So, the latest edition to my photography gear is the Canon EF 40 mm F2.8 pancake lens. It's the smallest DSLR lens Canon makes, and I got mine used for about a hundred bucks. I had read that despite it's tiny size and budget price it can produce nice images. So, on March 20th, the vernal equinox, I drove down to Laguna Beach in the Gamagori area of Japan with my wife and daughter. It was a beautiful spring day, with many birds, including gulls, kites (tonbi in Japanese) and pigeons. After enjoying the birds we took a walk along the beach and then caught the sunset. I was quite pleased with the lens and the 40mm length, both for scenic and portrait shots. I like using a prime lens for its simplicity, and because you have to "zoom with your feet," which makes you think more about framing. I was also reminded that if you are careful with your exposure and composition, you don't need an expensive lens to take nice photos.