Pancake Lens

A pancake lens is defined by its very short barrel length relative to its diameter, giving it a flat profile that sits close to the camera body when mounted. The compact form is achieved by using a simpler optical formula with fewer elements than a standard prime at the same focal length. Pancake lenses are designed primarily for portability. They pair with compact M43 bodies to produce a genuinely pocketable camera system, something that is difficult to achieve with a standard prime or zoom.

The trade-off with most pancake lenses is a slower maximum aperture compared to a standard prime at the same focal length. A pancake at f/2.5 or f/2.8 gathers less light than a standard prime at f/1.4 or f/1.7, reducing low-light capability and limiting depth-of-field control. The Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 is a notable exception, offering a near-pancake form factor with a relatively wide f/1.7 aperture, making it one of the more practically versatile compact M43 lens options.

Pancake lenses are not optimised for autofocus speed. The simpler optical construction and smaller AF motor typical of pancake designs means they focus more slowly than larger primes with linear AF motors. For sports, wildlife, or fast-moving subjects, a pancake lens is generally not the right tool. For travel photography, street photography, and casual shooting where compactness and discretion are the priority, the autofocus speed of a pancake lens is usually adequate.

The M43 system has a small selection of pancake and near-pancake lenses, primarily from Panasonic: the 14mm f/2.5 II (true pancake, approximately 20mm barrel length), the 20mm f/1.7 II, and the Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7, which is compact but slightly larger than a true pancake. The Olympus 17mm f/2.8 Pancake was an early M43 pancake option and is now discontinued but available on the used market.