Sony E pancake lens guide

Following some major changes and updates to our blog, I’ve recently resumed writing photography articles. We have been working as a team for several months on an update of all the lens listings on the blog. To help you make the best choice, we’ve included all the key features of each lens. It’s been a lot of work, but we’re happy with the result, and we also have a system in place so we can do regular updates. That way you won’t miss a single release!
It’s been a while since I wrote about Sony cameras. So here I am again with a guide to pancake lenses for the Sony E mount. I’m going to be talking about lenses that are compatible with both full-frame and APS-C Sony cameras. By the way, if you want to know about all the lenses available from Sony, we’ve written two full pages about all the lenses for the FE and Sony E mounts.

As I said, in this article I’m going to introduce you to pancake lenses, which are characterised by their very small, compact size (especially in width). There are even lenses that are between 2 and 4 cm wide, no more! I’m guessing that you’ve made pancakes before, so this will give you a good idea of just how thin they are. Pancake lenses are often used on small bodies and are ideal for street photography – perfect for keeping a low profile.

Despite what you might think, if you’re looking for an autofocus Sony E-pancake lens, your options are more than limited. However, as I said at the start of this article, thanks to the huge amount of work we do on all our lenses and their mounts, we’ve had a look at everything that’s currently available. As usual, I had to make a few choices among the lenses, even though there aren’t many.

In this selection, you might be tempted to go for lenses that are slim but border on pancakes. Admittedly, I’ve done this twice for particularly thin lenses, but they’re still very close to that category.

I’ve decided to split this article into two parts: pancake lenses with and without autofocus. I imagine that most readers will be more interested in the autofocus lenses, especially for street life photography. However, I think that people who are used to using a manual focus lens won’t have any problems. It’s up to you, of course!

I’ll start by looking at pancake lenses for Sony APS-C cameras with autofocus. As I said, the possibilities are limited. However, the TTArtisan brand offers a good quality 27mm lens at an affordable price. Of course, the benchmark remains the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 (at a very reasonable price) and the Sony E 16mm f/2.8.
To make things easier for you, I’ve prepared the following table so that you can compare the main characteristics of the lenses I’ve just mentioned 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. The lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, a 7-blade diaphragm and accepts 49 mm filters. With a focusing distance of 24cm, it is ideal for close-ups. However, it does not have a lens hood.

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

To sum up, this lens is primarily aimed at photographers who want a compact and discreet lens (at a low price) that won’t get in the way when reporting or travelling. Even if its optical performance is limited, it offers good rendering at f/5.6 and f/8.

Released in January 2013, the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 is an ultra-compact, easy-to-carry Sony pancake lens. Weighing just 69g and measuring approximately 20mm in length, this lens is ideal for using bodies such as the Sony A6700 as a highly portable companion. With a fixed focal length equivalent to 30mm at full frame, it’s a lightweight, versatile lens for street photography, landscapes and even travel.

Its build quality is impeccable, with solid materials. It has a 7-blade aperture, which is great for smooth blurs. The autofocus is fast and accurate, perfect for spontaneous shots. Note that the lens is neither tropicalised nor stabilised. Optically, its sharpness at f/2.8 is average in the middle and a little soft at the edges. For best results, close the aperture from f/5.6. Optical flaws such as vignetting and distortion are present, but can be easily corrected in post-production. Chromatic aberration management is decent, but flare resistance is fairly average. Finally, the bokeh is decent but could be better.

In conclusion, the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 is the only pancake lens that Sony offers for E-mount APS-C cameras. It’s clearly the lens I’d recommend for this type of camera. Given its price, it remains a quality solution for photographers looking for a compact, lightweight alternative.

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

In terms of construction, the TTArtisan is made entirely of plastic. It has a click-stop aperture ring with an ‘A’ position and a focus ring. The lens is not tropicalised and has no optical stabilisation, two important points to bear in mind. The autofocus is practical and functional for most shots. In terms of optical performance, sharpness at f/2.8 is good in the center and even very good at the edges. The aperture should be stopped down to f/4 or f/5.6 for good uniformity across the entire image field. The lens does have some weaknesses: significant vignetting at full aperture, visible distortion and chromatic aberration. Nevertheless, the bokeh remains soft and pleasant at wide apertures.

In conclusion, the TTArtisan 27mm F2.8 AF is an excellent option for those looking for a compact lens at a good price. Although its optical flaws are quite pronounced, its optical performance is of good quality. It’s still ideal for street photography or any situation where you don’t want to be crowded.

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 are looking for a Sony FE-mount pancake lens with autofocus, your options are still very limited. At the moment, the brand has yet to release any FE pancake lenses. So you have two options:

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

To get you started, here’s a summary table with three lenses you can compare with each other. Their dimensions, weight, minimum focusing distance, budget and more are all listed! I think this will give you an idea of how the three lenses I’ve chosen compare.

