Best Pancake Lens From Sony, Canon, Nikon And FujiFilm
Hey, have you stopped here to know what are the best pancake lenses available in the market? Great, this article is for you.
I'm Stefan, a photography expert for the past ten years. In this article, I have given in-depth information, from what a pancake means to tips for purchasing a pancake lens. So, continue reading and choose your appropriate pancake lens from the given options.
WHAT IS A PANCAKE LENS
Like its unique name, "pancake lens," this type of lens is unique in its features. One cannot define this type directly but can describe them as being lightweight and small. Don't imagine that this lens looks anything like the pancakes you get for breakfast; it is just a comparison to its small, fluffy size.
The pancake lens is that nothing but a small lens that is super lightweight and affordable. Mostly, they are prime lenses meaning they have fixed focal lengths. Also, you will notice that they have wide-focal lengths.
The reason why telephoto lenses don't come in a pancake lens model is that the larger the focal lengths, the more glasses need to be included in the lens manufacture.
WHAT IS A PANCAKE LENS USED FOR
Most travelers and street photographers are fond of using pancake lenses in their photography. Because when you have to travel around with heavy camera equipment, your journey becomes burdensome, but if you get hold of a pancake lens, your carriage does lessen by a load. This is one of the prime causes of its popularity- being portable and compact.
You must keep in mind its limited wide-angle focal length, as it is a small lens. But this does not mean that its quality is affected; you will always get the sharp, minimally distorted images you wish to capture. With the help of these non-zooming pancake lenses, you can move around and experiment with scenic beauties that you have always wanted to.
To help further in your decision, I will provide you a brief insight into the best pancake lenses available in the market. So, let's just straight away jump into it!
LIST OF THE BEST PANCAKE LENSES
IMAGE | NAME | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
BEST SONY PANCAKE LENS  | SONY SEL-20F28 20MM F2.8 | ||
BEST CANON PANCAKE LENS  | CANON EF-S 24MM F/2.8 STM | ||
BEST NIKON PANCAKE LENS  | NIKKOR Z DX 16-50MM F/3.5-6.3 VR | ||
BEST FUJI PANCAKE LENS  | FUJINON XF18MMF2 R | ||
BEST MICRO FOUR THIRD PANCAKE LENS  | OLYMPUS ED 14-42MM F3.5-5.6 EZ |
REVIEW OF THE BEST PANCAKE LENSES
SELECT YOUR FAVORITE BRAND
BEST SONY PANCAKE LENSES
1. SONY SEL-20F28 20MM F2.8 - BEST WIDE ANGLE PANCAKE LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Features:
Attach this wide-angle pancake lens to your camera and you will be able to capture outstanding images and experiences. The blurred bokeh effect is seen even better when you use this Sony pancake lens full frame. The addition of the three aspheric elements greatly adds to the image contrast.
Design:
One of the most impressive features of this is its appearance, making it one of the best pancake lenses for photography. Having a solid build, there is an assurance that this will last you for a long time. Sony makes sure that all of its products are made out of high-quality materials, even to its smallest components in the pancake lens. This guarantees in smooth functioning of its lens ring.
Since pancake lenses are generally opted to use when traveling, its sleek design can easily face any bumps or ruggedness. When trying to focus on any object, you will hear some amount of static noise but it is not very loud. In terms of AF accuracy, it is commendable.
Performance:
When I had tried this SEL-20F28 pancake lens for Sony a7iii, I was completely awestruck. What caught my attention was its non-existence weight. So, if you are someone who wants such a lightweight lens, then this is the perfect one for you.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional, this is extremely easy to use, and this is seen to be more suitable when used for photography rather than for videography. Its aspherical design reduces any sign of spherical aberration and simultaneously making it seem lightweight.
You will receive superb resolution and contrasts at the edges of the image while simultaneously making it super portable for any E-mount camera. So, in terms of image quality, great sharpness in the center is noticed, which makes it perfect if you are looking for scenic photography.
Even if you are in a low-lit area, indoors or outdoors, you can view images with good clarity, which is why I give reason to title this as perfect.
