMG_3691 by PCPhilpot, on Flickr

IMG_3694 by PCPhilpot, on Flickr

40mm stm f2.8 test3 by PCPhilpot, on Flickr
 
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Bet you can't wait for the postman :D

I'd be definately interested in seeing photos taken with it and "of the lens mounted" as well...

This lens intreges me...
 
Also interested in seeing this :)
Have you turned the telly down so you can hear the door? :D
 
In front of telly seeing if Ireland can finally break their duck. But yes, volume is low and like a coiled spring waiting for door. :)
 
This really is very frustrating. Got the lens midday yesterday but weather has been awful and don't want to post samples of the (cluttered) garage) and (messy) room.

Some more initial thoughts from wandering around the house and snapping for those that are interested.

Small: Really is compact and feels sturdy. Should be ideal for packing in my bag when doing the day job.
Focussing: Quick and accurate even in very poor lighting.
Sharpness: Seems sharp all the way to the corners at any reasonable f number.
Bokah: Not really had a chance to investigate this yet.
Biggest Surprise: The manual focussing. It really is a pleasure to use. As I mentioned above you can only manual focus with the power on. Then you can either;
Set switch to manual focus and....er... manual focus.
or
Focus automatically then with finger still held on shutter release button, manually fine tune.
As I said above the motor is still working to create a resistive force but you can operate with one finger.

As soon as I see any break in the clouds will try to put some pics up but I will say already that it doesn't feel like a gadget. Looks good and seems to give good results.
 
I think your suprise about manual focus, is the fact that it is "focus-by-wire", hence needs electronic signal to transmit that information.

I have just bought a 35 f/2 and love it, but will be very interested to see the 40 f/2.8 comparisons.
 
Awesome! Congrats on the new lens.

When you say you can't manually focus, does the ring not turn or it turns with no effect on the element?
 
Image added on first post. So far very happy with the lens performance. As an easy carry round is ideal. Think it will be great as an unobtrusive street lens. Really happy with my purchase.
 
Looks a great image. :-)

Certainly looks a bit odd on the front of the body - looks squashed, but as you say, certainly compacts everything down.
 
Phil, how do you rate this lens compared to your 50 1.4. I've just bought a set of primes (35 f2,50 f1.4,85 f1.8) and I'm very happy with them, but I've just ordered a 650D, primarily for the wife, but was thinking of the 40mm lens for the video capability.
 
Interesting question. Sharpness, they look similar. And that is high praise. Colour wise, I need some early mornings with good light before I can give a full response. My feeling at the moment though, is that if keeps giving good responses I may sell the 50. The last test will be in a few weeks time at my daughters dancing. If it will focus and take pictures in poor light it will tick all the boxes.
 
The test shot is f/11 and looks fine.. Do you have any shot at f/2.8 because that's where the vignetting will be visible=
 
The dedication I have to TP :)

Straight out to garden and a couple at 2.8 added to first post. Maybe a little vignetting if I look hard but I think the last picture taken on the blue sky shows that there is not much to be concerned about.
 
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Hmmm I'm quite keen on this new 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens, I like its tiny compact size. Any idea of the price and where to buy from?

I see it's advertised for $199.99 in the USA.
 
The dollar price of $199.99 for the Canon 40mm f/2.8 converts into £127.05 (today's price), apart from postage that's nearly £100 cheaper. wow
 
macvisual said:
The dollar price of $199.99 for the Canon 40mm f/2.8 converts into £127.05 (today's price), apart from postage that's nearly £100 cheaper. wow
Click to expand...

Yep! The price will drop in the UK, that's for sure. Same old problem, do I wait, go grey import or bite the bullet. That's a personal decision.
 
Thanks for the report Phil, I might have to see if I can stretch to one. I might have to tell the wife it's for video primarily so she'll let me have one, lol. I've only done around 30 seconds of video on 5 bodies so far but having just ordered a 650D for the wife I might just have to borrow it and try some.
 
Thanks for the quick little review! This has interested me since I heard about it.

Just bought a 50mm and LOVING it! Personally I don't find that I need to step too big of a distance back like some people have told me.
However, I am thinking of buying this lens and possibly sell the 50mm :D
 
40mm is such a good focal length. I loved my 5dc and Zuiko 40mm. Sold them and bought a G3 and 20mm. Hope you enjoy the lens. Just a shame its not a touch faster like f1.8.
 
So tempted... must... resist...

If I buy this I'll have such a daft prime line up - 30mm, 40mm, 50mm, 100mm - but I really want one!
 
"It's not a Siberian hamster Manuel, it's a rat"

Sorry, couldn't resist. Nice pic though.
 
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gridlock said:
What distance was that, vinny? Have you cropped it?
Click to expand...

Yes, that was a crop. Sorry there is no exif data I uploaded it straight to Flickr. I normally use LR4 or Aperture but I was already editing some other stuff and didn't want to mess about changing libraries.
It's not reporting a focal distance when I look in the exif though.
 
The more I use this lens the more impressed I become. Went to Lichfield to see the Olympic flame and my daughter dancing on the stage. The camera becomes so much lighter and less obtrusive. Taking pictures you don't get people dodging out of the way or looking alarmed. In other words, street, even on a 5D2. Easy to carry around, sharp from corner to corner and a real pleasure to use.
 
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