LUMIX S 26mm: A Pancake That's Missing Vital Ingredients

[@jjmarz1001]

Panasonic introduced the S9 to prove that micro 4/3 is Not Dead.

[@ChrisGower]

Underrated comment

[@IvoTichelaar]

That makes me smile

[@dfu3053]

it make me smile coz there are 14mm F2.5 and 20mm F1.7 pancake prime lenses form Panasonic MFT cameras, also 12-32mm and 14-42 PZ zoom pancakes. For full-frame mirrorless, Canon and nikon have their own pancake F2.8 lens, don't understand why Panasonic make this piece of joke to L-mount market.

[@berndkiltz]

😂

[@rintran7552]

really?

[@miha493]

Panasonic: We make bran new f/8 lens. Everyone: You mean f/2.8, right? Panasonic: ... Everyone: You mean f/2.8, right?

[@brugj03]

You don`t get, they where already digging their own grave. Now they just lay down in it.

[@hendrickziegler8487]

"our new manual focus fixed aperture 26mm f8 will cost 239€" "you mean 39€, right?" ... "you mean 39€, right?"

[@veganpotterthevegan]

@@hendrickziegler8487 when it doesn't sell, they can knock it down to 20£ and sell it as an ND filter

[@gebauzchris]

It's a body cap lens at full lens pricing...

[@videosuperhighway7655]

Yeah tops 25 dollars. I got it for free its good enough for bodycap and emergency last resort photography in the event of a nuclear war and you are stuck in the city with no lenses.

[@Usmankhandr]

Looks more like an April fool joke than a real thing.

[@1CONOCLA5T]

I was just thinking that. I had to check the date!

[@HolybasilYT]

200 bucks!? They're off their rocker.

[@theoldironqueen8224]

240€ rn at most retailers in germany, well yeah, for 50 i take one

[@doublevgreen]

and it doesnt even have a filter thread

[@xx-ip7ej]

Jordan and Chris have their worst lens of the year and it’s not even June yet.

[@doublevgreen]

i think the ff adapted sigma thats now sold at 3 times the price for micro four thirds is far worse tbh. its literally just adapted and not even speed boosted

[@SamuelStreetlife]

With a distance scale on that lens (especially when there is no communication between the lens and body) and hot shoe on the S9 this could have been a great zone focus flash photography camera! Oh wait, electronical shutter...

[@videosuperhighway7655]

The S9 and Sigma 45mm 2.8 DG DN C is the perfect setup for street photography etc.. I got this lens for free and tops at best 25 dollars. It feels really janky like some lens made by Lomo or a former soviet union factory.

[@nothingleft99]

this might be the worst lens released in the last 10 years by a major company

[@ChrisGower]

Panasonic bringing a spoon to a knife fight

[@munkmegtube]

More like a chainsaw fight 😅

[@scottw5791]

Nikon did a 26 with a 2.8 aperture and AF. I don't know what Panasonic was thinking. Also, no hot shoe? boo

[@JordanCS13]

The Nikon is almost the same size too.

[@scottw5791]

@@JordanCS13 yup, I own it!

[@mchlhth]

​@@scottw5791 Same here. I don't get why Panasonic saw the Nikon lens and thought, "Nah, everyone will be fine with manual focus and f/8."

[@ChrisGower]

@@mchlhth and not only that, but we'll pair it with a camera with no EVF, so confirming focus is even harder!

[@georgemalczynski]

The lack of hotshoe is probably a decision made in tandem with the lack of shutter. I don't think this sensor can sync with flashes 😬

[@agcouper]

The whole S9 package seems like designed by bean counters with a single goal in mind: to minimize production costs. So, no grip, no EVF, no mechanical shutter, f8 lens...

[@EricGibaud]

The most honest youtubers along with Chris Nicholls and Jordan Drake.

[@arlenspatz6739]

My nikkor 26mm f2.8 doesn’t seem all that much bigger and it’s a much bigger aperture with autofocus. The lumix is 0.7in thick. The Nikons is under 1” thick - not that much more and it has AF and large aperture. It’s shocking that this cheap-o lens was released with so much lacking.

