A German startup called C.P Goerz has shared on Kickstarter that it is developing the Citograph 35 - a pancake lens with f/8 aperture.

The tessar-type manual focus lens is set to the hyperfocal distance to capture sharp detail of everything between 9 feet and infinity.

Eliminating focusing from the shooting process could very well transform the shooting experience. No need to bring the camera up to your eye, just point in the general direction of the action and shoot for sharp shots.

With focusing taken care of and featuring the wide focal length synonymous with the classic reportage and street photography, the Citograph 35 lens should help users to capture more of those decisive moments.

No focusing. Wide angle. No fuss.

If you think this sounds like a cheap gimmick, C.P Goerz would have us think again. The company claims a ‘professional grade’ lens, with special coating and disc aperture equivalent to f/8.

Certainly, we hope that the RRP of $499 would suggest a good bit of kit (rather than an overpriced toy).

From the product pictures, the Citograph 35 lens appears to be a true pancake lens - another weapon in its discreet armoury. At 120g and 23mm, the lens is so light and thin that it could sit on a camera in place of its lens cap.

Back the campaign

It looks like the Citograph lens design is completed and the crowd funding campaign functions to bring the lens into production.

The Citograph 35 is expected to go on the market in Spring 2018 and will be available in Nikon, Canon, Sony E, Fuji, MFT, Pentax, Leica M mounts. The pictures show the lens in six different colours, but there may well be others available.

If you would like more details about the Citograph 35 Lens or feel the urge to back the crowd funding campaign, you can do so via its page on Kickstarter.

Once launched the lens costs $499. However, those that invest early can get the lens for a discounted price.

At the time of writing, backers can receive the lens for the lowest price of $229. The quicker you act, the less the lens will cost you.

Oh and if you wondered about the name of the company, C.P. Goerz takes its name from one of the most renowned German lens makers of the early 20th Century that worked closely with Zeiss. A little tidbit for you.