Pancake Lens's Focus System - Does it work, or should I just get a cheaper MF lens?

C

CColton

Well-known member
I've read that the manual focus system in the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 is actually driving the motors to focus, and that turning the focus ring at different speeds affects the speed of the focus change. I had this in the lens of my old camera, and I was not a fan of it, because manual focus didn't operate like true manual focus should. For the owners of the pancake lens, is the manual focus annoying, or easy to use? Should I just invest in a 28mm Canon FD and rely on the less expensive MF?
 
You should try it out, but personally I hate the manual focus system of the 20mm. I bought the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and am so happy with it! The 28mm FD 2.0 is pretty good, but no where near as nice as the Sigma imo.
 
Apparently the Sigma 20mm 1.8 has improved significantly since its first reviews and is quite good.

First reviewer on amazon says thus
"I have used this lens extensively with the 1D and the Rebel XT. Results have been excellent. My suspicion is that the previous reviewer got a defective or damaged copy of the lens. It is incredibly sharp, even at f1.8, which I did not expect - generally you expect a lens to be a bit soft wide open, especially 1.8. The degree of sharpness of this lens is quite surprising."

The lens was widely panned on initial release as being terrible at 1.8. Seems they've fixed it
 
I was hoping for a less expensive option, honestly. Do lenses that cost $100-$200 pretty much all suck, or is there a deal I can find? I do need to use this for professional productions, so I'd like inexpensive but still high quality. Also, I heard somewhere that sigma lenses use the SOny Alpha/Minolta AF mount. Is that true? If so, I already have the adapter for those, since I have a minolta 50mm f1.7 (which I love).
 
I like the 20mm f/1.7 it's a fabulous lens optically and I like the manual focus because it's really dampened...a large wheel turn makes for a small focus change, rather than vice versa...more like a video lens.

I have the Sigma 24mm f/1.8 EX DG Asph Macro and I like it a lot. Don't use it nearly as often as the 20mm f/1.7 though.

Also, I use the auto-focus on the 20mm a ton for basic acquisition of focus. Just use the manual for pulling focus.
 
I manually focus the 20mm pancake all the time and it's no more difficult or fiddly in manual mode than any of my legacy glass. The wire-assist does feel different than a purely mechanical focus system but the end result is you twist-a da lens, the focus she shifts, same as my FDs.
 
CColton said:
What about the sigma do you prefer over the FD? There's a significant price difference haha.
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The reason I prefer the Sigma is because of the sharpness, the look, the speed and the focal length. If I were looking for something with similar speed in an FD, I would buy the 24mm 1.4 but there is a significant price difference. Why not check out a Canon FD 28mm. They are very cheap. I got a f2.0 for 10 bucks (although they might cost more on ebay)...

shaveblog said:
I manually focus the 20mm pancake all the time and it's no more difficult or fiddly in manual mode than any of my legacy glass. The wire-assist does feel different than a purely mechanical focus system but the end result is you twist-a da lens, the focus she shifts, same as my FDs.
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Again I disagree on pulling focus with the 20mm. I hate it, but I am in the minority as I hear many other people don't mind it...
 
mojo43 said:
The reason I prefer the Sigma is because of the sharpness, the look, the speed and the focal length. If I were looking for something with similar speed in an FD, I would buy the 24mm 1.4 but there is a significant price difference. Why not check out a Canon FD 28mm. They are very cheap. I got a f2.0 for 10 bucks (although they might cost more on ebay)...
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Where did you get it for 10 bucks? The best I can find is $100 on eBay. Also, do the FD adapters have iris rings, since the lenses themselves have iris rings?
 
CColton said:
Where did you get it for 10 bucks? The best I can find is $100 on eBay. Also, do the FD adapters have iris rings, since the lenses themselves have iris rings?
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I just found it locally. You should be able to find cheaper than that... I would say 60 dollars approx. Yes most of the FD adapters have iris rings even though the lenses have them. The adapters allow smooth aperture changes.
 
Check out KEH.com. They are a great store. I found my 30mm Sigma there for 315 dollars used but in perfect condition...
 
mojo43 said:
I just found it locally. You should be able to find cheaper than that... I would say 60 dollars approx. Yes most of the FD adapters have iris rings even though the lenses have them. The adapters allow smooth aperture changes.
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Good to know about the smoother aperture changes. That's also how my Minolta AF adapters work.
 
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