5 Reasons 40mm is the Best Focal Length

Is the 35mm or 50mm the best focal length? Neither, because the 40mm could be the answer for a do-it-all prime lens.
Music
Birocratic: / birocratic
Gear Used in This Vid
Canon 40mm STM geni.us/NYP8Q9W
Canon 50mm f/1.8 geni.us/lMXa6SZ
Canon 5D Mark IV geni.us/Wy1T1B8
* I may earn a bit of commission if you use the product links above to help me keep on making videos for you, so thank you!

[@TheLokCheung]

Reason #6: it makes a great video title

[@BokehMaster_]

and you can't lok the reasons

[@GarnettLeary]

You’re jealous you didn’t choose it? He’s full of it. He wouldn’t drop the fitty.

[@firecrackerreviews1637]

One way to lok at it

[@fiatlux8828]

*wideo

[@SkylerKing]

son of a bitch, that is the exact comment I was going to make... touche...

[@ghossain2070]

wow. Felt like i was transported back in time to when Kai was starting digitalrev. Full of energy, full of passion, full of life.

[@Cagey7531]

Full of shit

[@thetonycam3944]

@@Cagey7531 🤣

[@TheLokCheung]

Lol to be fair Tim do look like the similar type to me: thin, wear glasses, Chinese. And handsome. Also awww baby Wong still remember me!

[@0nigami]

1:32 Look at the store name it's Kai's long lost brother, Wong Kei

[@KeanKennedy]

lol. IIRC Won Kei is a restaurant whose shtick is rude waiting staff. Kinda like a Japanese tsundere cafe but with gruff dudes I guess.

[@DarrenD777]

@Kean Kennedy ROFL! Right?!

[@DarrenD777]

@SiNSi Yep! It's all about the quality. Right?

[@keenarnia]

Next make a 40 reasons a 5mm is the best focal length video plz

[@KaiManWong]

1. It's not a 6mm 2. It's not a 6mm 3. It's not a 6mm 4. It's not a 6mm 5. It's not a 6mm 6. It's not a 6mm 7. It's not a 6mm 8. It's not a 6mm 9. It's not a 6mm 10. It's not a 6mm 11. It's not a 6mm 12. It's not a 6mm 13. It's not a 6mm 14. It's not a 6mm 15. It's not a 6mm 16. It's not a 6mm 17. It's not a 6mm 18. It's not a 6mm 19. It's not a 6mm 20. It's not a 6mm 21. It's not a 6mm 22. It's not a 6mm 23. It's not a 6mm 24. It's not a 6mm 25. It's not a 6mm 26. It's not a 6mm 27. It's not a 6mm 28. It's not a 6mm 29. It's not a 6mm 30. It's not a 6mm 31. It's not a 6mm 32. It's not a 6mm 33. It's not a 6mm 34. It's not a 6mm 35. It's not a 6mm 36. It's not a 6mm 37. It's not a 6mm 38. It's not a 6mm 39. It's not a 6mm 40. Did you ACTUALLY MAKE it THIS far?!

[@JGnLAU8OAWF6]

Next make a 40 reasons a pinhole is the best "lens" video plz

[@keenarnia]

Kai W unfortunately.... I did :/

[@pixelart4043]

Well said

[@catsandrandom3844]

@@KaiManWong I didn't know until today that there are such ultra wide lenses in the market like 5mm or 6mm. 🤔

[@Wabajak13]

Absolutely love this lens and focal length. Some of my favorite portraits and travels pics come from this lens, it's so easy to throw in my bag and always have on hand. Just wish it was an affordable f/2.0 or stabilized.....one day.

[@NocternalSolTv]

I was so undecided between a 35mm off brand, and a 40mm canon. Already having a 50mm Canon, this review did it for me. I'm going with the 40mm Canon, thank you for helping me make a hard decision.

[@RegularSean]

I miss Lok.

[@TheLokCheung]

Regular Sean Hi!

[@RegularSean]

Brilliant! I wasn't expecting that at all!

[@DarrenD777]

@Regular Sean - You do know that Lok has his own channel now...right? @Lok Cheung - BTW - Nice one Lok!

[@RegularSean]

Yes, I know. I have been subbed to it for a while. I just miss Lok showing up in Kai's videos. It's like Seinfeld without Kramer. Cherry pie without ice cream. Pancakes without syrup.

