Don't forget to check out a few recent videos I have made about other amazing Olympus lenses: M.Zuiko 12-100mm F4 PRO - ruclips.net/video/A7wPSN1x3kY/видео.html M.Zuiko 25mm F1.2 PRO vs F1.8 - ruclips.net/video/HAW-rR94gFc/видео.html M.Zuiko 12mm F2 - ruclips.net/video/Imzn_kS657Q/видео.html M.Zuiko 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 - ruclips.net/video/QumqmhJIrYc/видео.html Kit lens 14-42mm EZ - ruclips.net/video/-m_8IwR4oFo/видео.html
Really enjoy your videos! I would like to hear your comments about the 2 Olympus macro lenses and why you would choose one over the other. Maybe you already have and I haven't found it?
I have all three of these. I like them all. As you say each have their own purpose. I love their small size and I have enhanced carrying them by glueing to Olympus rear caps back to back so two lenses become a single unit for ease of portability and ease of changing lenses. My 17 and my 25 live together in the bag. My 45 and my 60 Macro are also joined together by the double rear caps.
@@robinwong Actually, after being happy with the glued together caps, I actually found double rear lens caps from B&H in New York and am expecting them to arrive soon. I got the idea years ago from Leica who offered these for both the M and R Mount Leica lenses.
@@robinwong Actually, just so you know I work for a Group of Camera Stores in Vancouver, Canada. We have seven Stores through Vancouver and are the largest retail Camera Store Group in Western Canada. The Company is Kerrisdale Cameras. I began working there, straight out of School in 1968. I was 18 and this July will turn 70! So I sold "em all, from Leica M3's to Olympus Pen Half Frame to Hasselblad..... you name it, I sold it! Here in Vancouver it's amazing how the younger crowd are moving back to film cameras. It brings back great memories as I teach these young folk how to use them.
I just got olympus 25mm 1.8 in yesterday and im already in love its so sharp and compact. I'm really thinking about getting the olympus 45mm 1.8 next for when I want to shoot portraits.
Thank you for the very practical explanation of the different uses of these lessons. I bought the 17mm when I bought my camera last winter, a real pandemic purchase to give me something more to do with my time . I can see how each lens suits a different subject. I am still having fun with my 17 mm
Great video as always. I must be the luckiest one to own all of the lenses. 12mm, 17mm, 25mm, 45mm, and the 75mm. All are excellent and all have their use. My. Favourite is the 12mm for vlogging and the 75mm for portraits.
Robin, you have made another excellent video! Your honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each lens is very much appreciated. I'm grateful for your insights and look forward to continuing to learn from your experience. Un abrazo from Havana, Cuba!
The 45mm was my first m43 lens. Love it. I used it for a long time with the macro converter which makes it a far more versatile lens. I don't have the 17mm. I do have the Panasonic 25mm F1.7, I use that a lot, 25mm works in most situations.
This video was exceptionally helpful for me. In one video you explained differences, how photos will look in real life situations. And also when possibly use each of them. Helped alot to decide where to go from here.
Great vid Robin! Of course the answer depends on what you shoot, as you said at the end. I have the 17, 45, and 75 1.8, along with the Panasonic-Leica 25 1.4. For me, if i could only have one, it would be the 17 1.8. I could probably travel with just this lens, but I usually pack it and the Oly 12-40 2.8.
I have all three of these lenses and they are all fantastic. The 17mm is by far my favorite and is almost always the one on my PenF. After watching this video though I think I will put the 25mm on and give that a whirl.
Excelent video! I wish it had been available before I bought my prime lens. I bought the 17mm 1.8, and I don't regret buying it, because I like fitting many things in my pictures, instead of focusing on very specific objects. But I bought it not because of this, but because there was a good second hand offer on this lens. So I accidentally made the right choice for my style. This video highlights the goods and the bads of each lens, and what is each lens appropriate for. Very useful for those looking for their prime lens. Thanks!
The first prime I bought was the 45mm but it wasn't long before I added the 25mm which sits 75% of the time on my camera. Have to agree about the working distance of the 45mm. Nearly fell off a mountain taking pictures of my family 😉. You didn't mention the 30mm macro though. I have one and find it really cool when visiting Gartens in the summer. It gives a nice perspective and I can zoom in for macro shots without having to change lenses.
