FF Pancake

**Fontan** · 12-25-2021, 02:16 PM

Not that I can do anything about it, but I would like a DFA 28ish/2.8ish pancake to walk around with. Is it feasible, or a bad idea?

kypfer · 12-25-2021, 02:56 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by Fontan

Not that I can do anything about it, but I would like a DFA 28ish/2.8ish pancake to walk around with. Is it feasible, or a bad idea?

The problem on a full-frame SLR or DSLR is the mirror, so a 28mm needs to effectively have extra optics (retro-focus design) so's it can clear the mirror, which makes it a relatively bulky solution.
The widest you're likely to find in a "pancake" format is a 40mm. My DA 40mm XS seems to give full coverage in a Pentax film camera viewfinder and some reports indicate it is suitable for full-frame, but I've not actually tried it.

**Fontan** · 12-25-2021, 03:02 PM

Originally posted by kypfer

The problem on a full-frame SLR or DSLR is the mirror, so a 28mm needs to effectively have extra optics (retro-focus design) so's it can clear the mirror, which makes it a relatively bulky solution.
The widest you're likely to find in a "pancake" format is a 40mm. My DA 40mm XS seems to give full coverage in a Pentax film camera viewfinder and some reports indicate it is suitable for full-frame, but I've not actually tried it.

Thank you for that awesome explanation! That totally makes sense. Somewhere in my head I was thinking that there must be a reason why it didn't exist. Come to think of it, you are right about DA40. I got one, and interestingly I have never tried it on my K1. I am give it a try!

**robgski** · 12-25-2021, 03:09 PM - **3 Likes**

I use the DA 40 XS on my K-1 all the time, I recommend it.

officiousbystander · 12-25-2021, 03:56 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Fontan

I got one, and interestingly I have never tried it on my K1. I am give it a try!

I also recommend the 40mm on the K1. It's a great lens but an odd focal length on a crop sensor. It gets more love on the K1.

**TwoUptons** · 12-25-2021, 04:05 PM - **3 Likes**

I'll add to the fans of the 40xs. It looks ridiculous on the K1, but it works great.

Ricoh made a full frame pancake 28mm f3.5 aspherical lens years ago.
It wasn't terribly fast, and I've heard it has issues with element separation, but it commands a very high price used.

So it is possible...and I wouldn't mind one...

-Eric

**Kerrowdown** · 12-25-2021, 04:42 PM - **2 Likes**

Another recommendation for FF is the 40mm pancake... namely my "Retro Lady" SMC Pentax-M 40mm F2.8

In her case the hood I use with her... is deeper than than lens.

Sandy Hancock · 12-25-2021, 04:51 PM - **2 Likes**

It's definitely feasible; the F 28/2.8 is pretty much a pancake, and optically excellent.

It might be worth looking for one in the Marketplace.

[edit]I meant the F, not the FA[/edit]

**Fontan** · 12-25-2021, 05:28 PM

Wow! You guys rock. Thank you! I love that retro 40 pancake. That is cool.

**K-Three** · 12-25-2021, 05:30 PM - **1 Like**

If you don't mind manual focus, the M & A lenses (28 & 24s both available) are fairly compact, not pancake, but would make a small package.
The old lenses were even marked for hyperfocal at ƒ8 so you can set them and not have to focus if you want.

**Kerrowdown** · 12-25-2021, 06:07 PM

Originally posted by Fontan

I love that retro 40 pancake. That is cool.

Thanks.

**Joetitch** · 12-25-2021, 07:29 PM

Fantastic another to LBA with😀

**pres589** · 12-25-2021, 08:44 PM

Ricoh sold, in limited numbers apparently, a 28mm f3.5 full-frame k-mount pancake. I don't think it's regarded as a high-performing lens and it is manual focus, manual aperture ring without a Pentax "A" position on the ring.

There may be something else out there that's adaptable to k-mount. I would rather have a Pentax F 28mm f2.8 (or my M 28mm f2.8 mk2 for manual focus film cameras). Still pretty small although not sure if you can call it a 'pancake'. m

simsburyphoto · 12-26-2021, 01:00 AM

I too use an old FA 28mm on my K-1. It is not very bulky, but not quite a pancake. It works well.

5ks · 12-26-2021, 01:34 AM

Just to repeat what was already said: XS 40 is very much OK on K-1, IMHO, although it produces some vignetting at wide apertures. It might even be called the pancake of pancakes? -- And yes, many (old) compact primes serve pretty well for the purpose of almost 'pancake-like' compactness. My own gear includes FA 35/2 and M 28/3,5 (manual but still very capable).