[@JonnyBlueChair]

Honestly, I don't really know what Panasonic are thinking with this S9. If you want a compact camera, then surely m43 would be ideal.

[@trym2121]

They want to kill m43 slowly because the selling m43 with APSC and fullframe price would be ridiculous which they've done for ages.

[@1jozy1111]

@@trym2121 No, if it will be really small, like gm1 and have nice modern sensor

[@doublevgreen]

i also dont get why they had to do so many sacrifices like no mechanical shutter?? the a7c is even smaller and has none of the weird quirks

[@jan.tichavsky]

I for one would be interested in pocketable full frame camera. But not when it's dumbed down to point and shoot level and then remove features on top of that.

[@nickguzman1734]

​@@doublevgreenI think it's that huge battery. Takes up nearly half of the camera guts

[@CameraRay]

Looks like you could open the lens and replace the f8 aperture disk with a f5.6 size disk. Now you have a great street photography lens. 📷📷👍

[@TheWickedPebbles]

That is what I was thinking. I have changed fixed aperture lenses that way in the past.

[@jan.tichavsky]

I bet you will find the optical quality is going to take a hit. I mean they would sure release faster version if they could. But this will be lomography style mod if anything.

[@kelvikpineda9923]

Fuji's 27 f2.8 is a tiny and gorgeous walkaround lens

[@salat]

What was Panasonic smoking in planing the S9 along with the two new lenses? A small FF body intended to use with big lenses with way too many compromises and two unnecessary alibi lenses for the looks in product shots? If they only had made a GX9 II..

[@rectangle_]

This bring me the DRTV review vibe which I like it!

[@carjac820]

Putting that lens on that particular camera just made it looked like an ultra cheap camera from wish that uses a dashcam sensor.

[@petouser]

We need Viltrox save the L mount.

[@ByteReview]

F8 is rough as hell, what on earth were they thinking

[@Pleezath]

It's tiny though

[@MyFriendlyPup]

Useless f8

[@SpaklesDr]

@@Pleezath f/8 manual focus? It seems pretty big for that. I guess it has to cover FF sensor but that just begs the question...why make this camera FF if the goal is tiny?

[@Pleezath]

@@MyFriendlyPup f8 is pretty usable,

[@Pleezath]

@@SpaklesDr I would not know why, however I think it has to do with the coallistion between leica and olympus and pannasonic ( lens mount wise)

[@TonysComfortKitchen]

Nikon 28mm f/2.8, auto focus and not fixed aperture for a similar price

[@ChrisGower]

The 26 f/2.8 is 5mm bigger, with AF

[@cakestealer5983]

I don’t totally hate it or the S9 but it’s still a bit big for my preference. Hope they make a M43 camera and lens combo that’s similar.

[@Schykle]

It’s wild that this $50 lens is being sold for $200

[@7evive]

Bring back the GM line. With the 20mm 1.7 it's so good

[@edwardwang2070]

EF 40 2.8 still the GOAT

[@MattDiffey]

Canon EF flange distance was 44mm, the L-mount flange distance is 20mm - that's the main thing that means pancakes seem much more difficult on mirrorless cameras - the same optical formula as the EF 40 2.8 on a mirrorless mount would be almost twice as long! That puts into perspective how impressive the NIkon "muffin" lenses, like the 40mm f/2, are - the Nikon 40 f/2 is 61mm from front element to sensor, the Canon 40 f/2.8 is more like 75mm!

[@Kowabrass]

Canon RF 28 2.8 is an even smaller pancake lens, and with AF. Shows it can be done, with a large rear element.

[@GrandHuevotes]

@@MattDiffeyyep came here to say this. The flange distance dictates what a pancake can be. Still though I think we can do a 26mm pancake w/ af

[@shand1967]

The Canon EF-S 24MM F2.8 pancake isn't too shabby either.

[@frankfeng2701]

EF-M 22 f/2 is even better.

[@ArteUltra1195]

This lens is GIANT for those (hilarious) specs. Baffling how they thought they could add this to the S9-presentation and make it look appealing

[@brugj03]

The 80`s retro virus has damaged their brains. How else is this possible...........

[@-grey]

What I don't understand is there's no electronic data coupling to help with manual focus, but also no distance scale on the lens. So you just have to let jesus pull focus?

