I have both, Robin. And I find that the f1.8 is great for street photography being so compact and discrete where the f1.2 pro is great for almost everything else. This 50mm equivalent is the lens an SLR came with back in the days of film and, for a lot of us who were young and broke (after investing in our first good camera) it was the only lens we would have for a few years. I remember in the days of film when you could buy what was called a spot filter. It would keep the centre of your photo in focus and put everything around that centre point out of focus. That's how you got good bokeh then, although there wasn't a word for it as far as anyone I knew was aware until the digital era arrived. Everybody had one of these filters but hardly ever used it. I'm not quite sure why this generation of photographers is so fixated on bokeh. Wait a couple of decades until your eyes start to go and your grip is a little less firm and you'll see how much more you appreciate depth of field! ;-)
Pretty much the same reasons I use the 25mm f1.2 more than I use the f1.8 version nowadays. I also value the fact that the Pro-version is freeze-proof. Sometimes it is quite cold up here in the north.
Great video Robin! Ignore the wind ups in the comments.....you explained it all really well, helps to get a view on the 1.2 coming from someone who has used the 1.8 extensively. Personally, I don’t mind the hand movements in your videos at least you are active!👍😎🇦🇺
Thanks Stephen and I appreciate your show of support. I admit I'm extremely new to these things so it takes time to learn and get better but trust me I'm doing the best I can.
It seems that the F1.8 fared the humid weather conditions in Malaysia quite well over some years (before you bought the F1.2 Pro), even without weather sealing. I would love if Olympus would come up with a weather sealed F1.4 for a more affordable price and especially smaller than the F1.2 …
I love the Oly 25mm f1.8; I only shoot Lumix bodies but I chose the Oly 25 over both the Panasonic options. Because it takes superb images, and it's smaller than all the others. I couldn't be less interested in a lens as big as the f1.2 though! If I had one, it would never leave the house. Context is everything.
Thanks for this video. For me it clearly demonstrates the difference between the needs of a pro and those of an enthusiast such as myself. I cannot justify paying so much for the f1.2 lens. I have an even cheaper option than the Oly 25 f.18, I have the Lumix 25mm f1.7 :-) It takes fantastic photos at a fraction of the cost. It is a no frills lens but I don't need frills, I am not being paid for my photos, that critical edge you get from pro gear is not needed. For any enthusiast suffering from GAS, think about it, do you really need to get a pro lens? Of course if someone was to give me one of these expensive lenses, I wouldn't say no! ;-)
@@MichaelGerrard the Olympus 25mm F1.8 does come with a hood. Their older lenses like 12mm F2 and 45mm F1.8 do not, however. You are right, there are so many options available now, and for enthusiasts, not getting paid from doing photography, it does not make sense to stretch the budget spending so much, if you don't have the funds to begin with! Photography is not about spending that much money, there is a lot more to it!
@@robinwong Oh that is great news, Oly must've listened :-) Thanks Robin for the reply and video. Maybe next time a comparison between the Oly 45mm f1.8 and the equivalent pro lens?
I've been eyeing these two lenses for a while now so this video came at the right time. After watching, I think the 1.8 version suits me best (so small for travel!) and you have proven with your sample images that both lenses are capable of superb results. I suspect it would take some pixel peeping to see the differences. Thank you for another great video!
Yes! I am about to get one on my own. I was not sure whether 17mm or 25mm but i think it's gonna be the 25mm (i own already 45mm 1.8 and this is great too). Hanks for supporting me in my decision...
The 25/1.2 feels perfect on the E-M1 II. I upgraded from the 1.8 to the 1.2 a while ago and sold my 1.8. I’m kind of tempted to buy the 1.8 again, though, to use with my PEN-F.
Great series of videos answering questions that people are actually asking about using their Olympus gear and about photography in general. Most enjoyable was the five features to immediately disable or avoid on the camera. Only an expert would have the confidence to point out those tips.
Thanks Robin! I’m so glad that you are making more videos about photography and the Olympus experience. I have the 25 F1.8 but I have mainly been using a 14-140 zoom lens. Your video is inspiring me to challenge myself to learn to shoot with my prime.
My pleasure to do the video. Removing the convenience of using a zoom lens really challenges yourself to improve further! Shoot more with the 25mm lens.
I used ONLY the Zuiko 25mm 1.8 for almost a year. Great quality lens. I ended up switching for the Sigma 30mm 1.4 for the slight gain in background blur and luminosity.
Hello Robin great video like always. I own the 25mm f1.8 and I love it because is very small. I love OLYMPUS because all my gear is small and not heavy. I am just an amateur. Ciao from Sicily. Marco
Had the same problem, but Olympus solved it now by giving it away for free! When I buy an E-M1 II - which I considered anyway. And why would I want to have it? The 25/1.8 failed for me on wedding photographie, when I need to seperate the couple from the background. I traded it in for the Panasonic-Leica 25/1.4, which does that much better - but isn't as crispy sharp whide open, which I want on other occasions. (I've heard that the new version is better, but don't know for sure.) Meanwhile I got the Sigma 30/1.4, which is both affordable and quite good, but I expect the 25/1.2 to be even better in any respect. However, for any beginner, the 25/1.8 is strongly recommended and it really fits in any bag.
The Voigtlander 25/0.95 is the only real alternative. You lose AF and weather sealing though, but it’s slightly cheaper and is a beautiful and more compact lens, and 0.75 stops faster than the f/1.2 Pro.
Thanks Robin for a marvellous lesson. I also looked at your comments about the 17mm f1.8 and the 45mm f1.8 lenses too and that was a wonderful lesson too. Have you done a talk about the Olympus 14-150mm lens ? If not I would be grateful to have that reviewed by you.
Great Video. The Oly Pro Series has a great haptic feeling. With this reason i change all my lenses to the Pro. The 1.2 lenses are all absolute worth to change
Wow 19 elements in a prime lens!!! :-O Two months ago I replaced the 17mm 1.8 with the 25mm 1.8, and I don't regret this. It has too much of purple cromatic aberration in my opinion, but I love it.
