The first leaked image of the Canon 40mm f/2.8 “pancake” lens appeared today, with the official announcement expected on Friday. Unless the image is a fraud (which is possible but unlikely), the lens will utilize a 52mm filter thread, and will be roughly 20mm thick when mounted on the camera (ie, a little more than 3/4″ thick).
Pancake lenses, which date back to a 110 year old Zeiss design, have become popular on compact and Micro 4/3rds cameras over the past few years, primarily due to their compact size. The optical design is usually very simple, using only a few elements, so it will be interesting to see how this lens compares to the old nifty-fifty, Canon 50mm f/1.8, which is known for it’s high optical quality and low cost.
At this time, no hints are available about its price or when it will be available.