[@brugj03]

You indeed have to. That`s how stupid this is.

[@Yakeru35]

I'll keep my GX9 thank you :)

[@JonnyBlueChair]

Absolutely. We need an updated version.

[@jockslifeatliftvideoproduc8528]

@@JonnyBlueChair Thats what this should have been... why make a small FF camera that has to compromise on so much when they have a small and light system! the GX9 is better in every way. This is a very embarrassing and disappointing release

[@youfoundisaac]

I'm looking at my GX9 + 20mm 1.7 I don't think it can be beat until the new phase detect sensor comes around. it is coming around, right? right Panasonic?

[@ahappyreindeer3383]

tbh 200 bucks for a plastic manual focus f8 pancake len is crazy

[@DavidMBanes]

So a camera with great AF and a full frame sensor then stick a (light restricting) f/8 pancake manual focus lens on. Isn't that a bit odd, or are they saying "you'll get great photos even with this dodgy lens"?

[@steveschnetzler5471]

Print up a stick on decal with range marks on it, that you sell on your site for this lens. What an opportunity.

[@nicknico4121]

I would have been interested by a fixed lens version, even with integrated zoom like 28-70 f4

[@JuanRojas956]

This camera is just bizarre. I don’t understand the target audience. So many features missing. There’s no way this camera can be more than 1000$ CAD.

[@natureredux1957]

The target Audience likely doesn't use the vast majority of features those like you might need. So considering what's in this Price Range, I can see a Market for those with extra cash. Those that want just 1 camera, then things can get a bit dicey.

[@brugj03]

It`s not even the price, as a tool it completely misses it`s target. Quite unforgiveable in my opinion. I think it won`t sell at any price.

[@jockslifeatliftvideoproduc8528]

Honestly I can't wrap my head around this camera in anyway. It doesnt meet the needs of any target audience, it doesn't even fit in as a backup or c or d cam due to the amount of missing features. I don't know why, as I know I can just ignore it's existence, but this release has got me questioning my almost 10 year investment in Lumix gear if this is what they believe is a viable and valuable product its really concerning. I love my Lumix gear but this camera has me questioning what else they are working on if they thought it wise to dedicate this much RnD and flew people to Japan to show off.

[@brugj03]

@@jockslifeatliftvideoproduc8528 They just trying to sell you stuff. Don`t take it personally, personally i never had a thing with pana. To much marketing and way to little substance

[@RiccardoGabarriniKazeatari]

From its appearance it should be aimed at street photographers, but it has no evf, no mechanical shutter, no hot shoe. They say it's aimed at content creators, but it has no headphones jack, a slow readout sensor (meaning rolling shutter and banding), recording time limits... So, it's for tiktokers and instagrammers, who will undoubtedly prefer to use a smartphone, but they could buy it for its aesthetic... If it starts trending somewhere

[@chanceproductionsfilms]

My olympus bodycap lens is looking mighty nice right now

[@SkylerKing]

Panasonic: A 26mm pancake cannot be made any better than this. If you want 26mm in a pancake lens, it requires f8 only, manual focus, a plastic mount, etc. Nikon: I disagree... Canon: We don't do 26mm, we prefer 28mm. But that aside, are you new here? Panasonic: Oh yeah... well... Good luck squeezing a full frame sensor into a compact body! Nikon & Canon: Calm down, it doesn't even have a viewfinder... Panasonic: Of course it doesn't have a viewfinder. It is impossible to have both a full frame sensor AND a viewfinder in a compact, rangefinder style body. Sony: I disagree...

[@landspide]

The fixation on a full size sensor is a fool's errand for compact form factors.

[@BrianT175]

@@landspideit has a niche but obviously will never be as compact. I’d be interested to see 45mp full frame compact cameras that can take an aps-c lens for when you want to be truly compact. I’m sure it’ll be over the horizon once those sensors get cheaper.

[@BrianT175]

I’d say all those examples decided to be larger to accommodate those things.