Oh we will talk about the 30mm separately. It is a macro lens, and it does not have F1.8 like the other three lenses in this video, so the 30mm does not quite fit into this discussion.
Nice pix! What to do? Pen-f + lens= I grind on the choices! You should add the 75mm f1.8 to this mix! I am just now trying it (from LensRental) and love it! Compact, fast, isolates a subject brilliantly! Now my 45mm & 25mm are wides! Lol! All good lenses- I really love the Pen-f and lens options! Your message & photos resonate with me! Thanks! 😊
As I mentioned 75mm is too long and has become a speciaalized lens. Comparing 3 lenses is difficult enough for one video. The 75mm will get it's own video soon.
I owned the 17mm f1.8, and enjoyed it when doing street photography. I particularly liked the manual focus clutch with a depth of field scale, which allowed me to easily "zone focus" to get shots more quickly and covertly. I also had the 45mm f1.8 briefly as a portrait lens, and it worked fine. But then I got a great deal on a second hand 12-40 f2.8 Pro zoom, and it has been living on my camera ever since. I do 95% of my shooting with it. For what I do, I see very little difference between the f1.8 maximum aperture of the primes and my 2.8 zoom, but I know others may feel differently. And I love the build quality, weather sealing, and manual focus clutch of the Pro zoom. I eventually sold the two primes because I wasn't using them much. I do have two EM-1 bodies, and am thinking about getting one of the primes again to stay on the second body as a small, light, "grab and go" camera. Not sure whether it will be the 17mm again, or a 25mm. On the used market the 17mm seems to be about twice the price of the 25mm, although neither one is all that expensive. I'll shoot with the zoom for a bit and then look at which focal length I use more to decide.
Hello Robin thanks for your great video. I own all the three lenses and I’m saving money to buy the 12mm f2.0 The lens I most frequently use is the 17mm because I love street photography. Greetings from Sicily Marco
I have 2 primes - 25mm & 42.5, the 25mm is my fav. Most of the great iconic photographs taken by legendary photographers from the 19th century to the 60s where taken with "normal" lens. It's so versatile, it give me the most "normal" results. Too wide or too tele draws attention away from the subject and to the lens. If I can't do it with these 2 lenses I'm not interested.
I say you need to have all three if you use prime lenses. I sure do! I'm old and when I was coming up, zoom lenses were unsuitable and had low contrast. Then after you get all three, you get the 75mm f/1.8 and the 12mm f/2. The last part took me a few years. I don't think I have a desire for the f/1.2 versions of the trinity as long as I have to buy them myself!
Great review of there great prime lenses. You had some great photos showing what these lenses can produce. I own all 3 of these lenses. The 17/1.8 and the 45/1.8 gets used more than the 25/1.8. I really should use the 25/1.8 more. Happy Holidays and wishing you a great 2020.
Best- and quickest answer is to this dilemma - ALL of them! Each of those has it's own purpose and advantages in different situations! I've got them all and most delighted with them in various situations! Please keep in mind, in case you have not started Photographing decades ago like I have, what the weight of equipment back in the day used to be! My 645 Pentax medium format - one lens weighted more than all Trinity described here so people, quit asking WRONG questions!
I have all three of these prime lenses. Of course, each has its purpose but I was shooting in the 80's so the 25mm (50mm FF) is what I usually use. As usual Robin, great video!
@@ismailmanssouri1687 I don't vlog. I guess that depends on what field of view you want. You should try a zoom lens first and see where you usually have your zoom set when vlogging. Good luck!
Hi Robin I watched this video a couple years ago when I had the 17mm. A year ago I bought the 25mm and just recently I bought the 45. My go to lens is the 25mm but I love the 45 for blurry back ground and every now and then the 17 comes out. Thanks for the videos and sample images.
Thank you Mister Wong, I'm French and have some troubles to understand no French videos about photography. And you are the only one I can understand and follow in English without inconfort. I own the 45mm, and wonder if I will buy the 25mm or the 17mm and you gave me a good answer. Many thanks and congratulation for all your videos.