Positioned as a compact and affordable alternative for full-frame Sony bodies, the Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE has been available since 2017. It is perfect for photographers looking for a discreet, high-performance lens with its ultra-light weight (85g) and small dimensions.

In terms of build quality, the lens is mainly made of plastic with an aluminium bayonet. It has an optical formula consisting of 7 elements in 6 groups, including two aspherical elements. Although the autofocus is precise and quiet, its speed is rather limited. The lens is neither stabilised nor tropicalised, but it does have a smooth manual focus ring. In terms of optical performance, sharpness is very good in the centre at full aperture. The edges are less sharp at f/2.8, but uniformity improves from f/5.6. Distortion is unobtrusive, but vignetting remains visible at all apertures.

In conclusion, the Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8 FE offers decent image quality for its price. Although it’s not a pancake lens in the strict sense, it’s 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 established itself as one of the most compact lenses for the Sony E mount. It is the perfect lens to take with you wherever you go, especially for street photography, thanks to its featherweight and compact dimensions.

Its build quality is quite impressive for its price. The lens is made entirely of metal, making it both strong and light. It is equipped with a new VCM autofocus motor, which offers fast and silent focusing. Optically, it has 6 elements in 6 groups, including 4 special elements (2 ED and 2 aspherical). However, it is neither tropicalised nor stabilised. In terms of performance, sharpness is good from the centre to the edges at full aperture. Vignetting is noticeable at f/4.5, but distortion is practically non-existent.

All in all, the Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 VCM is a good bet for the brand. It’s a new lens at a very low price. For its price, it offers excellent portability and efficient autofocus. If you’re looking for a discreet lens with good functionality, this is the lens for you.

Introduced in 2013, the Sony Sonnar FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA is a very good quality lens with small dimensions. It presents itself as a lightweight option and is on a par with 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 is ideal.

The build quality of the FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA is very good, all metal except for the lens hood. It has 7 blades to create a natural background blur. Its optical formula consists of 7 elements in 5 groups, including several aspherical lenses. The lens (tropicalised) has a fast and silent autofocus. In terms of optical performance, the lens is remarkable: at full aperture, sharpness in the centre is very satisfactory and becomes excellent between f/4 and f/8. The edges, which are less sharp at f/2.8, improve considerably from f/5.6. Optical flaws such as vignetting are easy to correct in post-production. Chromatic aberrations and distortions are practically non-existent.

In conclusion, the Sony Sonnar FE 35mm F2.8 ZA is a must-have for anyone looking for a lightweight, discreet and high-quality lens. Admittedly, its price may seem high for such a compact lens (although it’s no pancake), but it’s justified by its optical performance and top-quality 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’s perfect for street photography and environmental portraits.

Let us now move on to Sony’s manual focusing E-mount pancake lenses. This section should be of interest to you if you don’t mind choosing a lens without autofocus. Once again, as Sony only offers autofocus lenses, the choice is limited for this type of pancake lens. Therefore, only third-party lenses are included in this choice. These brands offer reasonably good quality at a reasonable price.

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

I’ll leave you to 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-stabilised) version of the first version of this lens. It is much thinner than a traditional pancake lens at just 1cm thick. Its ultra-light weight (57g) makes it an ideal choice for photographers looking for a practical lens.

Its build quality is both simple and solid (all metal). Compared to the first version, a click-stop ring has been added. Its formula is very simple, with a single aperture blade. In terms of optical performance, this lens delivers decent results. Its sharpness is good in the centre, but much less so at the edges. Vignetting remains noticeable, while flare resistance is low (resulting in 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 value its compact, lightweight format over image quality. Admittedly, it has limitations in terms of optical performance, but for the 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 (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 filter diameter of 43mm. Its minimum focusing distance of 25 cm limits the possibilities for close-ups. On the other hand, there is no image stabilisation or EXIF transfer. In terms of optical performance, sharpness is decent in the centre 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 diminishes as the aperture is closed. The chromatic aberrations, which are particularly noticeable at the edges, and the average resistance to flare are also factors to be taken into account.

In conclusion, the TTArtisan 25mm f/2 is an affordable choice for photographers looking for 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 ideal for street and even travel photography. Its standard focal length offers a fixed aperture of f/5.6 at an attractive price (< €150).

The all-metal construction of this lens is one of its strengths. Its fine, precise focusing ring is easy to use. On the downside, the lens has neither image stabilisation nor EXIF transfer. In terms of optical performance, sharpness is excellent in the centre and not so good at the edges, but improves when the lens is closed. 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 a lens perfectly suited to street photography. Although it has certain limitations, particularly in terms of flare resistance and edge sharpness, its affordable price is a big plus (good plan)!

I’ve come to the end of my guide to the best pancake lenses for the Sony E and FE. I agree that the possibilities are limited compared to other brands. In any case, I’ll update this article if there are any new releases. But for now, 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 article on photography!

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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