[@robojimtv]

​@@landspide Feel like if you're doing that you may as well do it as a fixed prime compact at the least

[@KEKuu]

Amazing that this is the lens they launched with, and are selling. It would have made more sense if they had said.. "This was supposed to be just a dummy lens we made for display purposes, but we overengineered it so it works as a fun quirky lens." I totally believe its gonna cost 200 bucks. Wouldn't make sense otherwise.

[@DariusOutdoors]

I think the idea behind the lens is similar to Fuji's snapshot mode. Everything beyond 3-5 meters is in focus on a certain locked focus setting. So you set it to one focus depth manually and then don't touch it. Just go around and take photos. No focus, not thinking. Just make sure your subject is behind 3-5 meters. All you have to worry about is framing and light. And 26mm is wide enough to even reframe into 35mm after the fact. So you just worry about light.

[@-grey]

Like a disposable film camera

[@C.I...]

Then why on earth would you buy a full frame camera? This lens is baffling.

[@brugj03]

You can do al that with a device you already cary with you, always!! Your phone.

[@DariusOutdoors]

@@C.I... This is only one use case. You don't have to use it for JUST this. People who use phones for photos are lost.

[@ChrisGower]

Ricoh GR you mean?

[@listerine-pr5lt]

I think they made it F8 and 26mm to make it virtually focus free with that enormous depth of field to get away with auto focus.

[@brugj03]

That still makes it f8 and not remotely useable in low light. It`s just stupid.

[@dfcx1]

At 24 megapixels nothing is focus free.

[@jan.tichavsky]

@@dfcx1 More like F8 at full frame isn't focus free. It might be if you only shoot 50 meters and further.

[@somegeezer]

Took one of the best pics you've ever taken, and complain it's too wide. =D 200 money for a lens cap is absolutely mad, though. What were they thinking?

[@harryvlogs7833]

Not a lens cap

[@kilianhrkm]

@@harryvlogs7833 it is. A lens cap lens.

[@OttoLP]

@@kilianhrkm body cap but yeah

[@kilianhrkm]

@@OttoLP :)

[@The_golden_charlie]

That is actually a very good shot!

[@nightdonutstudio]

Panasonic m4/3 is the system to go for really small body camera. You have so many small f1.7 prime and Olympus has many f1.8 small prime. They are a bit larger than this pancake but still so small, light and has autofocus and being fast enough. With this s9 plus f8 combo. I would rather buy a new high end Android phone with 1 inch sensor and f1.6.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

The 14 Ultra with the grip has the best smartphone camera experience that I have ever used. Maybe you should get it regardless of what camera you shoot.

[@MrJed_s]

The f/2.5 is smaller and still gathers more than twice as much light, has AF and a metal mount. Though people will probably still buy this combo thinking it's better because "full frame" lol

[@Kim_Alexander]

Canon made two pancakes for EF 24mm and 28mm f:2.8 lens with AF Just copy them and they have a great lens..

[@wuokawuoka]

IIRC 26mm is iPhone main camera wide.

[@the_wiki9408]

If they were going to fumble the lenses this hard for the S9, they should have just made it fixed lens.

[@felixchow4662]

26mm F8, weird choice from a major brand. But it might make sense in a way that they need to make a pen cake lens to complete the looks of G9. I watched both Lok and Kai's video separately for the G9 and can concludes that this Panasonic G9 is going more toward video shooters. Kai keep mentioning it that this camera is vloggers then it make perfect sense for arm length self hold vlogs. F8 is made so that the dof is deep enough to catch everything in focus arm length. Since I felt this lens is more for the place holder of the launch to look retro-ish enough. And for the company to produce cheap enough to take out auto focus motor to achieve the size they want.

[@JamesJohnsonthe4th]

Makes that Nikon pancake look like an absolute steal, although Nikon doesn't have any FX bodies that are nearly this small .

[@-grey]

That's all I'm waiting on. A full frame sensor in the Z30 😂

[@MrNicoPela]

@@-grey A 'Z3' would wipe the floor with the S9, and if it had IBIS, the Expeed 7 and all the video features from the Zf, it would absolutely destroy even the ZV-E1 as a vlogging camera.

[@myself3209]

So whats the good part on that lense?

[@ikoyDaPnoy]

I'd love a wide angle pancake lens that has a max aperture of f/4 or f/5.6 with AF.

