Small.
Nice bokeh.
Can be used at f/2.

The aperture ring is tough to grip. I simply grab the hood and turn it, rather than the aperture ring.

I bought this lens because I love the 40mm angle of view, but I must admit I hit the paypal submit button with some trepidation--I'd read that the lens is not respectable till f/4. But I have been favorably surprised and impressed by the lens. It's Leitz tiny, it's got good bokeh, and it's just this side of high-enough contrast to be shot at f/2 (at least for people photography). So do I love this lens? The jury is still out on that. It's got all the qualities of a lens that I could have a long-term relationship with.

Similar Products Used:

Voigtlander 40/1.4

Super Sharp and contrasty from f4 up. Super compact. Perfect 'everything' lens.

None.

Ok this lens is expensive for what it is! But i wanted one bad and somehow hit the buy now button before I knew what I was doing! Any regrets? Hell no! This lens is sharp! It is the perfect focal length for most people shots and it lives permanently on my OM4Ti. Its contrasty as hell and is just so small.

The known filter problem isn't an issue at all. You just have to be aware that turning the aperture turns the filter thread, Big Deal! It takes 2 seconds to readjust and its just one of those quirks that kinda makes me love this little lens more.

I cant rave on enough about this wee gem of a lens. To me the 50mm was always just a tiny bit too tight. 40mm solves this perfectly.

I'm giving this wee cracker 4 stars for value just because I have easily got my moneys worth from it already.

Similar Products Used:

zuiko 21mm,24mm,28mm,35mm,50mm,100mm,200mm

Small size, low weight, sharpness, speed, close fucusing capability!

Absurd prices on the second hand market.

I bought this lens because the 50mm wasn't quite wide enough for street and outdoor photography. It's sharp even at f2, and it's got a small, flat profile, light weight which is perfect for backpacking. Having used a Nikon F, I must say the OM cameras and their lenses are the most underrated of all SLRs. Small, light, bright viewfinder, and durable.

One of the best features that oddly enough no one has mentioned is that this lens focuses much closer than the 50mm lens. It's not quite a macro, but it's a pleasant added bonus.

I don't know why Olympus made so few of these lenses. It's become very expensive on Ebay. I've been looking for a 2cd one so I can mount 2 OM1s side x side as a stereo camera.

Similar Products Used:

Zuiko 24mm, 28mm, 50mm.

Low weight, small size and excellent imaging properties (sharp, brilliant).

If there is a Zuiko without fault than this is it!

I bought the 40 mm lens in 1988 mainly because it was so small. It's sharp, as fast as a standard lens, and has, barely visable, a somewhat wider angle of course. I hardly use the 50 mm lens any more.

Customer Service

It's still in near mint condition.

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none

Sharp, sharp, sharp. I know I said that three times, but its so true I thought I'd re-inforce it.

Not possible to attach a lens hood.

By now, this outfit has moved out of history and into legend! An astonishing little lense that gives sharpness almost indistinguishable from top of the range professional lenses. Use a tripod and a shutter release and you will see detail you never thought was possible! Use a good ISO-100 film (avoid Kodak if possible) and get it developed at a reputable developer - avoid those 1-hour shops on the High Street and especially supermarkets!

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None in this range/age.

small, light weighted, sharp.

known polarizer problem. Aperture-ring has bad handling without an extra filter.

I got one in 1991 and won´t give it away!

Customer Service

Satisfied.

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None

Superb sharpness and contrast, great tonal range. Comparable to the best Leitz and Zeiss lenses.

Note: The Zeiss 45 f2.8 is the "pancake" lens, much smaller than the Penax or Olympus versions

None!

It's now considered more of a collector's item, so prices for used ones are a bit silly, but this lens delivers superb photos!

Customer Service

Not needed

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Pentax 40mm f2.8 - poor sharpness, not much contrast

Fast

None

A fast 40, but I was never satisfied with the quality of the used one I bought. Images lacked vibrancy - lack of sharpness or low contrast???.

Note that this is NOT a pancake lens - that's the pentax 40/2.8

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Pentax 40/2.8
Contax 45/2.0 G

It's so small it's barely there and it's so sharp it's scary.

They don't make it any more! A pain to use polarizers with.

If you see one, buy it immediately! 6 elements and 4 are low-dispersion glass. It's called the "pancake" lens because it's amazingly small. about the sharpest prime lens I've ever seen.

Customer Service

No professional support to speak of, but fast repairs.

Similar Products Used:

Leica, Nikon