Pancake Lens

[Osprey]

What are these? Found a couple on Ebay. Are they special in some way?

Thanks

[Tee Why]

I believe they are Pentax prime lenses, called pancake b/c they are very thin and hence light.
Here is a link with a picture of one of them.
http://www.dcviews.com/press/Pentax-DA-40.htm

[ziggy53]

"Pancake" lenses are simply low-profile and diminutive. They are always primes. They generally do not come with lens hoods, at least not the ones for which I am familiar.

For those who have to have the least physical profile for whatever reason, they have a loyal following.

They tend to be good to excellent for optical quality but the name doesn't automatically mean best quality.

[Andy]

What are these? Found a couple on Ebay. Are they special in some way?

Thanks
http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=430039&postcount=19

[Miguel Delinquento]

Pentax has been making fine quality pancakes lenses for many years. Currently you have 21mm, 40mm, and 70mm models. I believe the latter two have integral lens hoods that slide in-and-out of the housing. Olympus recently released a 25mm pancake lens that folks online rave about.
Light and small.

M