[@oc2phish07]

An awful lens to go with a truly awful new camera. Even TTArtisans make a 27mm with AF at around the same size.

[@w33blord66]

And it's cheaper.

[@Re-InCarNation]

I thought the 27mm is apsc not FF.

[@jameshenry6855]

I wouldn't say the S9 is awful but yes the lens is horrible

[@Wildridefilms]

It is a bodycap bundle with the S9, so not as bad as it seems.

[@RhettThompsonFilm]

How can people say this is an awful camera? Kinda blows my mind.

[@Imhotep397]

If this doesn’t kill the FF snobs, I don’t know what will. I tend to think impracticality with longer lenses is why Fujifilm effectively ended the X-Pro, X-E and GFX-R cameras and then double down on the X-100.

[@TrackmaniaKaiser]

maybe it's time to bring back in body AF-Motors for more slim and light AF Lenses....

[@wakeywarrior]

For my ZVE1 I have the 24mm F2.8: very small lens and actually useable. Panasonic should have gone that route.

[@keima1110]

The red Taxi feel exactly like a Hong Kong Taxi

[@hedydd2]

There’s a choice of nice autofocus, adjustable aperture reasonably compact lenses from Sigma which would be great with this camera

[@jungleboy1]

F8 lens?? Well unless this is the sharpest lens of all time, this will depreciate fast.

[@delphimiranda]

A nice small lens, except for the f/8.

[@dngesso]

It's a fancy toy lens for a digital camera.

[@pennysteam]

Mad, would have been better with a small compact zoom like they have done before.

[@SourPlanet]

Total lens fail. They're using a focal length near cell phone camera standard, which means it doesn't dissuade people from just using their phone. It has manual focus only... But no EVF (focus by LCD suuuucks) and no distance scale (zone focus not usable). Just... No. Compete misunderstanding of what anyone actually needs.

[@ddzang]

They were thinking that people will use it for their vlog shots but forgot about us photographers. I hope they come out with a better pancake lens soon or the camera will not sell well.

[@inorogNL]

This is actually body cap lens in pancake disguise

[@bimmerfan2126]

basically a bodycap lens you need to make your own tape on focus scale for :/

[@GeorgeHolden]

Still in disbelief this is a first party lens...

[@IceBergs]

They took the Aliexpress 20 dollar disposable lens to a whole new level

[@mundzine]

$200 for a fixed aperture plastic manual focus lens? Ouch

[@IvoTichelaar]

It's a baffling lens. Unless they unexpectedly release a very compact pancake lens with AF and variable aperture in about three months. Essentially drawing attention to the S9 again. But that's a stretch to expect.

[@belema22]

Does the Sigma LVF-1 fit on the Lumix S9????

[@Kraken54321]

Nice rucksack, what make is it?

[@cagondei]

Back when canon cared, I got into the Ef-M mount with the original M paired with the 22mm f2. Please pana, something similar.

[@frankfeng2701]

Drill a hole on the lens cap and fill it with a piece of glass...what a great idea for $20!

[@petouser]

I cannot believe they charge over 50 bucks for a body cap.

[@Dirk_Taggesell]

They should have made a GX9 Mk2 instead using the tech from the G9 MK2.

[@SuperReview]

WTF they launched a new camera with a novelty body cap lens?

[@peterlund4501]

There Is a 35 mm 1:5,6 tt artesan L Mount . Weich Is ok. So maybe thos would Go on The Panasonic. I use it on the sl and its not great but if you want to have images that are not perfect it’s perfect …

[@kentmemories]

Kai always hit the right point. I have TT Artisan 50mm f1.8 MF for $50. Light, small, handsome. That 26mm f8 becomes a meme now. You can do that better, Lumix, like old 14mm f2.5 m43 lens. Just use Sigma options, 24mm 45mm 90mm.

[@sjpconnor]

Panasonic invents the "full frame" Kodak Instamatic!

[@trym2121]

Panasonic is very kind. They make 26 f8 to make nikon 26 f2.8 like god level engineering

[@stuartcarden1371]

What have they been smoking at Panasonic with this launch? a $200 manual focus f/8 lens on a electronic shutter, no flash camera with a sensor read out speed too slow for electronic shutter only...Plus it's only slightly cheaper than the much, much better cameras in their own lineup. Madness!

