Alongside the launch of its new LUMIX S9 full-frame mirrorless camera, Panasonic also announced a new full-frame Leica L mount lens. However, while the camera packs some new cutting-edge tech, the new LUMIX S 26mm is a super stripped-back manual lens.
What is a pancake lens?
The LUMIX S 26mm is a compact lens with a form factor often called a pancake lens. Pancake lenses are much shorter than they are wide, making them very flat and round, hence the name. The short length also means that a pancake lens adds very depth to your camera body. In addition, pancake lenses have a simple optical design which means they are very lightweight. This makes them great to leave on your camera body, so it is always ready to go.
Fixed aperture
The LUMIX S 26mm lens has a fixed F8 aperture. You read that right, you can’t adjust your exposure by changing the aperture. It’s always F8. Combined with a relatively wide focal length, the aperture means that you are going to struggle to get a shallow depth of field with the LUMIX S 26mm lens. When you are 10 feet away from your subject, your depth of field will cover from five feet to infinity. However, the lens does have a close focus distance of only 9.8 inches (24.9 cm), which gives you a depth of field of only a few inches.
Optical construction
The LUMIX S 26mm lens is constructed with five lens elements in five groups. This also includes one UED (Ultra Extra-Low Dispersion) lens element to reduce ghosting and lens flare. The 26 mm focal length also delivers a wide field of view of 80 degrees. As well as the fixed aperture, the LUMIX S 26 mm is a manual-focus only lens. It’s not even compatible with lens filters and front lens caps. However, you do get a lens that’s only 0.7 inches (18.1 mm) deep and weighs a feather-light two ounces (58 g).
What we think
The LUMIX S 26mm pancake lens is an interesting concept. Some photographers like to leave pancake lens on their camera instead of a body cap. It protects your camera in the same way but means you are always ready to take a shot. Panasonic also says that the lens is designed for the “simple enjoyment of manual shooting with creative composition and exposure.” It can be an interesting discipline to work with a manual prime lens in this way. You have to move your position if you want to reframe your shot. You also have to develop a different relationship with the available light when you can’t change the aperture to control exposure. In addition, the Lumix S 26mm lens effectively turns the new S9 into a pocket-sized compact camera. If you are prepared to embrace the limitations of the lens, that could be a lot of fun.
Pricing and availability
The LUMIX S 26mm F8 pancake lens will launch in tandem with the LUMIX S9 in late June 2024. It’s currently available for pre-order at $198.
