Comments on: The Bargains of 2012

By: David M

David M — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:46:26 +0000

The 40mm is a belter alright. I picked one up in July last year, just after its release, but have only used it enough to know I should use it more, something I plan on doing this year.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:39:58 +0000

I agree with Aaron, the Cannon pancake is 40mm, not the 45mm in your description. Couldn’t agree more though, I’m thinking of picking one up soon.

By: David

David — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:38:41 +0000

Here’s another reason why the Canon 40mm pancake is so cool. With my 5DII, both body and lens fit – barely but they do fit – in a Lenscoat® Bodybag®. The model designed just for the body.

By: Mike S.

Mike S. — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 07:18:24 +0000

Thanks, Roger!

By: Sean M

Sean M — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 06:57:52 +0000

Yeah, that body cap lens is pretty neat! Very usable for the price.

Also, it says “Lensrenals” at the end.

By: Roger Cicala

Roger Cicala — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 03:22:22 +0000

Mike,
Probably not, but it’s just so cheap and tiny I can’t help but love it. If you didn’t already have the 50mm I’d recommend it more strongly, but you’re all set.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:39:24 +0000

I have the Canon 40mm and Pentax K-01. Good recomendations. On my 5D the pancake gives a nice, moody vinetting wide open – getting super sharp stopped down a little.
The Pentax didn’t work so hot with my manual focus lenses, so I bought a FA 35mm F 2.0. Now I’m loving it. Lots of imaging power for a little over three bills!

By: Mike S.

Mike S. — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:38:52 +0000

Roger, I’ve been tempted to get the 40mm f/2.8 just because it’s so cute, and your recommendation nearly puts me over the top, but… I have the Canon 50mm f/1.8 and a Sigma 30mm f/1.4, neither of which I use nearly enough. That’s in part because the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS (bought used from Lensrentals, and with which you generously helped me some weeks back) seems to work better for me at those focal lengths most of the time.

I freely grant that if I were a more thoughtful/skilled photographer, I would get more out of the primes than I do. But in practice I mount them with high hopes every so often, and come back without much to show for it.

Is there something the 40mm will give me (other than the intermediate focal length ) that I won’t (hopefully, eventually ) get by practicing further with the primes I already have?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 22:06:56 +0000

“…the 45mm f/2.8 pancake can be had for next to nothing…”

You had it right the first and last time, but the middle is 12.5% wrong

By: Vince

Vince — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:52:36 +0000

Just like last year, you forgot to include the LensPen in the “Photography Bargins” It is always my go-to cheap item to use as a gift for anyone with a camera, from small point n shoots all the way up to $10,000 worth of gear in their bag.

I can only assume other photographers lose them as often as I do, so they’re always a welcome sight to have spares laying around!