Sony E pancake lens guide

After some major changes and updates on the blog, I’ve recently started writing photography articles again. For the past several months, we’ve also been working as a team to update all the lens listings on the site. To help you choose more easily, we’ve added the key specifications for each lens. It has been a lot of work, but we’re happy with the result, and we now have a system in place for regular updates. That way, you won’t miss any new releases!
It has been a while since I last wrote about Sony cameras, so here I am again with a guide to pancake lenses for the Sony E mount. I’ll cover lenses that are compatible with both full-frame and APS-C Sony cameras. By the way, if you want a broader overview of the lenses available for Sony, we’ve written two full pages: one covering all lenses for the FE mount and another dedicated to Sony E-mount APS-C lenses.

As I said, in this article I’m going to introduce you to pancake lenses, which stand out for their extremely small, compact design, especially their thin profile. Some lenses are only 2 to 4 cm thick, no more! I’m guessing you’ve made pancakes before, so you get the idea: these are very slim lenses. Pancake lenses are often used on small camera bodies and are ideal for street photography, especially when you want to stay discreet.

Despite what you might think, if you’re looking for an autofocus pancake lens for Sony E mount, the choice is very limited. Still, as I mentioned at the start of this article, thanks to the huge amount of work we’ve done on all our lens lists and mounts, we’ve looked at everything currently available. As usual, I had to make a few choices, even though there aren’t many options.

In this selection, you may also find a couple of lenses that are extremely slim without being strict pancake lenses. I admit I’ve included two of them because they come very close to the category.

I’ve decided to split this article into two parts: pancake lenses with autofocus and pancake lenses without autofocus. I imagine most readers will be more interested in autofocus lenses, especially for street photography. That said, if you’re used to manual focus, I don’t think you’ll have any real trouble. It’s up to you, of course!

I’ll start with autofocus pancake lenses for Sony APS-C cameras. As I said, the choice is limited. Still, TTArtisan offers a good 27mm lens at an affordable price. Of course, the benchmark remains the Sony E 20mm f/2.8, which is also reasonably priced, along with the Sony E 16mm f/2.8.
To make things easier, I’ve prepared the table below so you can compare the main characteristics of these lenses at a glance.

Introduced in 2010, the Sony E 16mm f/2.8 is one of the most compact lenses available for E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras. It offers a maximum aperture of f/2.8, a 7-blade diaphragm and accepts 49mm filters. With a minimum focusing distance of 24cm, it can also be useful for close-up shots. However, it does not come with a lens hood.

In terms of performance, sharpness is not exceptional at full aperture, but it improves at f/4 and becomes very good and more consistent between f/5.6 and f/8. Optical flaws include visible vignetting at all apertures, although it can be corrected in post-production. Chromatic aberrations are noticeable, while distortion remains low. Finally, color rendering is satisfactory and the bokeh is decent.

In short, this lens is mainly for photographers who want a compact, discreet and inexpensive lens that won’t get in the way for reportage-style shooting or travel. Even if its optical performance is limited, it delivers good results at f/5.6 and f/8.

Released in January 2013, the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 is an ultra-compact Sony pancake lens that is very easy to carry. Weighing just 69g and measuring roughly 20mm long, it pairs well with bodies such as the Sony A6700 if you want a highly portable setup. With a full-frame equivalent focal length of 30mm, it is a light, versatile lens for street photography, landscapes and even travel.

Build quality is excellent, with solid materials. The 7-blade diaphragm helps create smooth background blur. Autofocus is fast and accurate, which is useful for spontaneous shots. Note that the lens is neither weather-sealed nor stabilized. Optically, sharpness at f/2.8 is average in the center and a little soft at the edges. For the best results, it is better to stop down from f/5.6. Optical flaws such as vignetting and distortion are present, but they can be corrected easily in post-production. Chromatic aberration is handled reasonably well, but flare resistance is fairly average. Finally, the bokeh is decent, though not outstanding.

In conclusion, the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 is one of Sony’s most useful true pancake options for E-mount APS-C cameras. It is clearly the lens I would recommend for this type of body. Given its price, it remains a solid choice for photographers looking for a compact, lightweight alternative.