Pros
Cons
2. SONY SEL35F18 35MM F/1.8 - BEST PANCAKE LENS FOR SONY A7
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
This Sony alpha pancake lens assures high performance and AF speed. It is multifunctional, and versatile making it perfect for capturing shots at any point of the day or night. Also, with its extra-low dispersion glass and aspherical lens elements, there is minimal distortion just how you would want.
DESIGN:
As stated above, Sony does not step back in providing high-end quality products to its customers; this product is also built in such a way to guarantee you a long-lasting experience. Having a tactile aluminum finish, even the smallest of its parts are assured to operate effectively.
You can pair up this tiny lens to any of your Sony cameras like Sony a7, a6300, or any a6000 series camera, and you're good to go.
The lens has a robust optical structure consisting of aspherical glasses and refractive elements. Hence, there is no issue of chromatic or spherical aberrations with the lens.
PERFORMANCE:
As an avid user of lenses, this Sony e mount pancake lens is ideal not just for photography sessions but can also be used for taking videos. Its smooth and noiseless operation can also make it a perfect lens for use in wildlife photography. Whether it is the focusing of motor or controlling of aperture, things are seen to work out seamlessly and quietly.
You can now experiment with different effects, be it in backgrounds or blur, to get that superb quality of the portrait. You will also not face any chromatic aberration issues as it is very minimal with the lens. This provides for a superior contrast not just at any specific area but throughout the image.
The best thing about this lens is that it has optical image stabilization. So, its in-built gyro sensors can detect even the slightest of movements and focus well on the object smoothly. This is what makes it one of the best e mount pancake lenses.
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Cons
BEST CANON PANCAKE LENSES
3. CANON EF-S 24MM F/2.8 STM LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Features:
This tiny lens is compatible with almost every Canon camera, except for the outdated ones. Something very surprising about this lens is that it is smaller than any lens, but it's twice its size when you put its cap on. Surprise!
Design:
You may think that CANON EF-S 24MM F/2.8 STM looks like any ordinary wide-angle pancake lens, but it is not. Its sleekness and lightness are the best out of the EF S series.
This product is seen to use a Stepper motor, which is important if you want a quieter and smoother autofocusing. So, if you are into shooting videos with a microphone, you will be requiring something noiseless.
Coming to its built- one does not have enough words to describe it. Manufactured out of the best materials, you are not going to find this burdensome whether it is the size or weight. This is perfect if you want something compact to just fit into your camera bags.
Performance:
Using this Canon EF-S pancake lens, one thing that is for certain, is that it is the best! It's an affordable buy, and the features that coke along with it are just exceptional. No other brand offers you such greatness in pancake lenses Canon provides you with.
Small in size does not mean there is any compromise in its quality and performance, and you can just rely on this to capture the beauty of nature or your adventures. Even if you are not a professional in the photography world, your work will scream professionalism.
Even in low-lit areas, or during the night, I would be recommending this lens to you. Simple and sturdy, this will be lasting you for a long time. Its quality can easily be compared to any 35mm pancake lens. So, if you are a person who likes to travel light, then do you have to think twice before getting your hands on this lens?
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Cons
4. CANON EF-M 22MM F2 STM LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Features:
Featuring a 35mm Pancake lens, this product can be used as pancake lenses for Canon cameras. Unlike the previous Canon 20mm pancake models, this can be noted to be the new standard model. Having a fast aperture controls the brightness of your picture well. Its lightweight nature enables it to act as a feather when mounted on the EOS M, and its size can fit in your pocket easily.
Design:
Designed uniquely, this Canon EF pancake lens is not your regular or ordinary kind of lens that you get in the market. It is one of the smallest lenses that Canon has to offer. It is also built out of good materials that give your hand a metal construction and feel. The focusing ring is also wide, which makes it easier to operate.
You can also use the manual override at any point. Setting the focus at infinity can get tricky since there are no hard stops at any end of the range.
When autofocusing is required, it does it quite simply and smoothly, taking 0.5 seconds to focus completely on the object. No noise is produced because of the in-built STM. This ensures that you can use this lens for photography and videography.