Hi Robin I bought the 45mm after watching a Rob Trek video and find it great for getting candid shots at family get togethers. Have you used any vintage lenses ? Although manual I have had some success with the old Olympus and Pentax primes. It’s usefull having image stabilisation in camera and focus peaking the omd e10 seems well suited to their use
I'm new to Olympus & the 45mm f1.8 was my first purchase (before camera!) as I wanted a lens for gig photography. So far, it seems a good choice for that purpose, as you now confirm. However, realistically, one other important factor in favour of this lens is how much cheaper the 45mm is. It's certainly massive value for money, especially on the used market (circa £100). Also, although not f1.8, I figured the basic zoom lenses are relatively brighter through the wider focal lengths anyway so I would see most benefit with a longer focal length prime. For my own style of shooting this has worked well for me so far.
Just stumbled on this video, so very late to this party, but the video is just exceptional, and thank you for making it. Straightforward, honest, and informative. I have all three lenses. I shot a 50mm FF= lens for many years in the film days, but if you asked me today, (now that I am using MFT) I would respond by telling you that I currently use the 17 and 45 most often. I rarely reach for the 25. If I want an intermediate lens between the two, it is more likely to be the Panasonic 20 (also a great lens). Don't get me wrong, both the Oly and Panny versions of the 25 are great lenses. But in the field, if I'm going to be using two primes, it's the 17 and 45; if only one, it's the 20. But certainly, each to his own.
Good video , very educational. I learned something. Your Malaysian, I was also just in Penang for six days in October. Love Malaysia especially Borneo . Great for photography, no place better . I have a 45 mm Olympus lens that I use with my gf5 and Gx9 . Great lens . I recall going in a camera store in KL opposit the Central Hotel where we stayed . Tioman island we intended to stay three night but ended up spending fifteen . Stunning.
Hi Robin, I Thanks for another great video! I agree with everything you shared about these 3 lenses. My first Olympus prime was the 25mm f1.8, and it is my favorite of these 3. I have found that the build quality and feel of the 17mm is significantly better than the 25mm and 45mm - which have a 'plasticky' feel to them. The 17mm feels like a 'pro' lens because of its alloy material and its manual focus 'clutch' ring. Also, I think that image quality varies among these 3 lenses. In my experience, the 45mm renders the sharpest images, followed closely behind by the 25mm. Maybe, perhaps I either acquired a 'faulty' 17mm f1.8, or that I became used to the sharpness of the 45 and 25, and thus expected similar sharpness out of the 17mm - (which I bought last) I found the 17mm to be the softest of the 3. The 17mm still renders superb, sharp images but it doesn't perform as good as its longer siblings. Am I wrong? (I know that you've worked with Olympus, and that you've worked extensively with these 3 lenses, so I'd appreciate hearing from you with regard to the 17mm f1.8 being the softest). Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words. I think the 3 lenses are very close when it comes to image quality, but the 45mm will give the "illusion"of being sharper being a telephoto lens, and everything is magnified! This is true when shooting people or distant subjects. Nonetheless the 17mm is my least favourite, nothing to do with the lens, just that I prefer to work with longer focal lengths for my own shooting.
Thank you for your work Mr. Wong. I have been pondering a few options with Olympus. Your example images, thorough explanations, and positive attitude have been most welcome. Cheers sir!
I own all the lenses you compared along with a basket of other olympus lenses. When shooting primes I like the 17mm and 45mm combo for the interesting changes in perspective. I was concerned about using the 17mm to shoot people but used it with a flash at a crowded event in a small room with good results. Your video has motivated me to dust off the the 25mm and try it again especially for portraits.
I have the 17mm and the 45mm. I have never used the 25mm. Instead of the Olympus 17mm, I prefer the image quality of the 20mm f/1.8 Panasonic, I really like the 45mm f/1.8. It is a great head & shoulder portrait lens. The 14mm f/2.5 is the third lens in my 3-lens micro 4/3 prime kit (14/20/45). The 14mm is a great landscape lens.
I love the 45mm. I bought it for my Inspire 2 a couple of years ago. I recently bought the M1X. I have to say it does look a little funny on that camera but works pretty good for video.
Distilled the differences among the lenses so choosing is easy. Thanks Robin. The more I watch your videos the greater my appreciation of your abilities as a communicator and photographer. Wishing you a happy healthy 2020.
