Micro Four Thirds Pancake Lenses
Pancake lenses are unusually thin and flat prime lenses designed to keep a camera kit as compact as possible. On M43, where bodies are already smaller than APS-C or full-frame, a pancake lens can make the whole system genuinely pocketable. The design achieves its short barrel length by using a simpler optical formula with fewer elements, which typically limits the maximum aperture and overall optical performance. The trade-off is accepted by travel, street, and everyday carry photographers for whom portability takes priority. The active M43 pancake selection is small — the 14mm and 20mm Panasonic options and the Leica 15mm are the primary choices available new.
Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH
40mm equivalent at f/1.7. The most capable pancake in the system in terms of light gathering. Useful for indoor and low-light shooting where a flat profile and a fast aperture are both needed.
Lumix Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH
30mm equivalent at f/1.7 with a premium Leica-branded build. Slightly larger than a true pancake but still one of the most compact fast primes available for M43. Good for street and everyday carry.
Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 II ASPH
28mm equivalent at f/2.5. The most compact native M43 autofocus prime currently available new. Keeps the camera genuinely pocketable on small Panasonic and OM System bodies.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/2.8 Pancake
34mm equivalent at f/2.8. Discontinued but available used. The Olympus option for a true pancake form factor, suited to street and travel photography where the standard focal length works well.
Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 ASPH
Original version of the 20mm f/1.7 pancake. Discontinued but widely available used at lower prices than the Mark II. Optically similar with a slightly slower AF motor.
Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 ASPH
Original 14mm f/2.5 pancake. Discontinued predecessor to the Mark II. Compact and lightweight, still a practical street lens on the used market for photographers who want the widest native pancake option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a pancake lens on Micro Four Thirds?
A pancake lens is characterised by an unusually short barrel length relative to its diameter, making it much flatter than a standard prime lens design. On M43, true pancake lenses have barrel lengths below approximately 25mm. The compact design is achieved by using a simpler optical formula with fewer elements, which typically limits the maximum aperture. Pancake lenses are optimised for portability rather than maximum optical performance or light gathering.
Which M43 pancake lenses are currently in production?
The Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 II and the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II are the primary M43 pancake lenses currently available new. The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 is also a very compact option, though slightly larger in barrel length than true pancakes. The Olympus 17mm f/2.8 Pancake is discontinued but available used. All these lenses are Micro Four Thirds native mount.
Are M43 pancake lenses suitable for everyday photography?
M43 pancake lenses are well suited to everyday carry and travel photography where keeping the system small is the priority. The Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 in particular has a maximum aperture useful for indoor and low-light shooting. The trade-off is that pancake lenses typically autofocus more slowly than larger lens designs with more complex AF systems. For sports and fast-moving subjects, a larger prime or zoom with a faster AF motor is generally more appropriate.