Available since 2023, the TTArtisan 27mm F2.8 AF is an ultra-compact pancake lens for Sony E APS-C cameras. It is also TTArtisan’s first autofocus lens for this mount. Its light weight and compact dimensions make it discreet and easy to take anywhere. Compared with many heavier and more expensive alternatives, its affordable price, under €200, is clearly one of its main strengths.

In terms of construction, the TTArtisan uses a full-metal body. It has a click-stop aperture ring with an “A” position and a focus ring. The lens is not weather-sealed and has no optical stabilization, two points to keep in mind. Autofocus is practical and works well for most everyday shots. In terms of optical performance, sharpness at f/2.8 is good in the center and even very good at the edges. Stopping down to f/4 or f/5.6 helps improve uniformity across the frame. The lens does have a few weaknesses: strong vignetting at full aperture, visible distortion and some chromatic aberration. Still, the bokeh remains soft and pleasant at wide apertures.

In conclusion, the TTArtisan 27mm F2.8 AF is an excellent option if you’re looking for a compact lens at a good price. Although its optical flaws are fairly visible, the overall optical performance is good. It remains ideal for street photography or any situation where you don’t want to draw too much attention.

For your information, we’ve also written an article listing the best Sony 24mm lenses if you’re interested in this type of focal length.

If you’re looking for a Sony FE-mount pancake lens with autofocus, your options are still very limited. For now, Sony still has not released a true FE pancake lens. So you have two options:

• Choose a third-party lens.
• Go for an ultra-thin, compact Sony lens, even if it is not really a pancake lens.

To help you compare them, here is a summary table with the three lenses I’ve selected. You’ll find their dimensions, weight, minimum focusing distance, budget and more. It should give you a clear idea of how these three lenses compare.

Positioned as a compact and affordable alternative for Sony full-frame bodies, the Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE has been available since 2017. With its very light weight of 85g and small dimensions, it is a good fit for photographers looking for a discreet, high-performance lens.

In terms of build quality, the lens is mostly made of plastic with an aluminum bayonet. Its optical formula includes 7 elements in 6 groups, with two aspherical elements. Although autofocus is accurate and quiet, it is not especially fast. The lens is neither stabilized nor weather-sealed, but it does have a smooth manual focus ring. In terms of optical performance, sharpness is very good in the center at full aperture. The edges are less sharp at f/2.8, but uniformity improves from f/5.6. Distortion is discreet, but vignetting remains visible at all apertures.

In conclusion, the Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE offers decent image quality for its price. It is not a pancake lens in the strict sense, but it is ultra-light and compact, making it an excellent companion for street photography. However, it can be difficult to find in France.

Introduced in September 2024, the Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 FE has quickly become one of the most compact autofocus lenses for the Sony E mount. Weighing only 60g and measuring just 15.3mm thick, it is exactly the kind of lens you can take anywhere, especially for street photography.

Build quality is quite impressive for the price. The lens is made entirely of metal, which makes it both solid and very light. It uses a VCM autofocus motor designed to provide fast and quiet focusing. Optically, it has 6 elements in 6 groups, including 4 special elements, with 2 ED and 2 aspherical elements. However, it is neither weather-sealed nor stabilized. In terms of performance, sharpness is good from the center to the edges at full aperture. Vignetting is noticeable at f/4.5, but distortion is almost nonexistent.

All in all, the Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 FE is a smart move from the brand. It is a recent lens offered at a very low price. For the money, it provides excellent portability and efficient autofocus. If you’re looking for a discreet lens with useful everyday performance, this one makes a lot of sense.

Introduced in 2013, the Sony Sonnar FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA is a very good lens with compact dimensions. It presents itself as a lightweight option and is close to the Samyang 35mm in terms of size and weight. For photographers looking for a good balance between portability and optical performance, its f/2.8 aperture works well.

Build quality on the FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA is very good, with an all-metal construction except for the lens hood. It uses a 7-blade diaphragm to create natural background blur. Its optical formula includes 7 elements in 5 groups, with several aspherical elements. The weather-sealed lens also has fast and quiet autofocus. In terms of optical performance, it is impressive: at full aperture, sharpness in the center is very satisfying and becomes excellent between f/4 and f/8. The edges, which are less sharp at f/2.8, improve significantly from f/5.6. Optical flaws such as vignetting are easy to correct in post-production. Chromatic aberrations and distortion are almost nonexistent.