This is really easy, I don't need to watch: All 3!!! ;-) On a more serious note: I have them all three, and I could not decide which one I would keep if I would be only allowed to have one of them. Most likely the 17mm, because it is such a nice and small lens. Combined with a good zoom lens (not the 14-42 kit lens, though) it could be a perfect set. A fine combination for nearly every kind of subject could be the 17mm F1.8, 30mm F3.5 Macro (instead of the 60mm macro) and the 45mm F1.8. And they are quite affordable. Put the 12mm F2 into the mix, and you are above the price of the 12-42mm F2.8 Pro - but with better low-light performance "at the ends" (and with the macro lens you can do subjects that are "out of reach" for the 12-42 Pro). But you have a valid case for the 25mm F1.8 - a good performer, even though a bit too high of a price!
To me the advantages of F1.8 is worth paying for the money. You get more than 1 stop advantage of EV and that means you can get away with lower ISO in low light shooting.
An interesting and informative video, Robin. I have all three primes (as well as the 60mm f2.8 macro and my wife bought me the 75mm f1.8 as a Christmas present). Of the three you reviewed in this video, my go to lens is the 17mm - I simply find it the most versatile of the three. Sometimes when I go out for a photowalk (as I do at least once every day and always with my two mini schnauzers), I take my Pen-F and one prime. I find it forces me to work harder in my search for a subject and keeps the walk interesting.
I just bought my first prime lens 45mm, it came in a kit of 3 lens and because I use my telephoto lens a lot If I was to get another prime lens it would either be the 12mm or maybe the 75mm
My most used lens is the first one I purchased s/h used the M.Zuiko 17mm f2.8 much maligned by many Olympus users though I’m not really sure why it’s a fabulous pancake lens that allows my camera body to fit in my pocket. And it was because of the image quality I went on to purchase 17mm 25mm 45mm 75mm all f1.8s along with the 30 & 60mm macros and I have now completed my primes with the 12mm f2.0. And all packed into a bag they weigh less then any of my other systems.
Either 17mm / 45mm duet or the 25mm / 75mm duet. I agree with the working distance when working with the 45mm / 75mm. In addition, balancing on non-OMD bodies is difficult.
I don't think there is any issue for handling and balance with PEN cameras using any Olympus primes. Unless you are talking about 300mm, then it is a different story.
Happy New Year Robin, may 2020 be a wonderful year for you in your personal and professional life. When I first became serious about photography way back in 1975, I bought an Olympus OM1 and it came with a 50mm f 1.4 lens. After the Digital era I stuck with Olympus and bought the E-520. Later when the mirrorless era was upon us I got the E-PL1 and the kit lens. When I needed a prime lens naturally I got the 25mm f 1 8, since then I added the 45mm f.1.8 and the 17 mm f 1.8. When the OMD series were introduced I bought the OMD EM-5 and then the Mark 2. Later I got the Pen F which is my favourite camera at the moment,(On the 30th of December I bought the E-M 5 Mark III with the kit lens 14-150mm as a new year present to myself, but I have yet to use them) I found myself using the 17mm more and more for street photography as I tend to shoot in old cities with narrow streets and sometimes there is not enough space to step back when I want to shoot an interesting subject. I tend to use the 45mm for portraits indoors or outdoors and alas the 25mm is staying in my bag. Thank you for your illuminating video now you have inspired me to go back to the 25mm 1.8 in together with my new Mark III. I learn a lot from you and always look forward to your latest videos 😊
I find Olympus 45 mm 1.8 lens to be my favourite from all my Olympus and Nikon lens lineup. For color rendering, sharpness, size/weight and price it is an absolute masterpiece in the world of lenses. What about 17 mm - strangely it did not impress me in terms of image quality, although I love this focal length. In my hands it gave images not distinguishable from the kit zoom.
I've been shooting M4/3 since 2010 but never got around to getting the 45mm (still my only Oly prime) until last year. Wish I had taken the dip sooner. As you said, the 45mm is great for isolation and is so tiny and easy to carry around. I usually have an Oly 12-40mm or Pany 10-25mm on my camera and the 45mm is my +1 lens.
I have the holy trinity, with the 25 mm F/1.7 Panasonic instead of the oly, it came "free" with the GX8 house. The 45 was the first add-on lens I bought when I came into the M43 mulitiverse, due to it being hyped as much as it was back then, to give a bit more reach over the kit 12-32 that came with the GX7, and the 17mm came a year later. The one I have used most is the 17mm, dont know why, but I am somewhat bored of the "nifty fifty", probably from running that quite a lot when I came into photography back in the film days, I then ran a 28mm which had just come into fashion then, 50mm and a 135, so the 17mm angle of view is somewhat fresh to me. I ran with that solo for 10 months or so and find it to be very, very nice to the tune of I am quite happily popping it on the GX8 with a fresh battery in and that what I need for a day of shooting a bit of this and that. For tasks, I must admit to preferring zooms, but the simplicity of a single camera/lens combo is rather nice and unobtrusive.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the prime lenses. I was partially responsible for the initial hype of the Olympus 45mm lens, and I think that lens deserves every hype! Glad that you are shooting long term with just the 17mm, I think that is the way to go, more focused on just the images instead of worrying about focal length choices.