12-25-2021, 02:16 PM	#1
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610	FF Pancake Not that I can do anything about it, but I would like a DFA 28ish/2.8ish pancake to walk around with. Is it feasible, or a bad idea?

12-25-2021, 04:51 PM - 2 Likes	#8
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	It's definitely feasible; the F 28/2.8 is pretty much a pancake, and optically excellent. It might be worth looking for one in the Marketplace. [edit]I meant the F, not the FA[/edit] Last edited by Sandy Hancock; 12-29-2021 at 01:36 PM.

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12-25-2021, 02:56 PM - 3 Likes	#2
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,593	Originally posted by Fontan Not that I can do anything about it, but I would like a DFA 28ish/2.8ish pancake to walk around with. Is it feasible, or a bad idea? The problem on a full-frame SLR or DSLR is the mirror, so a 28mm needs to effectively have extra optics (retro-focus design) so's it can clear the mirror, which makes it a relatively bulky solution. The widest you're likely to find in a "pancake" format is a 40mm. My DA 40mm XS seems to give full coverage in a Pentax film camera viewfinder and some reports indicate it is suitable for full-frame, but I've not actually tried it.

12-25-2021, 03:02 PM	#3
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610 Original Poster	Originally posted by kypfer The problem on a full-frame SLR or DSLR is the mirror, so a 28mm needs to effectively have extra optics (retro-focus design) so's it can clear the mirror, which makes it a relatively bulky solution. The widest you're likely to find in a "pancake" format is a 40mm. My DA 40mm XS seems to give full coverage in a Pentax film camera viewfinder and some reports indicate it is suitable for full-frame, but I've not actually tried it. Thank you for that awesome explanation! That totally makes sense. Somewhere in my head I was thinking that there must be a reason why it didn't exist. Come to think of it, you are right about DA40. I got one, and interestingly I have never tried it on my K1. I am give it a try!

12-25-2021, 03:09 PM - 3 Likes	#4
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,796	I use the DA 40 XS on my K-1 all the time, I recommend it.

12-25-2021, 03:56 PM - 2 Likes	#5
officiousbystander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 912	Originally posted by Fontan I got one, and interestingly I have never tried it on my K1. I am give it a try! I also recommend the 40mm on the K1. It's a great lens but an odd focal length on a crop sensor. It gets more love on the K1.

12-25-2021, 04:05 PM - 3 Likes	#6
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,213	I'll add to the fans of the 40xs. It looks ridiculous on the K1, but it works great. Ricoh made a full frame pancake 28mm f3.5 aspherical lens years ago. It wasn't terribly fast, and I've heard it has issues with element separation, but it commands a very high price used. So it is possible...and I wouldn't mind one... -Eric

12-25-2021, 04:42 PM - 2 Likes	#7
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Another recommendation for FF is the 40mm pancake... namely my "Retro Lady" SMC Pentax-M 40mm F2.8 In her case the hood I use with her... is deeper than than lens.

12-25-2021, 05:28 PM	#9
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610 Original Poster	Wow! You guys rock. Thank you! I love that retro 40 pancake. That is cool.

12-25-2021, 05:30 PM - 1 Like	#10
K-Three Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pugetopolis, WA Photos: Gallery Posts: 938	If you don't mind manual focus, the M & A lenses (28 & 24s both available) are fairly compact, not pancake, but would make a small package. The old lenses were even marked for hyperfocal at ƒ8 so you can set them and not have to focus if you want.

12-25-2021, 06:07 PM	#11
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Originally posted by Fontan I love that retro 40 pancake. That is cool. Thanks.

12-25-2021, 07:29 PM	#12
Joetitch Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Leura NSW Posts: 502	Fantastic another to LBA with😀

12-25-2021, 08:44 PM	#13
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Ricoh sold, in limited numbers apparently, a 28mm f3.5 full-frame k-mount pancake. I don't think it's regarded as a high-performing lens and it is manual focus, manual aperture ring without a Pentax "A" position on the ring. There may be something else out there that's adaptable to k-mount. I would rather have a Pentax F 28mm f2.8 (or my M 28mm f2.8 mk2 for manual focus film cameras). Still pretty small although not sure if you can call it a 'pancake'. m

12-26-2021, 01:00 AM	#14
simsburyphoto Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 244	I too use an old FA 28mm on my K-1. It is not very bulky, but not quite a pancake. It works well.

12-26-2021, 01:34 AM	#15
5ks Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 681	Just to repeat what was already said: XS 40 is very much OK on K-1, IMHO, although it produces some vignetting at wide apertures. It might even be called the pancake of pancakes? -- And yes, many (old) compact primes serve pretty well for the purpose of almost 'pancake-like' compactness. My own gear includes FA 35/2 and M 28/3,5 (manual but still very capable).