[@DarrenD777]

@Regular Sean, yeah, I *completely* agree they were a funny team, and then put Alamby in the picture and it was magic. *Unfortunately* all good things must come to an end.

[@Cwyeung0912]

I still remember the Pancake day Kai with Lok & Alamby 👍

[@KandiKlover]

Yeah great day, they cooked pancakes too heheh .

[@MarioSargeant]

PEDENTAX! *dying here! Bless you for being here man. KNOWLEDGE & KICKS!

Thats why i love my 24/2,8 EF-S lens on my Canon crop body, perfect always on 👌

[@REZrblde]

And this is why i LOVE the 20mm f1.7 pancake on my GH5. It doesnt have IS but the IBIS in the GH5 makes it a HECK of a lover.

[@joshthorne5423]

I love your content man. Seriously delightful and funny stuff!

[@ej22_gc86]

Bought the crop equivalent 24mm pancake precisely for this, it’s an awesome little all-rounder! Took me a little time getting used to it since it’s not quite as wide as the 18-200 zoom and it’s not as closed-in as the 50 (on the crop sensor anyway), but it’s lovely when you frame things well in it

[@ChimaChindaDev]

My favourite +40mm lens: Pentax 43mm 1.9

[@sarunasz5167]

That guy with umbrella is a guide leading a group so everyone can see him from distance in case someone gets lost (and someone always gets lost).

[@MartinLisius]

Thanks for posting, Kai. As usual, both informative and funny. 40mm is "the best" focal length on a full frame sensor, specifically. This is why the 28mm cine lens on a Super 35mm sensor (or film frame) is ideal. Because 28mm equals appx. 40mm full frame. 40mm for FF, 28mm for S35.

[@MsZumoman]

40ish mm love from me! 28mm on crop Oly 35sp for rangefinder film (yum)

[@eldnahruoytes]

Been shooting a Konica 40mm 1.8 quite often. It's my go-to lens for video, parties, journalism, and candids. The 50mm is too narrow to give contex, and it's most useful for distance outdoors or portraits. The 40 is far more versatile and smaller than my 50, so it's perfect. I find the 28 and 35mm to be excessively wide for my purposes, but I'm sure they are useful in some contexts.

[@syro-syouthrecordingorg6111]

YES FINALLY 40mm (28mm APS equiv.) is finally on the radar!!!

[@seantubridy3242]

Agree. It's the best compromise. And there are some awesome 40s out there - the Voigtlanders, the Nikon one, the Minolta if you like rangefinders ...

[@TreneiroVlog]

so 20mm is the best lens for m4/3 ? :D

[@WillEndSeraFin]

20mm 1.7 pancake is amazing for the price!

[@KandiKlover]

Nah. The best standard is same as the diagonal length across your image sensor. Hence why he said 43mm and Pentax in this video and also the digitalrev 5 reasons 35mm video.

[@ariunboldgaram-ayush8914]

@@KandiKlover diagonal length of m43 is 22mm so 20mm is not that far off.

[@PushkaCom]

Fujifilm has a 27mm f2.8 which is 41mm equivariant -and on a small mirrorless body is so subdued and compact 💛

[@KandiKlover]

Awesome. I have been hoping for another 5 reasons lens video for a while. These are my most favorite videos of you.

[@chrisdwyer1477]

I still rock my 5d classic with the 40 2.8 all the time. Maybe my favorite setup.

[@Photomeike]

I clicked off of Jason Lanier's video so fast my finger hurts LMAO #NotificationGang

[@chirag4]

me too

[@BillBynum]

Jason L is a d bag.

[@charliedecker3109]

sorry to be so off topic but does anyone know a method to get back into an instagram account?? I was stupid lost the password. I appreciate any assistance you can offer me!

[@enochxander7392]

@Charlie Decker instablaster :)

[@jamesmlodynia8757]

I have a few 40mm prime lenses and 40mm full frame equivalent lens for the different cameras and camera systems that cover full frame, APSC and 4/3 and 40mm works well for a few different types of photography, but like any focal length it only works when it fits the subject that you are photographing. If you're photographing wildlife or a distant landscape or a wide seascape or landscape again it's not the right lens, you can use it for panoramic shots but you can not apply that style of photography to all situations where a wide angle lens is required.

[@juniorojha]

Reference to 'The BOKE' at 06:16 is priceless!