I don't have the 17mm but I have 15 and 20mm, and have the other two focal lengths (42.5 Panasonic 1.7 and 25 f1.4). Personally I'd rather have all the focal lengths you will use and pick the one you need when you need it, rather than trying to push one lens as a do it all lens. Just like a contractor has many tools and chooses the one that's right for the job.
The 30mm f3.5 may be another consideration in that as a walk-about lens, you have a little more range than the 25mm, a low price of $225 or less, and macro on hand, should you find a flower to photograph while walking the street.... Just a thought. -Loren
I have and love the 25mm. Thanks so much for this great review and saving me a few $$'s. If I go wide, I'll probably get the 12mm f2.0 instead of the 17mm for landscapes. The amazing 45 though is on my want list.
The neat things about primes is they force you to not be lazy. I have too many pictures where I forgot what zoom my 12-40 was on so the full body portraits looks fine but the background got warped. Have the 45pro, thinking of putting the 17 on the wish list for 2/3 to 1/1 portraits and groups.
Primes .. oh my, i have 7.5*, 17, 25*, 45, 50* (* manual) .. and the 12-40 that almost does it all. With 2 bodies I usually have one wide and one long prime on and then it depends on the mood, if I'll shoot at night i take my 25/0.95 , for an easy walking around the 17 and 45. The 50 is mostly for fun right now, it's kinda heavy and a pain to focus... also 25 works well enough for portraits. The 7.5 is small enough to always be there if needed.
Hi Robin, If you had to carry just one fast prime for indoor use to photograph, lets say; people in restaurants, or churches, or indoor weddings, or parties, etc., what focal length would you pick?
Hi Robin, love your channel and your photos inspire me to get the best out of my recently purchased em5 mkii. Some questions to try and get sharper photos: 1) Can you suggest aperture sweet spot where 17,25,45mm primes will be sharpest? 2) Sweet spot range (aperture and focal distance) where 14-42 & 40-150 kit zoom lenses will be sharpest 3) I've been using 2sek silent shutter to save shutter life (daytime sunny and cloudy conditions), will anti shock mode give sharper images? 4) I find very slight noise at ISO 200 in some mild shadows and sky (daytime cloudy shooting), I think even slight noise reduction in LR may soften images? Thanks Robin! You're a star :) Keep well!
I love the 17mm and the 25mm, and I have them both. The 17mm lens is extremely well made and the image quality is superb. I love it the most. But it is a harder lens to use, especially for beginners. You must take more care to the composition, because you have more things in background. Also the 25 it is a super sharp lens, and the focal range it's also beautiful, better for portraits, with a little more compressed background. I only use these two lenses on my M5 Mark II now, even for travel, when I carry around only the 17mm 1.8 most of the time.
Hi. Great camera. Great Videos. You convinced me to buy. My kit choices that are offered in my country are the body plus 12-45 F4 pro or body plus 14-150 F4-5.6ii... I am happy to buy another lens affitionally but which kit is best in your opinion. Both cost the same. Thank you for your time.
I bought the 45mm because I intended to take more portraits, however that's not been the case much. If I go to a music event in low light though it's my choice. I dont have the other two primes, but after your information the 25 is looking appealing 😊 Do you have anything on the 60mm macro by chance as I'd like to be using it better. Thanks for all your great information and presentation 👍🏻
Hello. Great pedagogic video, thanks. Zooms are more useful, when ligth exists. If not a 1.8 or 1.7 is much better even than a 2.8 fix lengh. So it s a question of use. For travelling without too much weight i take a 12/60 2.8/4 or simply 17mm 1.8. If i m courageous i bring my 12/100 f4 OMD1 only, with great stabilization, but much heavier. Its very important to think about the use before leaving house - ) Thanks again
Thanks for posting this! I've been debating between the 25 & 45 for awhile. I'm a newbie and have been using the 17mm on my olympus pen-f but want to branch out now and do some more portrait shots. Definitely though, the 17mm has been my best friend on my travels.
