PENTAX SMC 40mm/2,8 PANCAKE

[padiej]

Hallo!

Some time ago, I am believed to know all about fotografic.
But now, I know only a little bit.

A little bit is also a pancace from pentax.





I like this len´s, sometimes I can´t find the fokus-ring after changing.
The mechanic is simple, the aperture works fine.
I payed 85€, this len´s isn´t the cheapest on bay.

Today I used the pancake again, these are the result´s:

[padiej]

I like this pancake, and I don´t need any AF.

The SMC-M series is about 25 jears old.

regard´s Peter

[Attila]

I don't see result of Pancake...

[padiej]

Now, it work´s! Web is silly today.
regards Peter

[themoleman342]

I can't say I've really ever understood the concept behind the pancake lens. Could someone enlighten me concerning their appeal? I mean, I have the industar, great little lens but hard to focus and set aperture really quick. And most of the time I have to hold the camera in an improper fashion because I'm worried about getting my big hands in front of the lens. I never saw their inconspicuous nature being much of an advantage, especially when someone has a nice big camera body in back of it. Most of them are tessar designs also, right? So the advantages and disadvantages with that configuration are evident as well, right? Is it just the "cool factor?" Something which I certainly can't disagree about. Or is it something I'm unaware of?

Thanks in advance
~Marc

[patrickh]

The pancakes typically come into their own for street photography. Wide enough to give decent DOF and so pre-focusing is OK. My nikkor pancake is a magnificent lens with superb OOF and very sharp. Good colour and contrast. Altogether a lens that demands a premium, and that is the main complaint about it - too expensive. That little Industar will give magnificent colour saturation and is also sharp. Definitely not designed for fast focus!



patrickh

[poilu]

Congrats Peter. Nice little lens. Those pancake are magnet and it is difficult to resist to them

[Abbazz]

[padiej]

That´s right!
A Tessar 50/2,8 is also a "Pancake", but the tube is longer and becomes a little hood. So, it look´s normal.

regards Peter

[Orio]

I think the reason behind the pancake lenses is a very practical one: to be able to fit one's reflex camera inside a coat's pocket (and thus being able to walk around without photographic bags). Of course, the concept works if you use a camera like a Praktica or a 167 MT or a 400D. If you use it on a 5D or a RX the concept becomes a bit useless

[Flor27]

My first impressions based on shots I took with this SMC 40/2.8 Pentax pancake on EOS 5D(*) are : no distortion; good flare resistance; soft corners at full aperture.

I should take comparative pictures with the CZ Tessar 40/2.8 T* pancake I own too


(*) Yes, I had to hack this lens because all PK mount lenses are hitting the 5D mirror with the aperture lever. This is a non-reversible hack because on this lens, the lever is dot-soldered on inner part, not screwed.

[ChrisLilley]