I own it. I Found an unused lens for $120 or something. This focal length is one of my favorites. The lens is also good for shooting close-up images with 10mm extension tube.
Those are some beautiful images you've made. The 18mm f/2.8 was the first lens I bought beyond the kit lenses that came with my EM-10 ii. The color from the 2.8 seemed kind of flat to me, so I returned it and got the 1.8. I like the color from the 1.8. I love the focal length that the two lenses share. And the bonus is that wonderful manual clutch for manual focus like my old Yashica Minister III and Mamiya SX from the days of film. BUT...I think I may have been hasty. Your images have shown the character of the lens. It produces images where the color, rather than being clinical, yields a more "thoughtful" rendering. Pick your lens, pick your metaphor. But I quite like results of that lens under your hand. So, yes, I was probably hasty in my initial reaction to the 2.8. Thank you for that learning opportunity.
Thanks for watching! The 17mm f1.8 is, I am sure, a great lens. The color rendering may have something to do with the old EP1 I use the 17mm f2.8 on almost exclusively. I do like the 17mm f2.8 and love the images I get with the EP1/17mm f2.8 combo.
I agree with you, Don. The 17mm is my most used lens for everyday carry on either an e-p3 or OMD em1-1. The 45mm f1.8 is second favorite, followed by the panasonic 12-32. I have a few other manual focus and telephoto lenses, but those are my gotos. l love the size of the e-p3, even though it's only 12MP. That's good enough for most of what I do. Keep up the good video work!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this lens, Dan. I'm in the market for a 17mm lens, and I had initially looked at this one for its size and price, but had dismissed it after reading reviews it wasn't sharp. I recently saw some photos from the lens on Flickr that looked great and were tack sharp, so I've been looking at this lens again. I have the Olympus 45mm f1.8 and love it. I think you've helped me decide to give this lens a try. Appreciate your help!
I have this lens on an E-PM1 that I always have with me. I do a lot of what I call "rural street" photography. I live in Arkansas, so not a lot of urban environments, but lots great small downtowns, and the combination of the Pen Mini and 17mm 2.8 really allows me to blend in better than an OMD camera with a larger lens. I would love to see OM Systems release updated versions of this lens and the Pen Mini.
I bet you get some great images with that combo! Updated versions of both would be awesome, but I don't think that is in the works. Thanks for watching and commenting!.
Thanks for the video. The last micro 4/3 lens I purchased was a refurbished 17mm f/2.8 because it cost me only $75 and I was able to use it as a backup to the 45/20/14 three-lens combo that I normally used.
Good review. I have just repurchased this lens having sold my original copy years back for the Panasonic 20mm 1.7. I always regretted it, as in spite of its modest parameters it had a wonderful rendering and colours. its sharp enough, the only optical issues really are a bit of chromatic aberration, edge softness and some distortion (corrected on jpegs), which can be expected given the pancake design and low element count (6 elements). The flip side to that is nice three dimensionality in images that you don't get in more modern lenses packed with glass elements. Maybe not a good choice for video given the noisy AF, but they are cheap and tiny, always in the bag and a nice alternative to using a zoom.
Thanks for sharing. Agree, freedom to carry around and enjoy photography. Well said. Just bought a used EPL3 with kit zoom lense and this 17/2.8 pancake.
Very interesting. I've wanted a 35mm equiv. for my EM5, and this might be it. Another very inexpensive M43 lens I like to tout for wide angle to normal is the Lumix 12-32, ie 24-64. Fairly sharp. Very compact. I don't do street photography anymore, but it should be great for that. And I've had very nice results with it for my landscape work. You can easily find it for c. $130.
To get close enough for birds you will need a 300 or 400 mm lens. Look at both Panasonic and Olympus. Seems like I remember Panasonic having an affordable 300 but 300 and 400 mm lenses are not inexpensive.