Performance:
The performance of Canon EF-M 22mm is exceptional as it provides high-resolution and high contrast in low light. The lens offers beautiful bokeh and is ideal as a walk-around lens for everyday scenes, dramatic imagery, and provides continuous autofocus while shooting videos.
It is a great lens for mirrorless Canon cameras. When compared to other lenses, it is very sharp. It is a perfect lens for landscape photos and portraits. This makes it a perfect companion for traveling.
Pros
Cons
BEST NIKON PANCAKE LENS
5. NIKKOR Z DX 16-50MM F/3.5-6.3 VR - BEST PANCAKE LENS FOR NIKON
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Features:
Claimed to be the first impressive zooming lens, this small-sized product is the best option as a pancake lens for Nikon cameras. Whether it is its appearance or its wide-angle coverage, it's filled with finery. It is perfect for beginners as it is extremely easy to use. Created as the ideal pancake lens, Nikon specially designed it for DX-format Z-mount mirrored cameras.
Design:
Nikon has curated this product in such a way that it makes it ideal for everyday use. If we talk about the exterior, you will notice that it is sleek and has smooth touch. Its ultra-compact, and with its special silver coating, it feels great when held or attached to your camera.
You can use this lens for wildlife photography as it will deliver sharp and impressive results. Even if your hand could shake slightly, the lens manages to focus smoothly and quickly onto the object with the help of a nearly silent stepping motor.
The lens has extra-low dispersion and aspherical glass elements that further enhance the quality of your image. There is also a custom control ring that you can operate to control focusing or aperture.
Performance:
Overall, whatever is said for this 50mm pancake lens is less. Nikon has always been a leading brand in bringing forth the best photography equipment, and unlike any Nikon 40mm pancake lens, the image quality is impressive. As a collapsible lens, its optics retract back when not in use on its own. You can carry this in your pocket or put it at the back of your travel bag when not using it.
Extra-low dispersion element is a must-have in any lens and this product, color fringing, and chromatic aberrations are at a minimum.
This assures that your captures will have great clarity and accuracy. Distortion is also minimized so that you can experiment with your pictures or videos successfully.
Pros
Cons
BEST FUJIFILM PANCAKE LENS
6. FUJINON XF18MMF2 R
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Features:
As a sleek pancake lens and able to work on any APS-C camera type, it is a wide-angle providing an f/2 maximum aperture. Based on all of its features, one could say that it is ideal for everyday usage, whether for street photography or landscape photography.
From its name itself, one understands that it is highly compatible with any FujiFilm camera device.
Design:
Keeping in mind all of your basic requirements, FujiFilm has created this lens in such a way that makes it highly portable. Therefore, your trips become less heavy and easy to handle. Made out of high-quality materials, this promises to last you a long time. Having a field view like any 35mm pancake lens, your experimenting range increases making it perfect for landscape or street photography. It is also designed to provide your images with clarity and a touch of great sharpness.
Given its refined aperture, even the bokeh effect gets enhanced. The small, compact appearance also gives a natural feel to the camera.
Even better, the two glass-mold aspherical lenses give clarity to the images and maintain reducing vignetting or any form of color shading.
Performance:
In two words I would describe the working condition of this lens- it's amazing! I have trusted FujiFilm for years now, and my experience with this product tightens it further. It is slightly overpriced, but it will seem like a worthy buy when you understand what it offers.
You can walk around, hike, and travel with this lens not feeling a burden onto you. The image quality is just as you would expect it to be sharp, clear, and almost with no distortion.
Although the edges will seem to be a little off, it can almost go as unnoticeable. If you face any form of distortion, you can check it as well in Lightroom using the Lens Correction Panel. As a photographer, you would want your lens to focus smoothly and with efficiency. This lens ticks these conditions off, adding speed to its focusing.
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BEST LEICA PANCAKE LENS
7. LEICA ELMARIT-TL 18/F2.8 ASPH LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Features:
When one is in the stream of photography, one looks for autofocusing as one of the major features in its lens and this pancake lens provides you this. It's also only 0.8" thick that makes it perfect to carry around and not feel burdened by it.
The best part about this lens is its aspherical surface, which prevents distortion and adds much clarity and a sharp edge to the image.
