Third-party lenses have been the best options for many young photographers. They offer a bridge between cost-effectiveness and optics, something that first-party lenses often struggle with. SG-Image is one such third-party lens maker that continues to contribute to the industry. It appears that the company is now thinking of creating a new lens, a pancake lens, which is likely to cater to Sony E and Nikon Z mounts. Here’s a report.
First published by Asobinet, the company is said to develop a 35mm f2.2 pancake lens with autofocus. Since it is designed for a full-frame camera, SG-Image is reportedly working on a prototype. While the company’s presence is new, the idea id a new autofocus lens has generated interest from people. It is not only portable but also offers the opportunity for a smaller setup.
The 35mm is a favourite focal length, and it sits comfortably between wide landscape viewpoints and natural-looking portraits. It is also a better choice for street, travel, documentary, and many more genres of photography. Sony cameras have a 35mm f2.8 pancake lens, but the lens was introduced in 2013, which makes it quite old. There is also Sigma’s 35mm f2 option, but it is not a pancake option. While you have options from 7Artisans, it lacks autofocus. In a sense, your pancake lenses have limited production, which makes the SG-Image even more anticipating.
With mirrorless cameras, an increasing number of photographers are opting for smaller lenses. In fact, on Reddit, you see photographers highlight a desire for autofocus 35mm lenses that are both compact and bright, with many currently settling for larger lenses or manual pancake options while waiting for better AF compact glass. The SG-Image lens, in that regard, can be a sweet spot for creators.
However, since this is a third-party lens, the 35mm equivalent should ideally cost between $300 and $600. Anything above that can be a challenge for people. And if SG-Image is able to add weather sealing, we have a best-seller on our hands. While there are no specifications for the 35mm pancake lens available yet, discussions are already underway online about what it could be. The current prototype chatter suggests something real might be shaping up. The third-party ecosystem, thus, can become more exciting soon.