If the included adapter won't fit you may need to buy a set of step down rings from amazon. They are more stable and what most people use with the close up lens
Here is an Amazon link for a 46mm to 43mm step down ring that should allow you to adapt the Raynox DCR-250 to your Olympus 60mm Macro lens. (the Raynox DCR-250 has 43mm threads and the 60mm macro has 46mm threads. amzn.to/3wjFIKK
Robert Wong likes this lens better than the f1.8version. Someone in the comments in his video said the f1.8 version over corrects three image by 5%. Robert Wong said the f2.8 renders images better.
To be fair he is quite biased against the 1.8 version for reasons I don't manage to understand. The 1.8 is sharper, and has more character, especially wide open. The only drawbacks it has are the price and slightly bigger size. They suit different needs, and both are good lenses overall though
I am not a lens snob so I will not be taking a magnifying glass to the extreme corners. I have owned a few lens with really horrible corners but the 17 2.8 is not one of them. It’s corners might not match the center which is btw very sharp but they are decent enough not to be a distraction. A good lens for folks who appreciate a bargain and compact design.
I ended up getting the Sigma 19mm F2.8 instead of the Olympus simply because I got a killer deal on a used copy. That said, I agree with your experiences with the Olympus. Stopped down 1 or 2 stops, it is perfectly fine for street or general purpose photography.
@@dongummphotography I've never owned the Olympus 17mm (any version) but I do own the Laowa 17mm F1.8. It's all manual and it's a great lens, especially considering the price. That said, I like the Sigma quite a bit. The 19mm focal length (38mm FF equivalent) is tighter but still great for street. My copy is sharp with good contrast and really is good value for money if you are looking for a slightly different FOV from the Olympus 17mm.
I am not so forgiving towards 17mm f/2.8 as you are. First of all, it's really small, attached to em-5 fits in a pocket. For me, it defines the m4/3 lens. But the sharpness is just not there, at least at 16mpix. Even at f/4, it is only slightly better and I expect the m4/3 lens to be sharp wide open. If an object fills the frame, it can be OK, but distant or small objects, even groups of people, look not only soft, but simply bad due to the chromatic aberrations being out of control. AF is also from a previous era, faster than the Lumix 20mm, but still bad. It's a real shame that Olympus didn't update that model. They would find a customer in me.
Thanks for watching! I am sure Olympus felt that the 17mm f1.8 would satisfy most needs and they looked at the 2.8 version as a kit lens. I agree though that they should have improved or updated it.
The Pany 20MM. F1.7 is a better len,s at the same price point. Faster aperture, compact and sharp. Yep, the F1.8 Oly matches it at greater cost, Unless you are Oly only, no contest with the Pany Don.
Thank you for watching! I have the Pany 20mm f1.7 as well. Love that lens but it just seems out of place on my EP1. It lives, instead, on my EP5. A great combo!
I own it. I Found an unused lens for $120 or something. This focal length is one of my favorites. The lens is also good for shooting close-up images with 10mm extension tube.
Great timing, Don. Fellow Oklahomacityite here currently waiting on an Olympus 17mm f2.8 lens that I bought off eBay for $87 all in.
Sounds like a good deal! Thanks for watching!
Those are some beautiful images you've made. The 18mm f/2.8 was the first lens I bought beyond the kit lenses that came with my EM-10 ii. The color from the 2.8 seemed kind of flat to me, so I returned it and got the 1.8. I like the color from the 1.8. I love the focal length that the two lenses share. And the bonus is that wonderful manual clutch for manual focus like my old Yashica Minister III and Mamiya SX from the days of film.
BUT...I think I may have been hasty. Your images have shown the character of the lens. It produces images where the color, rather than being clinical, yields a more "thoughtful" rendering. Pick your lens, pick your metaphor. But I quite like results of that lens under your hand.
So, yes, I was probably hasty in my initial reaction to the 2.8. Thank you for that learning opportunity.
Manual focus clutch on the 1.8, that is.
Thanks for watching! The 17mm f1.8 is, I am sure, a great lens. The color rendering may have something to do with the old EP1 I use the 17mm f2.8 on almost exclusively. I do like the 17mm f2.8 and love the images I get with the EP1/17mm f2.8 combo.