[@邱俊安-l4w]

Nice to see TIM again!!!

[@thomasgunn4146]

Pentax 43mm 1.9 FTW

[@Wigggy]

Imma let you finish but the Yashinon-DX 45mm 1.7 is one of my favorite lenses FTW

[@thomasgunn4146]

C Business okay I'm with you on that one too

[@stevied653]

C Business that’s a fixed lens on the electro35 isn’t it?

[@phpn99]

That's the reason I use the Tamron 45mm on my D850

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

My default lens is a variable from 35 to 70, which covers a bit of normal, a bit wider, and some longer. With the cost that it's a bit bigger and heavier. Also darker than a prime, as well as a little slower (so not as big an aperture, thought 3.5 is pretty good), but this particular lens has a trick that it can be switched to macro for a sweet-ass DOF-effect. That's only for close-range, but it's a great bonus.

[@-grey]

40mm is my favourite. I thought it didn't get love because there was never frame lines for it in Leicas, so 50mm and 35mm took over. For me I always found myself at either 40mm or 70mm on my zoom lens after spending time with only a 28mm on aps-c for the first 5 years of my photography life. It feels natural to my eye.

[@quite1enough]

Robert Bresson did almost all his movies (since his third work, I believe) on 50mm

[@beareggers]

20mm is my "walk around" lens on my M4/3. It practically lives on my old E-P3. Unless I'm planning on shooting something specific, it's always my default.

[@BobbyBabaletskos]

I'd love to see the face of the Sony boys when you said "go back to mirrors"

[@adamhashmi11]

Bobby Babaletskos I'm one of the Sony boys in the video mainly talking and we were definitely surprised by that

[@jaycasejaycase]

I miss these street exploring/review videos. Keep killin it 💪🏽 @jaycase

[@tweemee]

And the dog wears something RED! Love your videos, I‘m not even considering buying a lense atm, I come here for the entertainment. Your sense of humor is delightful.

[@lukewojcik8663]

ah! I was sad to see you go from digital rev but glad to somehow have had you recommended again!

[@BienenChef]

LOL the Kei Wong restaurant in the background 1:35

[@JerryC25]

I literally just got this lens. And now I’m glad!

[@MultiSciGeek]

Great video, great photos, great location, love the culture of the U.K., Happy Chinese New year. Also music and editing was on point! Thanks.

[@vincentvangogh4174]

And best of all, APS-C has basically the same thing - 24mm STM Pancake. I found this focal length great for architecture photography because it doesn't have that distortion like 18mm which makes large buildings appear smaller. Need a lot of space to back up though.

[@hooked4lifeca]

The industry tended to agree with you that the 40mm (or 38mm) was the most versatile, judging by the number of old film rangefinder cameras that were equipped with either a fixed 38mm or 40mm lens. (e.g. Canon Canonet) I have a Voigtlander 25mm on the front of my X-PRO1 giving me an effective 38mm lens and I love the focal length for the street. I had tried the Fujifilm 27mm (40mm eq), but the AF was too slow, too noisy and it was too clumsy on MF with that fly-by-wire focusing ring. The lack of an aperture ring was also a nuisance. Can't beat the tiny size of these lenses.

[@theshimonmor]

Bought a Panasonic GX8 specifically to use the 20/1.7 (40mm eq) on it. Makes a nice compact, rangefinder style camera. Love the 40mm FOV!

[@faultdetected]

What's your view on Tamron 45mm?

[@alansmith72]

Alexander Ginzburg I absolutely adore mine.

[@stevelink21]

Nice "perspective" on the 40, Kai. However, one could also make a case for either the 35mm-equivalent (Fujinon XF23mm f/2 for example), or the 50mm-equivalent (Fujinon XF35mm f/2)...It's quite a subjective decision after all, and depends on one's specific requirements. Happy shooting!

[@schizzlschnitzl]

Kai, these videos with Tim or another camera operator are much much better than just with yourself alone. More dynamic, more walking, talking, etc., they feel right. Old *beep*tv style. ;)

[@boutrosboutrosboutrosboutros]

so the 20mm pancake on the Lumix GX85 or G9. yes fantastic lens. and f1.7 (mft) and flat as a unrisen pancake - awesome streetie lens. on the GX85 its a tiny little thang, but so many options. decent low light for a cropped sensor.

