Fried oysters and a 40mm Pancake

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"What kind of lens is that?" is a question I here often lately.  The lens that other photographers and casual observers are referring to is the Canon 40mm 2.8 Pancake.

Canon has taken the simple and tested optics of mirrorless and rangefinder cameras and adapted it to the SLR line.  It’s small, lightweight and cute. Aside from that it is a flat out beautiful lens, sharp, light and only $199.00. $149.00 at B&H til 6/1/13

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The 40mm on the X makes it look even smaller.


For street shooting or travel, it is an unassuming partner.  On a 7D or 5D3 it is a pleasure to carry compared to a 24-70mm 2.8.  While it looks like a toy, the performance is solid, shot wide open at 2.8 shows a beautiful falloff around the edges, tack sharp focus and nice bocah. (sp? boca, bo-Cuh, lol)

You can see a couple reviews here and here. My thoughts, it is a must have.  Pair it with a 70-200 and a 17-35 and you are set.

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5D3, iso 320, 40mm 2.8 at 2.8 1/160

Oh yeah, the fried oyster (see above).  If you are in Savannah, check out The Olde Pink House restaurant. The fried oysters are coated in corn meal, lightly fried and only $2. You can’t beat that or the pancake.

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(click photo to enlarge)

On a day with no surf, an island scooter ride was a good distraction and the source of one of my favorite travel images.  My crew at the Roti Island renting scooters.  Note the lit cigarette.  Noted photographer Jay Maisel told me he always leaves his camera turned on and lens cap off to capture those special moments, this was one of those.   

BTW, scooter rentals in remote Indonesia consists of one guy rounding up his friends bikes and then negotiating a rate.  The problem on this day was the only lady who sold fuel on the island was out, so we brought our own from the boat.