I only used one for a couple of weeks, courtesy of Wendy, and I loved it. Not only does it's size work nicely with the MX, but I liked the fact that it focuses from about 17 inches out (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Basically, hyperfocused at f 16 or f22, it's a focus-free lens for walking about.
It makes the MX a terrific street camera, due to it's inconspicuous size and looks, and that tremendous hyperfocus range.
I thought it was plenty sharp, although I know some on this list think it soft. I wouldn't say "soft", just not the sharpest lens ever. I think I only used it for B&W, but I thought it was nicely contrasty.
The focus ring doesn't bother me a bit (and I don't exactly have dainty little girly-fingers). The knurling extends to the end of the lens barrel, and I found it quite convenient to use the end of the barrel for focusing, rather than search for the tiny ring on the sides - I know I'm not doing a good job explaining (or as Ricky Ricardo would say, 'splainin') this, but hopefully you get my drift.
For what it is, I think it's a bit overpriced. More than $150US isn't worth it. Seems that someone, several years ago on eBay, described it as "rare", and every eBay auction since then has picked up on that.
cheers, frank
"The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer
From: Joe Wilensky <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Pancake SMC-M 40mm 2.8 Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 08:57:18 -0400
I've had two experiences with this lens, and a different attitude on my part the second time around is what made me realize its benefits.
The first time I bought one, about three years ago, I used it on an ME Super. The size was wonderful, but my problem was that I was trying to use it like the 50mm f/1.7 or 50mm f/1.4 -- I was using it for available light photos indoors and was not pleased with its performance wide open. Since even the 50/1.7 performs much better than the pancake lens at f/2.8 (and can go more than a stop faster, too, of course), I felt it was always a tradeoff when I chose the 40/2.8, even when I was outdoors, since I kept thinking I could be carrying a faster lens instead.
I traded the pancake at some point, but I always missed it a bit. More recently, I picked one up for a more reasonable price and this time, I had two MXes and a different attitude. While the lens hadn't changed, I now appreciate its tremendous compactness and I don't take it along when I think I'm going to be shooting at f/2 or focusing in dim light. But it delivers very nice performance at most apertures, and seems fine at f/4 too, and even f/2.8 will do in a pinch if that's all you have. But it's no slower than Pentax's 28mm f/2.8 and 24mm f/2.8 lenses, and it's faster than the screwmount 35mm, 28mm, and 24mm f/3.5 lenses I've had. So it's really all a matter of perspective. It's a great walkaround lens, it gives the camera a different balance (it tips a little bit backward instead of forward -- the balance in the hand is more like a rangefinder!), and it has the 40mm focal length, which really is a nice compromise between the 35 and 50. It has the SMC coatings, doesn't need a lens hood and delivers nice saturated results.
$125-$150 for one in nice condition is about right.
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