[ Lens ] Olympus Announces the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f1.8

[tsammyc]

I think Ming Tien is a great photographer so everything he takes looks good but center sharpness is spectacular with the 20/1.7 For me, that is the most important consideration...

 

[theITguy]

To me, this lens is interesting due to the faster AF. However, the close up is not as great as the 20/1.7. Still thinking whether to buy or not.

Price difference for this and the 20/1.7 is about $200 ($450 used and $650 new).

 

[diCam]

For me, I like the snap-focus feature. When walking the street, it's a good alternative to the AF, which is already fast in my opinion.

Bokeh is nice and the lens is capable of rendering good details. Corner-to-corner sharpness starts at f4.0 to my eyes.

 

[hyperFocal]

Not sure how true, but I've read somewhere that the distance scale on the 17mm is all wrong. The final production may have this corrected, but we'll have to wait and see.

Good news is that this lens apparently focus "continuously" (or in smaller discrete steps), compared to the 12mm, in snap focus mode.

For me, I like the snap-focus feature. When walking the street, it's a good alternative to the AF, which is already fast in my opinion.

Bokeh is nice and the lens is capable of rendering good details. Corner-to-corner sharpness starts at f4.0 to my eyes.

 

[wonglp]

Not sure how true, but I've read somewhere that the distance scale on the 17mm is all wrong. The final production may have this corrected, but we'll have to wait and see.

Good news is that this lens apparently focus "continuously" (or in smaller discrete steps), compared to the 12mm, in snap focus mode.

Will test that soon, just gotten a review pre production set, stay tuned. Certainly some in hyperFocal mode

 

[flamenco]

Will test that soon, just gotten a review pre production set, stay tuned. Certainly some in hyperFocal mode

Pls enlighten the noob in me ... but what is hyperfocal ?

 

[ageha]

After reading one of the first reviews I think I will stick with my Mark I.

 

[wonglp]

Pls enlighten the noob in me ... but what is hyperfocal ?

When the lens is focused on the hyperfocal distance, the depth of field extends from half the hyperfocal distance to infinity. Hyperfocal distance is easily implemented on lenses that has distance markers and depth of field scales. For more info, check out this page

 

[newghost]

From my experience with the Zuiko 12mm f2, I found the focus throw to be quite short... and in that respect, the "narrow" distance marker on the lens barrel, that is one thing I hope Olympus can improve on as they certainly have a winner of a lens design here.

Also, looking at the pic of the 17mm f1.8 lens from the first post on this thread, the term "F8 and be there" just doesn't apply, having only the aperture markings of 5.6, 11, 22 available is not usual. IMO, its only a proper manual lens when you include the full stuff...

 

[karch]

I will buy this lens if the price is right (as 45mm f/1.8) to make my trinity lens complete, but I already have the 14mm f/2.5 and its so lovely, I don't know which to keep.

 

[wonglp]

Just posted an ongoing user review here, check it out for those who are keen

 

[newghost]

Just posted an ongoing user review here, check it out for those who are keen

Poison!!!! :bigeyes:

 

[Oly5050]

Just posted an ongoing user review here, check it out for those who are keen

Oh. It's pretty big lens

 

[ageha]

Oh. It's pretty big lens

Big for a f/1.8?

 

[wonglp]

Oh. It's pretty big lens

It's pretty yes It's smaller than 12mm F2. Bigger than 17/2.8, 12/2, 14/2.5 for sure. Personally it's nice size for me.

 

[nitewalk]

It's pretty yes It's smaller than 12mm F2. Bigger than 17/2.8, 12/2, 14/2.5 for sure. Personally it's nice size for me.

It would be good if you could eventually do a bit of a test on the focusing of this lens. I think there will be some users of the Panasonic 20mm thinking of changing to this lens as this is much closer to the 35mm. For me, i felt the 20mm is quite slow in low light so an edge in terms of AF speed, among other things, would probably justify the higher (presumably so) price of this lens.

 

[wonglp]

It would be good if you could eventually do a bit of a test on the focusing of this lens. I think there will be some users of the Panasonic 20mm thinking of changing to this lens as this is much closer to the 35mm. For me, i felt the 20mm is quite slow in low light so an edge in terms of AF speed, among other things, would probably justify the higher (presumably so) price of this lens.

sure, will take a video for comparison when my 20mm is back in couple of days so far, it's been very fast and extremely silent, both are niggling pains of 20mm. Here's one shot taken earlier, if it's 20mm, the moment would have been missed, seriously - I was using the EPL5 touchscreen btw.

 

[Evilmerlin]

When would this lens be available? Any RRP yet?

 

[newghost]

Still no news? *boring*

 

[maldito]

It will be out of Amazon Japan on 20 December