@@davebellamy4867 25mm, but after years of using it I cal tell it's nothing to worry about. 17mm was way worse about cromatic aberrations, cyan and purple.
You're simply, the BEST. I've purchased may lenses and accessories for my EM-1 MK2, because of you. I hope to travel to Malaysia some day and meet you.? Photo Walk?
Great video Robin, really enjoy your photos, you always have interesting insights and I love your enthusiasm. Have you done a video on the 17mm? I know you love to shoot 25mm but no doubt as a pro you are using a full arsenal of lenses
Wish Olympus can make a weather sealed version of their non-pro lenses and sell it for a reasonable price like how Fuji makes a f2 weather resistance lens. Great video. I enjoy my 1.8 but cannot justify spending 3-4x the price for the 1.2 since I do not make a living from photography, but I would spend 2x the price of the 1.8 for a weather resistance 1.8.
Hey Robin! Nice work and I am so happy you are here for us MFT pro users. What I would like to see most is a full comparison with the Sigma Contemporary lenses, against the pro ones that Olympus lineup offers. I own the 16mm f1.4 and the 30mm f1.4 and the results are truly stunning. What I want to see actually is how much better are the Olympus products against the Sigma ones. For a long telephoto prime I have the Sigma 60mm f2.8 and is a very sharp lens, but most likely I'll be heading to the 56mm f1.4 , if a review don't prove me wrong. Cheers and thank you!
Robin, I was wondering... I know the 45mm f1.2 from Olympus has great bokeh and I know the nifty fifty in full frame has good bokeh too. But what about the 25mm f1.2 from Olympus. Does it work for portraits, I'm referring to bokeh in mid shots, not close ups. Can it deliver?
Ok, There are good reasons to buy the 25mm 1.8 and good reasons to buy the 1.2 version of the same focal lenght. For me 1,2 and blurr are good reasons, but not enough. If you ad to that that the 1.2 version has also better IQ, meaning better micro contrast, bokeh.. ok, I understand. That being said, the 25mm 1.8 is a fantastic prime. Both make sense. But... what about the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4? Thank you for this video.
Dear Robin, You are really an enthusiastic speaker/creator. I love your enthusiasm. I have a 6 month old GH5 with an Olympus M. Zuiko 12-40 and I love everything about it. However, I will be doing video in a small space and wondered if the 25mm Pro 1.2 lens will be as good for video instead of still? When you are speaking in front of the camera above, which lens are you using? Thank you for all you are doing to inspire and educate us out here. It's Rainmaking Time!
I have both lenses. The 1.2 just blows the 1.8 out of the water. It just looks better to my eyes. Forget about sharpness, forget about charts BLAHH blahh blahhhh. That 1.2 is just awesome. Next I'm hunting a 7-14 😍
One non-photography tip for you: Try some of the sporty, moisture-wicking T-shirts. They wick the moisture through and it evaporates. They're not as comfortable as cotton when dry, but once you start to sweat, it's not so sticky. I discovered them during motorcycle trips in the summer, to wear under my armored jacket.
the 17-25-45 Olympus 1.2 lenses are just fantastic and tack sharp at 1.2, they are like mini zeiss Otus lenses with AF , I personnaly bought the 17 & 25mm and have the Sigma 56mm 1.4 for portraits : this is a great alternative to the 45mm 1.2 amd offers similar to better bokeh for a third of the price
Been watching several of your videos tonite… You mentioned in another video how you don't use lens hoods... I noticed you don't seem to use protective filters either... maybe a video on filter use?
If you shot with this lens (Olympus 25mm F1.2 PRO) you can have less dept of field in comparison with a full frame if you shot for example with Tamron Full Frame 24-70mm f/2.8 in 50mm. 50mm in f/2.8 is the same as 25mm in f/1.4. With this lens you can have better results in some scenarios. The drawback is that this lens is heavy and quite expensive.
Good stuff! Lenses are worth the money almost always and I've never felt so attached to any camera as I've been to some lenses over the years. By the way, did you use the 25mm f/1.2 to film the video?
Thanks Matti for the comment. The video was shot with 45mm F1.8 (the shots of me speaking with blurry background) and 17mm F1.8 for near shots (my hand holding the lens, etc).
That rotating shot in the hand at 4:52 is useful. Love the Lego Robin at 5:04; nice reference. ;) 6:05: That took guts to admit and it gives you credibility. However, it is worth noting that since Micro 4/3 optics are less expensive in general, compared to FF and APS-C, an f/1.2 probably costs the same as an f/1.4 in those larger formats. (?) 8:20: Yes. This is the reason a lot of us went to Micro 4/3. As a pro, you don't really have that choice, at least for your work. I shoot mostly the slower, mass market zooms for this reason. But even for them, the IQ is really good. Thanks for another passionate video. By the way, I prefer 17mm as an all-around lens, but I don't shoot as many portraits as you do.
This was yet another informative video... good job! One suggestion: please put exposure information (ISO, shutter, aperture) along with focal length on your photos... helps when evaluating certain lenses... or in reviews like this you can say you're simply shooting wide open. Also, what video gear (camera, lens) are you using? BTW, now that you are no longer an Olympus/OM Systems Ambassador, any chance of reviewing the Sigma 16/30/56 1.4 lenses against their close Olympus/OM equivalents? I have these lenses plus the Oly 20/1.4, the 25/1.8 and the 75/1.8. All really good lenses IMO. I tend to use the 16 thru 30 for video also, and have found the 20/1.4 is the best lens for 'talking head' video inside while the 30/1.4 Sigma is great for 'talking head' outside.
I'm still unsure how I feel about getting the 25mm f1.2. Especially since I have a full frame Panny S5 now with a 50mm f1.8. Almost the same weight and size for camera and lens, only full frame is a bit better... That said, I enjoy using the Olympus em5 MIII more, so, for photography unless it's going to get really dark in odd shooting situations, it's my go to :S But I still can't help feeling like investment wise the 25 F1.2 was a bad idea in my case lol. Price between them is a wash, but m43's does still have a better portable lens range to swap out to I guess. Huff
Hi Robin! Thanks for all Your super videos and blogs. I would like to ask You (or others) one question. I understand what weather sealing means... But... how many lenses (25/1.8) have You had to change/repair due to problems with weather condition? I am just asking because I have never had any problem with any m4/3 lens (both PRO or non-PRO) from frozen lands over deserts to rainy tropical forrests... I use it in expedition-like travels, on a mountain bike, skis etc...