Design:
Designed to be super sleek and thin, it's one of the smallest lenses in its compartment. But its applause does not stop there when you will notice its superb shooting performance. The optical design of this product subdues any spherical or chromatic aberrations, making sure that your result is sharp and clear.
As the smallest wide-angle pancake lens, you can use this on any APS-C camera available. It has been created in such a way that it does not need an external lens hood, that does not add any extra size to it. Its build quality is just as you would want- high-standard.
The focusing ring works smoothly and rotates 360° without any twitches. There is a high chance that this will not fall off your hand because of the ribbing on the exterior.
Performance:
The Leica Elmarit is known for its incredible performance despite the 18mm pancake billing lens. It can show splendid videos in incredibly low as well as extreme light. One can expect the camera to adjust to the climate of the surroundings.
Your pictures will be given a smooth touch to every edge of the image, providing you also with high resolution. With a Leica, one doesn't need to bother about vignetting. Even in the situation of using the bokeh effect, you will realize that Leica gives you a worthy deal.
It is also quiet to operate and speedy in autofocusing in providing you with ideal portraits. One may think that it is quite an expensive buy, but it turns out to be a good one with the services offered with this.
Pros
Cons
BEST MICRO FOUR THIRDS PANCAKE LENSES
8. PANASONIC LUMIX G II LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Features:
Having only a 0.8" thickness, these Panasonic pancake lenses can be noted to be the best MFT pancake lenses out there, in the market. It is sleek, wide-angled, and designed to specifically match the needs of any Micro Four Thirds system camera device. Whether it is its maximum wide aperture or the focal distance, certainty of receiving great images is done.
Design:
Coming firstly to its unique design that had initially caught my eye. Panasonic pancake lenses have always prioritized their build, which is why one can trust its sturdiness. As it weighs only a few ounces, you must handle the lens with care. It can face a few bumps here and there, and work for a long time if maintained properly.
It offers a 28mm focal length that is more than what an ordinary lens offers in terms of the visual perspective. It has three aspherical elements that help in giving that clarity and non-distorted vision to your picture.
The multi-coated lens elements also play a great part in reducing lens flares and ghosting which helps in giving your pictures a sharp contrast and color fidelity. When paired with a Stepper motor, the inner focusing system allows in delivering to you quiet and accurate autofocusing performance.
Performance:
If I am made to describe this product, I would conclude by calling it an upcoming popular pancake lens of today's times. And, it is not just my biases towards this product but thousand others who will agree with me on this statement.
If you are someone who wishes to record videos or shoot pictures in the wildlife, then this lens type will help you a lot. Its smooth working and quiet operation make your work much easier, making it an ideal option for daily usage.
Unlike other pancake lenses where there is a significant amount of chromatic aberration and flaring, this lens aims at reducing them to a minimum. Even in areas where there isn't enough light, the lens manages to capture images with great clarity and focus.
Its wide Aperture is perfect to capture a narrow depth of field clicks with a focused background and sharp dim-light photography.
Pros
Cons
9. OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42MM F3.5-5.6 EZ LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Features:
An advanced featured lens with technology competing with that of one of the Micro Four Thirds cameras. It is one of the best MFT pancake lenses with a wide-angle, portrait to landscapes to architecture length zoom with a focal length range of 14-42mm. An aspherical lens with low dispersion and high refractive index, moving automatically when the camera is powered on or off.
The zero coating, electronic zoom of 3x, and the movie still compatibility make it a demanding product. The slim pancake form factor of the lens measures just 0.9" thick. The features make it good for traveling and photography as well video shooting.
Design:
This Olympus pancake lens is compact and portable. The sleek black design makes it an easy travel companion. The lens is compatible with Panasonic pancake lenses such as the Lumix DC series, Lumix DMC series. It is also compatible with the Z cam E2 series, Blackmagic Design Cinema, etc.
This Refraction ability is a part of its design of ultra-slim design. This can be paired with a PEN or OM-D body.
Performance:
The lens captures razor-sharp and precise pictures which enable smooth and constant functioning. The feature of 3 aspherical elements and one S-HR element makes possible fewer distortions and spherical aberrations in the zoom range.