[@StarskiYall]

45mm sigma contemporary seems like the best lens for this camera so far

[@StarskiYall]

The s9 that is

[@ronjenkins4257]

$200? For $175 I'll sell you a circle of aluminium foil, some masking tape, and a pin. DIY super pancake pinhole lens but at least you can say it's got a metal lens mount.

[@TopshelfJunior]

Feel like the one main thing people are gonna say / think about that camera is...its ergonomics, and the lack of grip / handle.. People are gonna say it's difficult to hold.

[@nnn-pr3vr]

I wonder if this lens was made to make it easy for iPhone users to get pictures like they’d get from their phone, the training wheel of lenses

[@thad_carlile]

The weirdest thing about it to me is that the slow aperture defeats the main (to me) selling point of full-frame- i.e. super shallow depth of field. A bit baffling.

[@mewli7402]

lens ❌ new designed body cap with a hole ✅

[@mewli7402]

oh, it's priced at $200

[@plop010]

lol apparently now when you're buying the kit with the 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 they'll throw in the 26mm pancake for free

[@Abesteroni]

That lens is hilarious, in a word- compared to Pentax it's a joke for certain. The 40mm f/2.8 XS is the most compact autofocusing pancake lens ever and absolutely blows this new Panasonic pancake out of the water- at less than half the price all day.

[@migo-migo9503]

You might as well prick a hole in the cap and it'll probably be the same quality as that pancake lens.

[@S_F_U_L]

I was so excited when I first heard about the S9, then I checked it out. They missed the mark so badly. It's missing front & back dials for adjusting settings, a Flash, and it needs an EVF, a pop-up EVF would have been perfect. Panasonic has awesome focusing now and could have made an X100 but didn't. Then they brought out an awful pancake lens to go with it. SMH.

[@the_wiki9408]

Ironically recent iPhones all have 24-26mm equivalent main cameras with an equivalent aperture of f6. AND they have night mode for photo stacking for reduced noise. Your phone will take better pictures than this lens.

[@brugj03]

That`s why they made it in the first place. To compete with smarphone vocal length and DOF. Insane....but true.

[@kcphotogeek6207]

The worst thing about this lens is that it really makes the whole camera look cheap like that Andoer camera on those cheap online stores. That Andoer did have a flash at least

[@dj_laundry_list]

Yeah let's put all that effort into making a compact FF camera and then make a lens with an equivalent f-stop of f/8

[@90boiler]

Why complain about 26, when Leica Q series. Have 26mm lens (without distortion corrections which makes it “28). You love Q, Kai.

[@Dj0sten]

I truly do not understand the point of this landfill waste lens and the S9 when so many compact body and lens options exist for other platforms and sensor sizes. This could have been a way better (and cheaper) M43 setup.

[@alertbri]

Would love to see it next to a Sony RX1

[@ronjenkins4257]

Why does it even have electrical contacts?

[@MaximoJoshua]

At least they are giving it away for free. Would rather have the 7artisans 35mm f/1.4 which at least has a reasonable aperture. Not all that much bigger, and costs less than this one…

[@ZXH88]

Panasonic made bet: "if I lose, I will launch a ff compact a camera without EVF or hot shoe, and a manual focus 26mm kit lens with a fix aperture at f8." And they lost the bet...

[@jan.tichavsky]

Without mechanical shutter, headphone jack, anything useful really.

[@TheBigfootdood]

We need more l mount pancakes. I want a telescopic compact zoom like the crappy emount one that came with the a6000 just for travel :/

[@juho1057]

Products like this make people hate the brand even if they otherwise love it. 199EUR for a lens like that is a bad joke. Their 50mm f1.8 is regularly on sale for 199EUR

[@snippephotography1913]

when you focus manualy is the lens a little bit zooming ??? its a 26-28 F8 dont buy it for $200 only for free its a big bonus for now. its a fun body cap lens you never forget a lens and this lens is better as no lens. my dream this camera with a m4/3 sensor and mount wuth a machanical shutter the lens choice of lumix G is great fot this camera my gx800/850 is now laughing.