Thanks for the kind words. When it rained, I put the 25mm away, and I switched to the 12-40mm which is weather sealed. Never shot the 25mm f1.8 in the rain, so I don't know how well t can survive, but I would not do that since it is not weather sealed in the first place.
Hi Wong, I'm Mario Salvador from MexicoThank you for your videos. You are an expert!! I have an Zuiko 25 mm 1.8, but I do not know how to set it in infinitum mode for milky way. The point is that this lens does not have "a stop to set for infinitum", as the ring rotates indefinitely (On the contrary of the Zuiko 17 mm, f 1.8, I think!)). Can you help me with that? Thank you for your efforts in teaching us. Best.
Weather sealing, faster low light, blurred background, better image quality and better rugged construction are sufficient enough justification for any serious photographer to upgrade to OMD 50 mm F-1.2 PRO.
you are the best. i like your videos its so so gooooooooooooooooood and makes me better with photographing, can you please make videos lessons for omd m1 mark 2 ? your fan from saudi arabia
Hi Robin, do you ever use Pana-Leica lenses? It seems that the new 10-25mm f/1.7 is really great and it could replace my Oly 25mm f/1.2 and 12mm. Just not sure if all the Pana-Leica lens features work on the OMD EM1.2 body.
"Cause you could pay it"... Not my case. I have mistaken a gallery of 1.2 with a 1.8 and I was excited to see how pro and amazing and sharp.... Wait a moment, is the 1.2 not the 1.8...ffff... the only one I could buy and that after selling my 45mm 1.8
I'm still in the cheap 45mm 1.8 and can't afford those. But 45 is 90mm in these cameras so ..too much Tele. I guess I should take a look at the 17mm or 25mm cheap. Though image cuality won't be as those you share. Specially the 3 singers and band, that is specially well taken. I can't even use properly a flash .
F 1.2 is much better than F 1.8 due to weather sealing, and better overall image quality. Besides, it is far ahead better for handheld shots at night or indoors without increasing the ISO rating.
Upgrading from 25mm 1.8 to 25mm 1.2 becomes even difficult when you factor in the option of Sigma 30mm 1.4 as an option, which can be had at fraction of the cost. Not everyone needs weather sealing or shoot in a pouring rain.
30mm is not 50mm equivalent. 50mm is a tried and proven classical focal length that works soooooooo well. That Sigma is just not the same. Comparing oranges to apples here.
Hi Robin, you can maybe explain back button focus. Why is it so important for pro photographers and how to use it on olympus om-d. Greetings from Germany.
I personally don't use it, and find it to be an old method more suitable for DSLR users, not so much for faster mirrorless cameras like OM-D. I just press the shutter button and it responds instantaneously with no issue.
Your photos are speaks for itself! It's good imo! I rarely make a video content, and many reviewers seems love video autofocus only. My question, what do you think about ep5 and em5 (mark I) for taking a fast moving subject (for tracking)? I do love wildlife photography, but dslr starts to claim my back 😂 even lumix G9's still quite big . Sorry for my poor language and love your photos in this video, cheers 😊
Don't worry about your language, your message is clear, and that is important. Thanks for the kind words about my photography, appreciate it.E-P5 and E-M5 were not designed/optimized for subject tracking, unfortunately. I'd highly recommend E-M1 Mark II if you shoot a lot of moving subjects.
If I need the image separation , or bokeh, you mentioned, I would simply grab my Canon 6D and my Canon 85 1.4 lens. Problem solved. I was both surprised and a little disappointed to hear your comments about the only marginal overall IQ benefits of the Pro 1.2 compared to the 25 1.7. As I already own the 25 1.7 and the 45 1.8, it is highly unlikely that I will pay more for one of these faster primes. In Australia, the cost of the new faster primes, is more than the cost of all but the top of the range OMD body- at least at the time of posting this comment. It is also a concern that Olympus have announced a range of new lens, seemingly for release in 2020, but these are all the very slow, for Mft, of F4. I won't bang on about sensor size. However, Olympus is not doing its body owners any favours by releasing a range of new glass being fixed F 4 lens. Interestingly, Fuji released a range of 3 new primes in 2018, for their most popular fixed primes. These lens were all F 2. Am I missing something?
Those f4 lenses are all zooms. The point of those lenses is that they can be very small (compared to larger formats) and still have high quality optics, such as the 12-100mm f4. A 24-200mm zoom with similar optical performance, size and with industry-leading IS at 550 grams simply doesn't exist for any other system. The new 12-45 f4 (24-90 equivalent) is only 250 grams. I will get that one for hiking and travel, where every gram counts. Sucks about the prices in Australia, I got the 25mm f1.2 for 900€ here in Europe and it was well worth it. The metal build quality is leaps and bounds above the smaller, slower primes, it is fully weather sealed, focuses instantly and the difference between f.1.2 and f.1.8 is massive in actual usage. The out of focus areas are also rendered much nicer, not just the amount of blur but the smoothness of it. It also has a manual focus clutch and an additional customizable button on the lens. Oth, it is much bigger and heavier than the 1.8 (and ofc more expensive). As for the Fujis, Olympus has had lenses like that for many years (17mm, 25mm & 45mm f.1.8), Fuji is just playing catch up to the competition.
Hi Robin, I shoot with three lenses, all of the f/2.8 pro zoom lenses giving me a range between 7mm to 150mm. Is there any point investing in any of the prime lenses? I don't need the bit of extra speed as I don't have an issue with noise (DXO pure raw fixes that)
Hi Robin, excellent videos and love your enthusiasm and style in these. I wonder if Panasonic 25/1.4 sits right in the middle then in terms of size, bokeh and the newer model having weatherproof capability as well. Do you plan to review that as well? Thanks.