The performance of the lens is in high regard due to the extra-low dispersion element added to the lens which suppresses the color fringing and chromatic aberrations.
The zero coating also improves its performance capabilities by removing the ghosting effect, hence improving the contrast and color accuracy. The electronic zoom control and MSC makes it desirable for shooting HD movies as it provides silent focusing and aperture performance and versatility which are essentials for video.
The well-controlled lens and variations provided in the package exceed the expectation of the buyer.
Pros
Cons
10. OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO 9MM F8.0 LENS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Features:
The Olympus M. Zuiko Fisheye Body Cap Lens is an ultra-slim form factor with a 0.5" thin lens. It provides a wide-angle view of 140◦. The two aspherical elements used in the lens considerably reduce the aberrations and control distortion.
The focal length of 18mm is a great pair for a portrait to landscape photographs. The manual focus lever allows varied shooting positions. The Deep Focus position for working with distant objects and Close-Up focus for working with subjects as close as 7.9" away.
Design:
The sleek look of the Olympus Fisheye lens comes built in a body cap. It's ultra-wide 18mm view compliments its design. The design is compatible with Nikon, and also supports MFT Format.
Performance:
The images clicked are sharp and have considerable clarity. Despite its small size, the lens provides an excellent level of contrast and stabilization of the images. The fisheye lens does a pretty good job representing the actual size.
Pros
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BUYING GUIDE
Whenever we step out to buy a product, we have prerequisites to them as it will help in easy shopping. This is why I will help in providing you with conditions to note before you buy the best pancake lens. However, to get the full benefit of pancake lens in the manual mode, you will need to know more on camera lenses exposure.
Of course, different types of cameras are offered to you, so before choosing a pancake lens, check its compatibility with the device. The above-mentioned pancake lenses are compatible with each of its own Sony, Nikon, Canon, or Panasonic camera. What is even better than some can be used a second set of lenses for your camera.
So, it all depends on its adjustment and compatibility with the camera device.
Another major factor that you must keep in mind and ask yourself, 'Why do I need a pancake lens?'. If your answer somewhat relates to easy traveling or greater portability, then this type of lens might just be the one for you.
As already mentioned many times, this type of camera lens is perfect to take in your journey, given its compact and lightweight feature. You will not be made to feel its presence when traveling or shooting with this.
Choosing the right aperture can get confusing at times, but all that you need to know is that lower the number calls for a wider aperture. This also means that the lens will allow for more light to enter. When you go for a lower number, like f/1.4 or f/2, it will enable you to have a great shooting experience even in dim-lit areas.
While some brands provide autofocusing in their pancake lens, some others provide manual focusing. So, depending on your needs and comfort level with the lens you must go for any.
Pancake lenses generally come in three categories of angles- the standard, ultra-wide, and the most popular wide-angle. Depending on the kind of photography (whether street, landscape, or documentation) that you are used to, you can go for any of the following.
Most pancake lenses possess this feature, and honestly, you must go for a lens that has this feature. So, even if you are not able to focus on your object, your lens does it on its own, smoothly. Also, if you wish to get shake free videos then this IS feature is a must.
Having a low dispersion or extra-low dispersion glass may seem like an insignificant factor in a pancake lens, but this is important. To reduce the excessive chromatic aberration that most lens cause because of their cheap glass quality, your pancake lens must have a low dispersion glass.
CONCLUSION
Honestly, you can go for whichever product you wish to use, but you must make sure that the pancake lens suits your camera. So kindly read the buying guide stated above very clearly before you head out for a purchase. Once your requirements are seen to be fulfilled, just go for it!
FAQ'S
Yes, if you buy a pancake lens it is worth it. Easy to travel and use on outdoor shoots; It does not even take much space and can be placed in any corner of your equipment bag. So, getting the best pancake lens is sensible if you are on the lookout for something portable.
Since this is a compact, small lens its focal length is also limited making it non-zoomable.
Yes, whether you are a newbie to the photography world or a professional, a pancake lens can be used by anyone. They are generally inexpensive and can be used for unique experiments. Overall, you will be provided with reels of great images!