I agree with you, Don. The 17mm is my most used lens for everyday carry on either an e-p3 or OMD em1-1. The 45mm f1.8 is second favorite, followed by the panasonic 12-32. I have a few other manual focus and telephoto lenses, but those are my gotos. l love the size of the e-p3, even though it's only 12MP. That's good enough for most of what I do. Keep up the good video work!
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this lens, Dan. I'm in the market for a 17mm lens, and I had initially looked at this one for its size and price, but had dismissed it after reading reviews it wasn't sharp. I recently saw some photos from the lens on Flickr that looked great and were tack sharp, so I've been looking at this lens again.
I have the Olympus 45mm f1.8 and love it. I think you've helped me decide to give this lens a try. Appreciate your help!
I think you will like it. I certainly like the results from mine.
I have this lens on an E-PM1 that I always have with me. I do a lot of what I call "rural street" photography. I live in Arkansas, so not a lot of urban environments, but lots great small downtowns, and the combination of the Pen Mini and 17mm 2.8 really allows me to blend in better than an OMD camera with a larger lens. I would love to see OM Systems release updated versions of this lens and the Pen Mini.
I bet you get some great images with that combo! Updated versions of both would be awesome, but I don't think that is in the works. Thanks for watching and commenting!.
Love your shots 😊 I’ve got the 1.8 variety and love it. I carry my EM/5/2 and lens in my jacket pocket, so easy. Keep up the good work my friend.
Thank you, and thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video.
The last micro 4/3 lens I purchased was a refurbished 17mm f/2.8 because it cost me only $75 and I was able to use it as a backup to the 45/20/14 three-lens combo that I normally used.
Thank you for watching!
Love it. Keep thinking about buying the 1.8 but I rarely shoot wide open anyway. Good vid!
Thank you, and thanks for watching!
I'm considering buying this lens. I didn't know it could be used for macro too.
The 17mm f2.8 will get pretty close but it isn't a macro lens
Great video and images! It`s not about what you have, but how you use it!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks Don :) I just ordered mine for my Pen-F :)
I bet you will enjoy it! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hi Don…you have taken some lovely images with this lens
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Good review. I have just repurchased this lens having sold my original copy years back for the Panasonic 20mm 1.7. I always regretted it, as in spite of its modest parameters it had a wonderful rendering and colours. its sharp enough, the only optical issues really are a bit of chromatic aberration, edge softness and some distortion (corrected on jpegs), which can be expected given the pancake design and low element count (6 elements). The flip side to that is nice three dimensionality in images that you don't get in more modern lenses packed with glass elements. Maybe not a good choice for video given the noisy AF, but they are cheap and tiny, always in the bag and a nice alternative to using a zoom.
I agree completely! Thank you for watching!
Thanks for sharing.
Agree, freedom to carry around and enjoy photography. Well said.
Just bought a used EPL3 with kit zoom lense and this 17/2.8 pancake.
The 17mm f2.8 is a favorite of mine!
i use this very lens 80% of the time, it is compact and lovely
Very interesting. I've wanted a 35mm equiv. for my EM5, and this might be it. Another very inexpensive M43 lens I like to tout for wide angle to normal is the Lumix 12-32, ie 24-64. Fairly sharp. Very compact. I don't do street photography anymore, but it should be great for that. And I've had very nice results with it for my landscape work. You can easily find it for c. $130.
Thanks for watching! Sounds like a lens I may want to check out!
My first m43 lens...small and actually sharp....had the silver and now a black version ..focus is a little slow and loud but that's ok...😄😄😄
Which is the best lens for birds... Is tnere one that's not crazy expensive? I have two 40-150 lenses but they don't bring the bird "close."
To get close enough for birds you will need a 300 or 400 mm lens. Look at both Panasonic and Olympus. Seems like I remember Panasonic having an affordable 300 but 300 and 400 mm lenses are not inexpensive.
@@dongummphotography how does Panasonic compare to m.zuiko?
@@AriDimitris Panasonic lenses are excellent.