I was thinking the same thing. I have the Panasonic and although I don't use it often (I find 25mm too restrictive for some reason, prefer to use my Pan 20 1.7 and actually looking at getting the Oly 17 1.8 or Pan 15 1.7 for something slightly wider still). But when I use it I'm always amazed by the rendering, it's hard to take a picture you don't like with it, I really should force myself to use it more. Given my limited use of it I can't see me ever forking out for this 1.2... And the quite high price of the 1.8 means I'm not likely to buy that as a smaller alternative to the 1.4 (and it's not even that much smaller), if it had the focusing clutch I'd be tempted... I still want to try both though. If I personally found myself using 25mm more often in the future the clutch alone on the 1.2 would put it on my shopping list!
@@stuartnelson3202 oh that 20/1.7 is one of the best lenses ever... for the sharpness, pop and the tiny size you can't go wrong. I used to have that. The rendering of 17/1.8 is much better, the so called tonality in portraits is visible. However, it does not have 3Dness like the 20. I tried 15 and while people rave about it, I didn't like it that much. I think it is overpriced for what it is.
@@maheshg212 I love how compact the 20 1.7 is, the GX7 with it on is virtually pocket size. And it does take lovely pictures... If I got the 17 1.8 I'd probably still keep both the 20 1.7 and the 25 1.4 anyway!
Hi! is the 1.8 lens noisy when you change the aperture? I use a panasonic g85 and I have a 75mm olympus lens which makes noise when I change the aperture (instead the focus is silent). I use a lot to make videos so I'm looking for a silent lens.
Great videos - spot-on in terms of content and length! Every OMD (or other camera) beginner should be directed here, although not just for beginners :-). Currently going through all your vids - thanks for posting.
I am just amateur photographer. I have a 12-40 f2.8 PRO already. 50/1.2 simply too expensive and heavy for me. I am thinking of to get a light small prime lens for my OMD. However, I don't know 17/1.8 or 25/1.8 should I get. Any suggestion?
Both 17mm F1.8 and 25mm F1.8 are great lenses. It all comes down to your shooting style, do you prefer the 50mm or 35mm perspective? For me, the 50mm works better! I can't speak for you.
@@cheeholim2084 16mm is a totally different lens. I think comparing that to Olympus 17mm F1.8 or F1.2 would make more sense. This video is about 25mm though. from 16mm to 25mm, you are getting completely different kind of perspective
@@cheeholim2084 i have the 16 mm from sigma and i can tell you is a fantastic lens. Very sharp, optimal focal distance for both panoramas and mid to full body portraits (nice blur at f1.4 but since it is a 16 mm is not your main strenght point). The only downside is the weight and the dimensions cause it's designed for sony apsc but i'mma tell you that i love how balanced it feels when shooting with my em10 ii
![Olympus 25mm F1.2 Pro Vs. 25mm F1.8 - [7 Things about Standard lenses]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xXHBhGM1miA/mqdefault.jpg)
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I have both, Robin. And I find that the f1.8 is great for street photography being so compact and discrete where the f1.2 pro is great for almost everything else. This 50mm equivalent is the lens an SLR came with back in the days of film and, for a lot of us who were young and broke (after investing in our first good camera) it was the only lens we would have for a few years.
I remember in the days of film when you could buy what was called a spot filter. It would keep the centre of your photo in focus and put everything around that centre point out of focus. That's how you got good bokeh then, although there wasn't a word for it as far as anyone I knew was aware until the digital era arrived. Everybody had one of these filters but hardly ever used it.
I'm not quite sure why this generation of photographers is so fixated on bokeh. Wait a couple of decades until your eyes start to go and your grip is a little less firm and you'll see how much more you appreciate depth of field! ;-)
Pretty much the same reasons I use the 25mm f1.2 more than I use the f1.8 version nowadays. I also value the fact that the Pro-version is freeze-proof. Sometimes it is quite cold up here in the north.
You are right, for snowing/cold countries, the freezeproof comes in handy! Too bad it never snows in Malaysia.
@@robinwong I can't say I have ever frozen a lens lol. Sure I've frosted front elements over but I am unsure what olympus means by freeze proof.
@@robinwong Reply from one Olympus visionary to another
Great video Robin! Ignore the wind ups in the comments.....you explained it all really well, helps to get a view on the 1.2 coming from someone who has used the 1.8 extensively. Personally, I don’t mind the hand movements in your videos at least you are active!👍😎🇦🇺
Thanks Stephen and I appreciate your show of support. I admit I'm extremely new to these things so it takes time to learn and get better but trust me I'm doing the best I can.
Really, changing from F1.8 to F1.2 is only 1/2 stop. Pro lenses are nice and I own a few but when I use my Pen F, the 1.8 is a better fit.
It seems that the F1.8 fared the humid weather conditions in Malaysia quite well over some years (before you bought the F1.2 Pro), even without weather sealing. I would love if Olympus would come up with a weather sealed F1.4 for a more affordable price and especially smaller than the F1.2 …
I love the Oly 25mm f1.8; I only shoot Lumix bodies but I chose the Oly 25 over both the Panasonic options. Because it takes superb images, and it's smaller than all the others. I couldn't be less interested in a lens as big as the f1.2 though! If I had one, it would never leave the house. Context is everything.
Robin the quality - price ratio of the f/1.8 is impossible to beat
Unfortunately it is missing weather sealing.
The 25mm F1.8 is my favorite, but I see the extra sparkle in the F1.2 images. Food for thought! Thx!
Glad you noticed the extra sparkle!
Thanks for this video. For me it clearly demonstrates the difference between the needs of a pro and those of an enthusiast such as myself. I cannot justify paying so much for the f1.2 lens. I have an even cheaper option than the Oly 25 f.18, I have the Lumix 25mm f1.7 :-) It takes fantastic photos at a fraction of the cost. It is a no frills lens but I don't need frills, I am not being paid for my photos, that critical edge you get from pro gear is not needed. For any enthusiast suffering from GAS, think about it, do you really need to get a pro lens? Of course if someone was to give me one of these expensive lenses, I wouldn't say no! ;-)
PS - my Panasonic Lumix 25mm f1.7 lens came with a lens hood in the box. Olympus is a wonderful company but I do wish they'd do the same.
