The viral popularity of the compact camera has sparked a renewed interest in pancake lenses – and now budget lens maker TTArtisan has introduced an optic that fits an f/3.8 aperture and autofocus in a lens that weighs 57g / 2oz.
The TTArtisan AF 24mm f/3.8 Mini is a full-frame pancake lens coming to Sony E and Nikon Z mounts. Once mounted on the camera, the lens sticks out just 16mm / .6 inches. To put things in perspective, that’s about ten pennies stacked together or the measurement of one side of standard game dice.
Despite the compact size, TTArtisan has managed to fit a VCM, or voice-coil motor, autofocus inside. That autofocus can lock on to subjects as close as .3m / 11.8 inches from the front of the lens.
The lens fits in six optical elements in six groups, including two extra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements.
Even capping the front of the lens for storage doesn’t add to the lens’ size. The lens uses a built-in lens cover that’s deployed using a slider at the front. (A rear cap is also included in the box.)
TTArtisan also built a USB-C port into the metal mount for firmware updates.
The China-based TTArtisan is no stranger to building budget compact lenses, but the new 24mm Mini is smaller than the TTArtisan AF 27mm f/2.8 and AF 14mm f/3.5, which are both built for APS-C sensors.
The TTArtisan AF 24mm f/3.8 Mini is already available to order for the Sony E-mount, with the company saying that the Z Mount is coming soon. Orders are open through TTArtisan as well as retailers like B&H (US) and Clifton Cameras (UK). The pancake lens retails for $99 / £89 (about AU$142 / CA$136).
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