You had recommended a lens to snap on to the 60mm lens. I bought one but it doesn't fit on the 60mm.. What am I missing?
If the included adapter won't fit you may need to buy a set of step down rings from amazon. They are more stable and what most people use with the close up lens
@@dongummphotography in your video I think it snapped right onto your 60mm lens. Is there a different diopter lens you might recommend?
@@AriDimitris I primarily use it on a 40-150 zoom but I use the step down rings.
Here is an Amazon link for a 46mm to 43mm step down ring that should allow you to adapt the Raynox DCR-250 to your Olympus 60mm Macro lens. (the Raynox DCR-250 has 43mm threads and the 60mm macro has 46mm threads.
amzn.to/3wjFIKK
@@dongummphotography thanks.. What did it do on the 40-150? Will it increase the magnification of the birds?
Do you think I should stick with the Panasonic ,20mm 1.7 for the sake of 3 mm
If you already have the 20 I would just stick with that. It is a great lens!
Robert Wong likes this lens better than the f1.8version. Someone in the comments in his video said the f1.8 version over corrects three image by 5%. Robert Wong said the f2.8 renders images better.
I haven't owned the 1.8 but the 2.8 is very good in my opinion.
To be fair he is quite biased against the 1.8 version for reasons I don't manage to understand. The 1.8 is sharper, and has more character, especially wide open. The only drawbacks it has are the price and slightly bigger size. They suit different needs, and both are good lenses overall though
Hi mate can use this lens on Olympus EPL 5 camera?thanks
Yes you can. I used to use mine on an EPL5.
Wicked video man :)
Thank you and thanks for watching!
I am not a lens snob so I will not be taking a magnifying glass to the extreme corners. I have owned a few lens with really horrible corners but the 17 2.8 is not one of them. It’s corners might not match the center which is btw very sharp but they are decent enough not to be a distraction. A good lens for folks who appreciate a bargain and compact design.
I agree, thanks for watching!
I ended up getting the Sigma 19mm F2.8 instead of the Olympus simply because I got a killer deal on a used copy. That said, I agree with your experiences with the Olympus. Stopped down 1 or 2 stops, it is perfectly fine for street or general purpose photography.
I would love to hear about your experiences with the Sigma 19mm f2.8. Thanks for watching!
@@dongummphotography I've never owned the Olympus 17mm (any version) but I do own the Laowa 17mm F1.8. It's all manual and it's a great lens, especially considering the price. That said, I like the Sigma quite a bit. The 19mm focal length (38mm FF equivalent) is tighter but still great for street. My copy is sharp with good contrast and really is good value for money if you are looking for a slightly different FOV from the Olympus 17mm.
Is this the lens?
Olympus 17mm f/2.8 pancake micro four thirds lens
That sounds like it!
I am not so forgiving towards 17mm f/2.8 as you are. First of all, it's really small, attached to em-5 fits in a pocket. For me, it defines the m4/3 lens. But the sharpness is just not there, at least at 16mpix. Even at f/4, it is only slightly better and I expect the m4/3 lens to be sharp wide open. If an object fills the frame, it can be OK, but distant or small objects, even groups of people, look not only soft, but simply bad due to the chromatic aberrations being out of control. AF is also from a previous era, faster than the Lumix 20mm, but still bad. It's a real shame that Olympus didn't update that model. They would find a customer in me.
Thanks for watching! I am sure Olympus felt that the 17mm f1.8 would satisfy most needs and they looked at the 2.8 version as a kit lens. I agree though that they should have improved or updated it.
The Pany 20MM. F1.7 is a better len,s at the same price point. Faster aperture, compact and sharp. Yep, the F1.8 Oly matches it at greater cost, Unless you are Oly only, no contest with the Pany Don.
Thank you for watching! I have the Pany 20mm f1.7 as well. Love that lens but it just seems out of place on my EP1. It lives, instead, on my EP5. A great combo!
@@dongummphotography Thank you for the reply Don. I have the EP5, superb camera with the Pany 20 MM superglued to it !!