@@MichaelGerrard the Olympus 25mm F1.8 does come with a hood. Their older lenses like 12mm F2 and 45mm F1.8 do not, however.
You are right, there are so many options available now, and for enthusiasts, not getting paid from doing photography, it does not make sense to stretch the budget spending so much, if you don't have the funds to begin with! Photography is not about spending that much money, there is a lot more to it!
@@robinwong Oh that is great news, Oly must've listened :-) Thanks Robin for the reply and video. Maybe next time a comparison between the Oly 45mm f1.8 and the equivalent pro lens?
I've been eyeing these two lenses for a while now so this video came at the right time. After watching, I think the 1.8 version suits me best (so small for travel!) and you have proven with your sample images that both lenses are capable of superb results. I suspect it would take some pixel peeping to see the differences. Thank you for another great video!
Both lenses are very capable indeed. And yes for travel the smaller F1.8 version makes more sense!
Even if you have the F1.2 I think you should have kept the F1.8 as its so compact making it better for travel and street photography....
I use the 25mm f1.2 quite often. But for portraits the 75mm 1.8 is hard to beat. Everyone likes the way they look with the longer lens.
Of course, for portraits longer focal length works better!
Yes! I am about to get one on my own. I was not sure whether 17mm or 25mm but i think it's gonna be the 25mm (i own already 45mm 1.8 and this is great too). Hanks for supporting me in my decision...
The 25/1.2 feels perfect on the E-M1 II. I upgraded from the 1.8 to the 1.2 a while ago and sold my 1.8. I’m kind of tempted to buy the 1.8 again, though, to use with my PEN-F.
Great series of videos answering questions that people are actually asking about using their Olympus gear and about photography in general. Most enjoyable was the five features to immediately disable or avoid on the camera. Only an expert would have the confidence to point out those tips.
Thanks for the kind words! I do my best to share as much as I can.
Thanks Robin! I’m so glad that you are making more videos about photography and the Olympus experience. I have the 25 F1.8 but I have mainly been using a 14-140 zoom lens. Your video is inspiring me to challenge myself to learn to shoot with my prime.
My pleasure to do the video. Removing the convenience of using a zoom lens really challenges yourself to improve further! Shoot more with the 25mm lens.
I used ONLY the Zuiko 25mm 1.8 for almost a year. Great quality lens. I ended up switching for the Sigma 30mm 1.4 for the slight gain in background blur and luminosity.
Hello, the 1.2 lens is much more heavier, and expensive. So just for commercial use, yes. Thanks again for yours videos !
Hello Robin great video like always. I own the 25mm f1.8 and I love it because is very small. I love OLYMPUS because all my gear is small and not heavy. I am just an amateur.
Ciao from Sicily.
Marco
Thanks for the kind words! The Olympus 25mm F1.8 is a wonderful lens!
NOoooOo... Don't make me do it! Can I just tell my wife you made me do it? 😆😆
Had the same problem, but Olympus solved it now by giving it away for free! When I buy an E-M1 II - which I considered anyway. And why would I want to have it? The 25/1.8 failed for me on wedding photographie, when I need to seperate the couple from the background. I traded it in for the Panasonic-Leica 25/1.4, which does that much better - but isn't as crispy sharp whide open, which I want on other occasions. (I've heard that the new version is better, but don't know for sure.) Meanwhile I got the Sigma 30/1.4, which is both affordable and quite good, but I expect the 25/1.2 to be even better in any respect. However, for any beginner, the 25/1.8 is strongly recommended and it really fits in any bag.
Thanks for your reviews, Robin! I just got the 25/1.2 and it is STELLAR on my G9ii. ❤❤❤
The Voigtlander 25/0.95 is the only real alternative. You lose AF and weather sealing though, but it’s slightly cheaper and is a beautiful and more compact lens, and 0.75 stops faster than the f/1.2 Pro.
Thanks Robin for a marvellous lesson. I also looked at your comments about the 17mm f1.8 and the 45mm f1.8 lenses too and that was a wonderful lesson too. Have you done a talk about the Olympus 14-150mm lens ? If not I would be grateful to have that reviewed by you.
Great Video. The Oly Pro Series has a great haptic feeling. With this reason i change all my lenses to the Pro. The 1.2 lenses are all absolute worth to change
Wow 19 elements in a prime lens!!! :-O
Two months ago I replaced the 17mm 1.8 with the 25mm 1.8, and I don't regret this. It has too much of purple cromatic aberration in my opinion, but I love it.
Do you mean that the 17mm or the 25mm has the purple chromatic aberration?
@@davebellamy4867 25mm, but after years of using it I cal tell it's nothing to worry about. 17mm was way worse about cromatic aberrations, cyan and purple.
You're simply, the BEST. I've purchased may lenses and accessories for my EM-1 MK2, because of you. I hope to travel to Malaysia some day and meet you.? Photo Walk?
Great video Robin, really enjoy your photos, you always have interesting insights and I love your enthusiasm. Have you done a video on the 17mm? I know you love to shoot 25mm but no doubt as a pro you are using a full arsenal of lenses
All your snap shots and portraits are very vivid and 生動。
What about Sigma 16 F1.4 Vs Zuiko 17 F1.2
Wow , amazing shots , well done Rob.
Cameras can take good or bad shots , but it is the operator behind the camera that really makes it work ; ) .
Thanks for the kind words, indeed the photographer is the real weapon, not the camera.
Try the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 when you have a chance, Robin. Lovely lens! Small and sharp
Wish Olympus can make a weather sealed version of their non-pro lenses and sell it for a reasonable price like how Fuji makes a f2 weather resistance lens. Great video. I enjoy my 1.8 but cannot justify spending 3-4x the price for the 1.2 since I do not make a living from photography, but I would spend 2x the price of the 1.8 for a weather resistance 1.8.
I hear you. Let's hope they hear it too.
Love your videos. Always very informative. Thanks for your efforts.