In conclusion, the Sony Sonnar FE 35mm F2.8 ZA is a must-have if you want a lightweight, discreet and high-quality lens. Its price may seem high for such a compact lens, even if it is not really a pancake, but it is justified by its optical performance and premium construction.

In fact, if you’re interested in this type of lens, we’ve written a full guide to the best Sony 35mm lenses, a focal length that works beautifully for street photography and environmental portraits.

Let’s now move on to manual focus pancake lenses for the Sony E mount. This section should be useful if you don’t mind using a lens without autofocus. Once again, because Sony only offers autofocus lenses, the choice is limited for this type of pancake lens. That means this selection only includes third-party lenses. These brands offer reasonably good quality at affordable prices.

As I said, only two Chinese brands currently offer pancake lenses for Sony E APS-C cameras: 7Artisans and TTArtisan.

I’ll let you compare the main features of these two brands’ lenses in the table below.

Released in 2022, the 7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 II is an improved, non-stabilized version of the first lens. It is much thinner than a traditional pancake lens, at just 1cm thick. Its ultra-light weight of 57g makes it an interesting choice for photographers looking for a practical, pocketable lens.

Build quality is simple but solid, with an all-metal body. Compared with the first version, a click-stop ring has been added. The optical formula is very simple, with a single aperture blade. In terms of optical performance, this lens delivers decent results. Sharpness is good in the center, but much weaker at the edges. Vignetting remains visible, while flare resistance is limited, which can lead to a loss of contrast in direct light. Chromatic aberrations are visible at the edges.

In conclusion, this lens is a good choice for photographers who care more about its compact, lightweight format than pure image quality. It does have optical limitations, but at this price, it remains a very good option.

Introduced in 2022, the TTArtisan 25mm f/2 is positioned as a versatile and affordable lens for everyday photography. Its weight and dimensions remain reasonable, and it comes at an attractive price of around €75.

The TTArtisan 25mm f/2 has a solid all-metal construction, including the aperture ring and focus ring. The lens has 7 diaphragm blades and a 43mm filter thread. Its minimum focusing distance of 25cm limits close-up possibilities a little. There is also no image stabilization or EXIF transfer. In terms of optical performance, sharpness is decent in the center at full aperture and excellent from f/4. However, the edges are not as sharp. Distortion is present, and vignetting, although visible at full aperture, gradually decreases as you stop down. Chromatic aberrations, especially at the edges, and average flare resistance are also worth keeping in mind.

In conclusion, the TTArtisan 25mm f/2 is an affordable choice if you want a compact, lightweight manual lens. Its optical performance and design make it an interesting option for street photography.

I did my research and found only one lens: the 7Artisans 35mm f/5.6 FF FE manual focus lens for Sony full-frame cameras.

Released in 2021, the 7Artisans 35mm f/5.6 is an ultra-compact prime lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Its light weight and simple design make it well suited to street photography and even travel. Its standard focal length, fixed f/5.6 aperture and attractive price, under €150, make it an easy lens to consider.

The all-metal construction is one of this lens’s strengths. Its slim, precise focusing ring is pleasant to use. On the downside, the lens has neither image stabilization nor EXIF transfer. In terms of optical performance, sharpness is excellent in the center and weaker at the edges, although it improves when stopped down. As for optical flaws, vignetting is visible at full aperture, while distortion and flare remain low.

In short, the 7Artisans 35mm f/5.6 is well suited to street photography. Although it has certain limitations, especially in flare resistance and edge sharpness, its low price is a real plus.

That brings us to the end of my guide to the best pancake lenses for Sony E and FE mount. I agree that the choice is limited compared with other brands. In any case, I’ll update this article if new lenses are released. For now, though, we’ll have to be patient!

If you can think of any lenses, autofocus or otherwise, that I may have overlooked, please let me know in the comments.

See you soon for another photography article!

Written by Sylvain PONS

I've been passionate about photography since 2010, learning as I went along. Today, I dedicate myself to guiding others in their choice of camera gear and sharing a variety of tips to improve their photography skills.

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