[@insekt8623]

So if a want a lens close to 40mm for APS-C I will have to get the 24mm which basically closes to 37mm

[@borderlands6606]

The APS-C Canon pancake is 24mm, which is 38.4mm equivalent. You won't notice 1.6mm difference through the finder.

[@KaiManWong]

28mm

[@insekt8623]

Borderlands so if I want 40 should I get it? (24mm) with canon 77d(baby 80d)

[@borderlands6606]

+insekt, yes Canon has a x1.6 APS-C crop factor including the 77D. 24mm x 1.6 = 38.4mm, as near 40mm as makes no difference. A 28mm lens on the Canon will give 44.8mm ( 45mm as near as). Nikon use x1.5 crop factor on their APS-C cameras.

[@insekt8623]

Borderlands 24 IT IS!

[@TheOffertonhatter]

Can't agree more, with my K-1 I am blessed with two options to go for, the 40mm Limited and the 43mm Limited. The 40mm is supposed to APS-c but works beautifully on the K-1 :-)

[@Zaccyonline]

Love my 40mm when I want to go out but not be obnoxious with my 50mm L on my 1DXmkii 😅 ps Lok looks so good in this video 👍

[@karlorodriguez8089]

Do more of these kai. Most of us miss this shit!

[@DanielGonzalez-wn5qs]

Tim = Lok confirmed

[@makkaG2155]

personal confuser. He was Kai's former colleague on Digital Rev tv

[@recconectt]

Outro song: Birocratic - orientation. Great choice Mr. Wong!

[@Sculpted.Gentleman]

Sigma 30 1.4 on apsc cameras are awesome

[@Petalpusher28]

agree

[@breathLP]

Yep!

[@ayhancapan]

Is it true? We have to use APSC lenses for APSC bodies for sharper images, rather than Full Frame lenses on APSC bodies? Thanks dear friends in advance...

[@leighhhpatino]

just an hour ago I watched an old 40mm pancake video from drtv, what a coincidence this was just posted!!!

[@LuisAragonIV]

So 20mm for the GH5?

[@ExploreTravelCapture]

I absolutely love your content, I am curious if you make any shorts or what else you do beside KZbin or is that all?

[@wiryantirta]

tfw when you keep forgetting your SLR already has a lens on and you're trying to fudge mash another lens on top of it.

[@WhoobieD]

This video made me put my panasonic 20mm on my EM1 MKii. Thanks for the vid Kai!

[@jccjccjoanne]

I have a 40mm F2.8 Pentax pancake lens on my Pentax MX. Love it. It's not the best lens, but it's light and portable.

[@therewillbedrums9752]

I love my pancake in low light and colorful evenings, some of my favorite shots are in Epcot at sunset.

[@dzsemx]

Kai, half of the people who looks at your videos, have APSC cameras. Is your claim still valid?

[@UrAvgGamer]

Tibor Danilics you can achieve an equivalent focal length with a 28mm lens

[@gmcubed]

Tibor Danilics half? I'd say it's a lot higher than that.

[@JeremyGalloway]

Shoot 24ish

[@KaiManWong]

Shoot with a 28mm. I mentioned that probs the most popular focal length in filmmaking is the 28mm, which in super 35 works out at 42mm. For Micro 4/3 = 20mm.

[@dzsemx]

Thanks Kai, i know it, but when i was a beginner i was quite confused about these claims, and many photographers forgot to mention that the focal lenght is great in particular when used on 35mm "fullframe" sensors.

[@pineapplepine]

Loved the way you played the dog footage with the conclusion of this review. Great stuff. :)

[@CoroaEntertainment]

As others have said, using that 40mm lens on an APS-C body, it's more like 64mm. It's only 40mm on an FF (like the 5d Mark 4 you're using). If you wanted a 40mm "look" on a crop body, you'd need to use something like a 24 or 28mm lens.

[@AgnostosGnostos]

The horizontal angle of view of full frame 43mm lens is approximately 43°

[@sameerpayas]

Hey kai... why dont u make a video on all purpose lenses... there are people who cant afford all those red ringed .. white colored thingies... as u would say.. this is because i have a pretty big kit but always asked for one all round lens and i dont have an answer... a little help would ge appreciated...

[@plasticpaddy5278]

1:33 Wong kei 's - " wha' the fuh' u wan'? " . legendary for its rude staff

[@EVOKIN]

Kai, Lok and your crews, Happy Chinese New Year!!