Hey Robin! Nice work and I am so happy you are here for us MFT pro users. What I would like to see most is a full comparison with the Sigma Contemporary lenses, against the pro ones that Olympus lineup offers. I own the 16mm f1.4 and the 30mm f1.4 and the results are truly stunning. What I want to see actually is how much better are the Olympus products against the Sigma ones. For a long telephoto prime I have the Sigma 60mm f2.8 and is a very sharp lens, but most likely I'll be heading to the 56mm f1.4 , if a review don't prove me wrong.
Cheers and thank you!
i like your channel very much. i buyed 7-14mm pro and 12-40mm pro and i am very happy with these
I really love the 25mm 1.2, it´s my most used lens for almost...everything ;-)
Same here!
Robin, I was wondering... I know the 45mm f1.2 from Olympus has great bokeh and I know the nifty fifty in full frame has good bokeh too. But what about the 25mm f1.2 from Olympus. Does it work for portraits, I'm referring to bokeh in mid shots, not close ups. Can it deliver?
Thank you Robin .
Ok, There are good reasons to buy the 25mm 1.8 and good reasons to buy the 1.2 version of the same focal lenght. For me 1,2 and blurr are good reasons, but not enough. If you ad to that that the 1.2 version has also better IQ, meaning better micro contrast, bokeh.. ok, I understand. That being said, the 25mm 1.8 is a fantastic prime. Both make sense. But... what about the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4? Thank you for this video.
Great review Robin, right on the money. Thank you.
Dear Robin, You are really an enthusiastic speaker/creator. I love your enthusiasm. I have a 6 month old GH5 with an Olympus M. Zuiko 12-40 and I love everything about it. However, I will be doing video in a small space and wondered if the 25mm Pro 1.2 lens will be as good for video instead of still? When you are speaking in front of the camera above, which lens are you using? Thank you for all you are doing to inspire and educate us out here. It's Rainmaking Time!
I have both lenses. The 1.2 just blows the 1.8 out of the water. It just looks better to my eyes. Forget about sharpness, forget about charts BLAHH blahh blahhhh. That 1.2 is just awesome. Next I'm hunting a 7-14 😍
Great pictures as usual
Ok, so the 1.2 is a cut above but the 1.8 shots look great too. It holds up well.
Both are great lenses, really!
One non-photography tip for you: Try some of the sporty, moisture-wicking T-shirts. They wick the moisture through and it evaporates. They're not as comfortable as cotton when dry, but once you start to sweat, it's not so sticky. I discovered them during motorcycle trips in the summer, to wear under my armored jacket.
I live in Zhuhai, so sweat wicking shirts like thas are essential for me. You can even get polo or dress shirts made from similar material.
Me. Wong, if nightshooting portrait is the job, Fullframe or Aps-c is more recommended I would say, because IS/OIS won’t help.
the 17-25-45 Olympus 1.2 lenses are just fantastic and tack sharp at 1.2, they are like mini zeiss Otus lenses with AF , I personnaly bought the 17 & 25mm and have the Sigma 56mm 1.4 for portraits : this is a great alternative to the 45mm 1.2 amd offers similar to better bokeh for a third of the price
exactly what I was looking for, you're super clear, super efficient, loved the video thank you very much
Been watching several of your videos tonite… You mentioned in another video how you don't use lens hoods... I noticed you don't seem to use protective filters either... maybe a video on filter use?
I second the request to see a video by Robin on filter use-especially with the 25mm f1.8. This would be great! 👍
Thank you Robin your channel is really fantastic full of tips for improving my photographic.
Thanks Jose, I do my best, and will have more videos up soon.
@@robinwong I have OMD EM5 MII when you have a chance please make a video for Night Photography with Prime Lenses
for Alive Music Bars & Street.
If you shot with this lens (Olympus 25mm F1.2 PRO) you can have less dept of field in comparison with a full frame if you shot for example with Tamron Full Frame 24-70mm f/2.8 in 50mm. 50mm in f/2.8 is the same as 25mm in f/1.4. With this lens you can have better results in some scenarios. The drawback is that this lens is heavy and quite expensive.
Good stuff! Lenses are worth the money almost always and I've never felt so attached to any camera as I've been to some lenses over the years. By the way, did you use the 25mm f/1.2 to film the video?
Thanks Matti for the comment. The video was shot with 45mm F1.8 (the shots of me speaking with blurry background) and 17mm F1.8 for near shots (my hand holding the lens, etc).
Was wondering the same thing and thought it was the 25/1.2 until Robin held it up!
That rotating shot in the hand at 4:52 is useful.
Love the Lego Robin at 5:04; nice reference. ;)
6:05: That took guts to admit and it gives you credibility. However, it is worth noting that since Micro 4/3 optics are less expensive in general, compared to FF and APS-C, an f/1.2 probably costs the same as an f/1.4 in those larger formats. (?)
8:20: Yes. This is the reason a lot of us went to Micro 4/3. As a pro, you don't really have that choice, at least for your work. I shoot mostly the slower, mass market zooms for this reason. But even for them, the IQ is really good.
Thanks for another passionate video.
By the way, I prefer 17mm as an all-around lens, but I don't shoot as many portraits as you do.
This was yet another informative video... good job! One suggestion: please put exposure information (ISO, shutter, aperture) along with focal length on your photos... helps when evaluating certain lenses... or in reviews like this you can say you're simply shooting wide open. Also, what video gear (camera, lens) are you using?
BTW, now that you are no longer an Olympus/OM Systems Ambassador, any chance of reviewing the Sigma 16/30/56 1.4 lenses against their close Olympus/OM equivalents? I have these lenses plus the Oly 20/1.4, the 25/1.8 and the 75/1.8. All really good lenses IMO. I tend to use the 16 thru 30 for video also, and have found the 20/1.4 is the best lens for 'talking head' video inside while the 30/1.4 Sigma is great for 'talking head' outside.
Got the Voigtlander 0.95/25 for Bokeh and DOF, but missing the weather sealing and AF...
Great work. I love the clean images.
Thanks!