Happy Christmas Robin and best wishes for the New Year. BTW this video was highly influential in my decision some months ago to purchase the 17 & 25mm (already had the 45) 2nd hand, as light weight & low light alternatives to my Pana Leica 12-60 f2.8-4 lens. Rich
Great video and some nice images. A difficult choice for photographers looking for one lens, I'd buy all three because they're inexpensive, small and nicely made.
Dear Robin, what a detail sharing your preference regarding these 3 lenses, I love this video very much. Furthermore, will you produce another video to share multiple exposure techniques and if you had any experiences with it. Thanks.
I started with the 17 as a wide and FAST companion to my travel lens (either P-Lumix 12-60 or Olympus 14-150). My logic was, if it was dim, I was probably indoors where I did not have much space. So the wider 17 made more sense to me than the normal 25. I have since gotten the 45, to duplicate the old 35mm film pair 35 + 105. I am now looking at the 25/1.8 or 20/1.4 for shooting gym sports (basketball and volleyball). The gym is dim, and I've given up trying to use a zoom.
Thank you for doing all these reviews.. I have an EM-1 mark 1. I carry over a couple MFT from Lumix system: 20mm, 12mm. I have the Olympus 75mm and 12-40mm pro. Now just need a proper 1:1 lens. Thinking maybe 25mm.
Great video. I missed the 17mm f1.8 as I started with the 17mm f2.8 for travel. No one seems to remember that one. I would still like to see a video on the high-res mode in the OM-D series. I have yet to get good quality images from mine.
Thanks. I personally don't use high res mode for my own photography, the 20MP is plenty to go around for the things I shoot. I shall see what I can do.
I don 't own the oly 17mm f2.8 but saw in a lot of reviews and sites that it was not the sharpest lens and the newer oly 17mm f1.8 is way better and sharper lens. Still with any lens, with a capable photographer anything is possible and good images can still be taken.
if you`re using a (D)SLR a prime lense with a starting aperture 1.4 or 1.8 makes the viewfinder much brighter under bad light conditions no matter which aperture you use to shoot the photo in the end
I Disagree about the dining table - I've shot great images at the dining table with 45 and 17 f1.8 Zuikos. One-person with the 45 - just right - it's a little gem! My 1.2 should arrive tomorrow ... I already upgraded to the 17 1.2 - it's beautiful :) With those two focal lengths you won't NEED a 25 and the 1.8s fit in a pocket easily :)
Thanks Robin for the great information from your experience. Totally agree & totally enjoyed the photos! I have the three but the 25mm I have is the Panaleica f1.4 that I got at a discount price. A lovely lens! One day I'll get the Oly 25 f1.2 (for the weather sealing mainly:) Regards from Barcelona Spain.
I got a good copy of a zuiko 17mm. It can get up close and resolve a nice amount of detail. Unfortunately it wasn't weather sealed. My EM5 mki body survived flooding but the lens didn't.
Im lucky to owned all three lenses in my journey of MFT photography. However, as my photography hobby grow deep i eventually ditched all of them in favor of high tier gears of equivalennce , like the 16mm F1.4, 25mm F1.4 and 45mm F.2.8 Marco. They are still decent cheap and easy to carry around, except the sigma 16mm.
It’s funny because on the canon generally encourages the 50mm which is an 80mm on APSC. Or an 85mm on a full frame. I actually prefer the 90mm focal range of the 45mm. It’s a little bit more dramatic and most people using MFT use it as a standard lens (switching from Canon)
Great video clip with useful information Robin. Interestingly I do not have a 25mm prime lens but do own a 15mm, 42.5mm and 60mm macro with an 8mm fisheye on order. Guess I must be different and rather an odd ball with my photography and video ha ha !! Keep on posting 😊😊.