[@realBobToms]

No, you want the Pana Lumix 25mm f1.4 (prev. reviewed on DigitalRev), handy for portraits or the Voigtlander 17.5mm (35mm equiv.), f0.95 for environmental shots. You could try a Samyang 12mm, f2.0 while you're at it too! MFT glass of course.

[@purenupe1]

Damn it Kai, I purchased the 50mm based on your why I need a 50

[@pastaramen9596]

Nice video Kai, love the signature music.

[@riciy]

I almost spit my dinner out laughing at "Herman ze German"

[@Harold6643]

I could not agree more. 40mm is the best focal length for everyday photography and for street, the new 40mm equivalent on the Fuji GFX MF line is VERY tempting

[@fritzlanbin9412]

Is Tim metering the audio with airpods?

[@zotols]

yup..you are right..gotta buy another lens now

[@MeAMuse]

it comes down to whether you think you need 10% wider than the 50 or ~10% longer than a 35. I wish there were more pancake lenses....

[@GenerationWin]

but kai i bought a 50mm, jokes on me for putting my trust in the jeremy clarkson of photography

[@KaiManWong]

Jeremy Clarkson has started doing photography content? Damn...he's gonna really well then.

[@NearIbris]

+Kai W clarkson “oh this lens is absolutely rubbish and on that bombshell...”

[@zdrankowskiphotography3348]

I have been in London last week, would be fun to see You! :D Nice video!

[@CShivery]

My 3 favorite travel lenses for my D500 (crop sensor) are 40mm, 10-20mm wide angle and 10.5 52mm fisheye.

[@tomistenqvist1311]

"50 millimmitemm"

[@naaldvoerder]

What about the time the 50mm was the best? And the time before that when the 85mm was the must have?

[@scott-ish404]

"Let's go home. Let's go to Chinatown." LOL By watching Kai's vids, you feel like you're just about town shooting the streets while bantering and cracking jokes with a mate. Don't you ever change, pls! Also, great to know the 40mm is the way to go, at least for me.

[@qwertyblazet6166]

boi, can you please specify if you are being serious or not? like... your face and attitude seems very sarcastic, and I honestly can't tell at this point good work with the vid tho

[@qwertyblazet6166]

Milan Tesic are YOU being sarcastic now or whut

[@zhico123]

He is sincere in the video.

[@wreagfe]

*british

[@sudo4585]

happy new year kai!

[@pisiprkl7913]

Thanks for the tip. Got myself one and I`m loving it. 💖

[@fredpnet]

Great point of view. I hope to see a Canon 40 mm f1.4 or 1.8 with à red ring.

[@Chokkan]

Great work from Lok with the video.

[@hankroest6836]

So did Tim shoot this with a Panasonic 20mm f1.7 (40mm equiv.)? And if so why didn't you mention it? If not, why not?

[@marksharman8029]

This just showed up on my KZbin feed. I've been looking for information on the Zeiss Batis 40mm f2 CF since it popped up a few days ago. I guess the focal length has received a stimulation jolt ...

[@samblack3446]

Beautiful shots, picture and video!

[@richardgraham65]

Being new to this hobby, would I be correct in assuming that to match these kens' focal length using an APSC camera like the Canon 80D, I would simply divide by the 1.6x crop factor? So a 40mm would be a 24 or 25mm a 50mm would need a 35mm or 28mm nearest equivalent? and a 35mm would be down around 22 or 24mm.

[@natanelarnson]

This is genius, you are on point with this.

[@guyjordan8201]

So now this question; is it the FL or the pancake tiny structure that appeals? This vs the new 40mm Batis... or even the pink Kipon?

[@imitationorange]

Pentax has the 43mm, and for the SR mount Minolta made a 45mm F/2, which is sick glass and costs less than 1/10th the 43mm 1.9

[@JGnLAU8OAWF6]

Nice work, Lok.

[@SchardtCinematic]

You were using a full frame 5D mark? Or a crop frame?

[@daviduthe4349]

With the Canon APS-C sensors, a 40mm lens is the full-frame equivalent of 64mm (1.6 crop factor).... a 28mm lens on APS-C sensor bodies is the full-frame equivalent of 44.8mm ..... Just saying

[@samcary777]

If you use the 40 on a crop sensor with a viltrox speed booster you end up with about 44? So I guess that would be the closest.