I'm still unsure how I feel about getting the 25mm f1.2. Especially since I have a full frame Panny S5 now with a 50mm f1.8. Almost the same weight and size for camera and lens, only full frame is a bit better... That said, I enjoy using the Olympus em5 MIII more, so, for photography unless it's going to get really dark in odd shooting situations, it's my go to :S
But I still can't help feeling like investment wise the 25 F1.2 was a bad idea in my case lol. Price between them is a wash, but m43's does still have a better portable lens range to swap out to I guess. Huff
I love your descriptive and informative videos and I was wondering if you have a video on E-M1 Mark II Multiple exposures? Thank you
I'm not an Olympus shooter, but I love your videos Robin. !👍
Hi Robin, thanks for your videos. You have had the opportunity to use the MFT voigtlander lenses. Thank you
My pleasure to do the videos, and yes I have tried the Voightlanders, they are quite soft wide open though. I wish they have AF
I am wondering which lavalier microphone you are using?
Hi Robin! Thanks for all Your super videos and blogs. I would like to ask You (or others) one question. I understand what weather sealing means... But... how many lenses (25/1.8) have You had to change/repair due to problems with weather condition? I am just asking because I have never had any problem with any m4/3 lens (both PRO or non-PRO) from frozen lands over deserts to rainy tropical forrests... I use it in expedition-like travels, on a mountain bike, skis etc...
Thanks for the kind words. When it rained, I put the 25mm away, and I switched to the 12-40mm which is weather sealed. Never shot the 25mm f1.8 in the rain, so I don't know how well t can survive, but I would not do that since it is not weather sealed in the first place.
Ok-thank You for Your response and good luck for Your next projects! I am looking forward to them!
Trying to decide 17mm f1.2 or 25mm f1.2
And whether to buy
45mm f/1.2 or 75mm 1.8
I have the panisonic 42.5mm f/1.2
12mm f1.4
Great shots, Robin. The proof is in the pudding, as in your work. Yep, strong case made.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating 😊
Good review fan from Thailand
Hi Wong, I'm Mario Salvador from MexicoThank you for your videos. You are an expert!! I have an Zuiko 25 mm 1.8, but I do not know how to set it in infinitum mode for milky way. The point is that this lens does not have "a stop to set for infinitum", as the ring rotates indefinitely (On the contrary of the Zuiko 17 mm, f 1.8, I think!)). Can you help me with that? Thank you for your efforts in teaching us. Best.
Why You don't show Panasonic or Panasonic/Leica on Your videos?I love my 12-60 2.8-4 Pana/Leica for city photos or on travel.
1:08 I love you went British for a second haha. Great review mate
That is why I use an Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm f1.4. 😉
Weather sealing, faster low light, blurred background, better image quality and better rugged construction are sufficient enough justification for any serious photographer to upgrade to OMD 50 mm F-1.2 PRO.
you are the best. i like your videos its so so gooooooooooooooooood and makes me better with photographing, can you please make videos lessons for omd m1 mark 2 ? your fan from saudi arabia
Thanks for the show of support!
Hi Robin, do you ever use Pana-Leica lenses? It seems that the new 10-25mm f/1.7 is really great and it could replace my Oly 25mm f/1.2 and 12mm. Just not sure if all the Pana-Leica lens features work on the OMD EM1.2 body.
"Cause you could pay it"...
Not my case.
I have mistaken a gallery of 1.2 with a 1.8 and I was excited to see how pro and amazing and sharp.... Wait a moment, is the 1.2 not the 1.8...ffff... the only one I could buy and that after selling my 45mm 1.8
Thanks Robin, I love your videos, keep up the great work, friend!
Just bought this lens today, thanks for the valuable review!
Robin, what is the LOOT you are talking about in the title at 5:00? ;)
I'm still in the cheap 45mm 1.8 and can't afford those. But 45 is 90mm in these cameras so ..too much Tele. I guess I should take a look at the 17mm or 25mm cheap. Though image cuality won't be as those you share. Specially the 3 singers and band, that is specially well taken. I can't even use properly a flash .
Thank You for that video🤗
F 1.2 is much better than F 1.8 due to weather sealing, and better overall image quality. Besides, it is far ahead better for handheld shots at night or indoors without increasing the ISO rating.
Upgrading from 25mm 1.8 to 25mm 1.2 becomes even difficult when you factor in the option of Sigma 30mm 1.4 as an option, which can be had at fraction of the cost. Not everyone needs weather sealing or shoot in a pouring rain.
30mm is not 50mm equivalent. 50mm is a tried and proven classical focal length that works soooooooo well. That Sigma is just not the same. Comparing oranges to apples here.
Hi Robin, you can maybe explain back button focus. Why is it so important for pro photographers and how to use it on olympus om-d. Greetings from Germany.
I personally don't use it, and find it to be an old method more suitable for DSLR users, not so much for faster mirrorless cameras like OM-D. I just press the shutter button and it responds instantaneously with no issue.
Do you use the L-Fn Button or the Focus Clutch on the 1.2? Would you say that's also a reason to upgrade or do you think they aren't as important?
I did not use the L-Fn button for anything, it is not important to me. I can't speak for everyone else though.
Baru saya tahu, saya pakai lens yang terbaik. 25mm F1.8.
Which lens did you used to record this video? You get a good bokeh behind you
Your photos are speaks for itself! It's good imo!
I rarely make a video content, and many reviewers seems love video autofocus only. My question, what do you think about ep5 and em5 (mark I) for taking a fast moving subject (for tracking)? I do love wildlife photography, but dslr starts to claim my back 😂 even lumix G9's still quite big
.
Sorry for my poor language and love your photos in this video, cheers 😊
Don't worry about your language, your message is clear, and that is important. Thanks for the kind words about my photography, appreciate it.E-P5 and E-M5 were not designed/optimized for subject tracking, unfortunately. I'd highly recommend E-M1 Mark II if you shoot a lot of moving subjects.
@@robinwong thank you for your kind words, and I appreciate your advice, it's a great help to have an answer from professional.
Cheers..
Durio sp . The Lumix G9 is so comfortable to hold and the Camera balance is so so good you forget about the Camera size.
If I need the image separation , or bokeh, you mentioned, I would simply grab my Canon 6D and my Canon 85 1.4 lens.
Problem solved.
I was both surprised and a little disappointed to hear your comments about the only marginal overall IQ benefits of the Pro 1.2 compared to the 25 1.7. As I already own the 25 1.7 and the 45 1.8, it is highly unlikely that I will pay more for one of these faster primes. In Australia, the cost of the new faster primes, is more than the cost of all but the top of the range OMD body- at least at the time of posting this comment.
It is also a concern that Olympus have announced a range of new lens, seemingly for release in 2020, but these are all the very slow, for Mft, of F4.
I won't bang on about sensor size. However, Olympus is not doing its body owners any favours by releasing a range of new glass being fixed F 4 lens.
Interestingly, Fuji released a range of 3 new primes in 2018, for their most popular fixed primes.
These lens were all F 2.
Am I missing something?
Those f4 lenses are all zooms. The point of those lenses is that they can be very small (compared to larger formats) and still have high quality optics, such as the 12-100mm f4. A 24-200mm zoom with similar optical performance, size and with industry-leading IS at 550 grams simply doesn't exist for any other system. The new 12-45 f4 (24-90 equivalent) is only 250 grams. I will get that one for hiking and travel, where every gram counts.
Sucks about the prices in Australia, I got the 25mm f1.2 for 900€ here in Europe and it was well worth it. The metal build quality is leaps and bounds above the smaller, slower primes, it is fully weather sealed, focuses instantly and the difference between f.1.2 and f.1.8 is massive in actual usage. The out of focus areas are also rendered much nicer, not just the amount of blur but the smoothness of it. It also has a manual focus clutch and an additional customizable button on the lens. Oth, it is much bigger and heavier than the 1.8 (and ofc more expensive).
As for the Fujis, Olympus has had lenses like that for many years (17mm, 25mm & 45mm f.1.8), Fuji is just playing catch up to the competition.
Thanks for the review!
What are you using to film this video? Also, do you own the 10-25mm f1.7 lens?
Hi Robin, I shoot with three lenses, all of the f/2.8 pro zoom lenses giving me a range between 7mm to 150mm. Is there any point investing in any of the prime lenses? I don't need the bit of extra speed as I don't have an issue with noise (DXO pure raw fixes that)
but ony my lumix gh4 is so dark with this i must consider 1.2
Thank you this video is really useful
Were any of these shots SOOC JPEGS? If so, what picture profiles did you use?
Leica DG Summilux 25mm F1.4 II Asph....how about this ..only 205 g ...thanks !
Man I don't know, I get some amazing background blur from my 25 F1.8.
What aperture for the diaphragm for the photos ?
Hi Robin, excellent videos and love your enthusiasm and style in these. I wonder if Panasonic 25/1.4 sits right in the middle then in terms of size, bokeh and the newer model having weatherproof capability as well. Do you plan to review that as well? Thanks.
I can't do Panasonic reviews as I am an Olympus Visionary now.
I was thinking the same thing.
I have the Panasonic and although I don't use it often (I find 25mm too restrictive for some reason, prefer to use my Pan 20 1.7 and actually looking at getting the Oly 17 1.8 or Pan 15 1.7 for something slightly wider still).
But when I use it I'm always amazed by the rendering, it's hard to take a picture you don't like with it, I really should force myself to use it more.
Given my limited use of it I can't see me ever forking out for this 1.2...
And the quite high price of the 1.8 means I'm not likely to buy that as a smaller alternative to the 1.4 (and it's not even that much smaller), if it had the focusing clutch I'd be tempted...
I still want to try both though.
If I personally found myself using 25mm more often in the future the clutch alone on the 1.2 would put it on my shopping list!
@@stuartnelson3202 oh that 20/1.7 is one of the best lenses ever... for the sharpness, pop and the tiny size you can't go wrong. I used to have that. The rendering of 17/1.8 is much better, the so called tonality in portraits is visible. However, it does not have 3Dness like the 20. I tried 15 and while people rave about it, I didn't like it that much. I think it is overpriced for what it is.
@@maheshg212 I love how compact the 20 1.7 is, the GX7 with it on is virtually pocket size.
And it does take lovely pictures...
If I got the 17 1.8 I'd probably still keep both the 20 1.7 and the 25 1.4 anyway!
Great video. You helped me decide. Love your smiling enthusiasm and knowledge. Subscribing :)
Hi! is the 1.8 lens noisy when you change the aperture? I use a panasonic g85 and I have a 75mm olympus lens which makes noise when I change the aperture (instead the focus is silent). I use a lot to make videos so I'm looking for a silent lens.
the aperture is especially loud on the 75. noticed it as well and did some research: it‘s a known issue.
Great videos - spot-on in terms of content and length! Every OMD (or other camera) beginner should be directed here, although not just for beginners :-). Currently going through all your vids - thanks for posting.
I am just amateur photographer. I have a 12-40 f2.8 PRO already. 50/1.2 simply too expensive and heavy for me.
I am thinking of to get a light small prime lens for my OMD. However, I don't know 17/1.8 or 25/1.8 should I get. Any suggestion?
Both 17mm F1.8 and 25mm F1.8 are great lenses. It all comes down to your shooting style, do you prefer the 50mm or 35mm perspective? For me, the 50mm works better! I can't speak for you.
how about Sigma 16mm F1.4 for mft?
@@cheeholim2084 16mm is a totally different lens. I think comparing that to Olympus 17mm F1.8 or F1.2 would make more sense. This video is about 25mm though. from 16mm to 25mm, you are getting completely different kind of perspective
@@cheeholim2084 i have the 16 mm from sigma and i can tell you is a fantastic lens. Very sharp, optimal focal distance for both panoramas and mid to full body portraits (nice blur at f1.4 but since it is a 16 mm is not your main strenght point). The only downside is the weight and the dimensions cause it's designed for sony apsc but i'mma tell you that i love how balanced it feels when shooting with my em10 ii
20mm f1.7 from Panasonic serves both focal length somehow :) It’s the sharpest as well