![Olympus 17mm, 25mm and 45mm F1.8 - [Which One?]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DfwnhP0szOo/mqdefault.jpg)
![Olympus 17mm vs. 25mm - [Which One Is A Better Travel Lens?]](/img/1.gif)
Don't forget to check out a few recent videos I have made about other amazing Olympus lenses:
M.Zuiko 12-100mm F4 PRO - ruclips.net/video/A7wPSN1x3kY/видео.html
M.Zuiko 25mm F1.2 PRO vs F1.8 - ruclips.net/video/HAW-rR94gFc/видео.html
M.Zuiko 12mm F2 - ruclips.net/video/Imzn_kS657Q/видео.html
M.Zuiko 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 - ruclips.net/video/QumqmhJIrYc/видео.html
Kit lens 14-42mm EZ - ruclips.net/video/-m_8IwR4oFo/видео.html
Really enjoy your videos! I would like to hear your comments about the 2 Olympus macro lenses and why you would choose one over the other. Maybe you already have and I haven't found it?
I am new to photography & I'm learning so much from Robin Wong. Thank you Robin!
I have all three of these. I like them all. As you say each have their own purpose. I love their small size and I have enhanced carrying them by glueing to Olympus rear caps back to back so two lenses become a single unit for ease of portability and ease of changing lenses. My 17 and my 25 live together in the bag. My 45 and my 60 Macro are also joined together by the double rear caps.
That is something that I have not heard before! Glueing the rear caps together. Interesting, thanks for sharing.
Never heard anybody ever did this.Interesting.
@@robinwong Actually, after being happy with the glued together caps, I actually found double rear lens caps from B&H in New York and am expecting them to arrive soon. I got the idea years ago from Leica who offered these for both the M and R Mount Leica lenses.
@@robinwong Actually, just so you know I work for a Group of Camera Stores in Vancouver, Canada. We have seven Stores through Vancouver and are the largest retail Camera Store Group in Western Canada. The Company is Kerrisdale Cameras. I began working there, straight out of School in 1968. I was 18 and this July will turn 70! So I sold "em all, from Leica M3's to Olympus Pen Half Frame to Hasselblad..... you name it, I sold it! Here in Vancouver it's amazing how the younger crowd are moving back to film cameras. It brings back great memories as I teach these young folk how to use them.
I just got olympus 25mm 1.8 in yesterday and im already in love its so sharp and compact. I'm really thinking about getting the olympus 45mm 1.8 next for when I want to shoot portraits.
I love the 45mm prime, it's a work of art!
Thank you for the very practical explanation of the different uses of these lessons. I bought the 17mm when I bought my camera last winter, a real pandemic purchase to give me something more to do with my time . I can see how each lens suits a different subject. I am still having fun with my 17 mm
Great video as always. I must be the luckiest one to own all of the lenses. 12mm, 17mm, 25mm, 45mm, and the 75mm. All are excellent and all have their use. My. Favourite is the 12mm for vlogging and the 75mm for portraits.
Which one is the most versatile?
Have all except 12mm. I'm going to get the 8-25mmbpro
@@silvina6765 25 mm I reckon
Robin, you have made another excellent video! Your honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each lens is very much appreciated. I'm grateful for your insights and look forward to continuing to learn from your experience. Un abrazo from Havana, Cuba!
Thanks, glad I could share something helpful!
I have to say I agree, but my favorite would be the 17mm, but you knew that already😀 Good advice nevertheless.
I thought you will say the 15mm F1.7 Pana Leica! That is one gorgeous lens.
Vote +1
@@robinwong I was only talking about the lenses, or focal lengths, you mentioned. The 15mm is one great lens.
Agreed, BUT the lens flare on night street photography is hideous!... Day only use for me...
The 45mm was my first m43 lens. Love it. I used it for a long time with the macro converter which makes it a far more versatile lens. I don't have the 17mm. I do have the Panasonic 25mm F1.7, I use that a lot, 25mm works in most situations.
45mm is an incredible lens, though I don't use it as much as 25mm, the images that 45mm makes are always keepers.
I love my Olympus 25mm f/1.8 almost as much as I love your videos. Well done, Robin!
This video was exceptionally helpful for me. In one video you explained differences, how photos will look in real life situations. And also when possibly use each of them. Helped alot to decide where to go from here.
Great vid Robin! Of course the answer depends on what you shoot, as you said at the end. I have the 17, 45, and 75 1.8, along with the Panasonic-Leica 25 1.4. For me, if i could only have one, it would be the 17 1.8. I could probably travel with just this lens, but I usually pack it and the Oly 12-40 2.8.
The 17mm makes a great companion for 12-40mm lens!
I have all three of these lenses and they are all fantastic. The 17mm is by far my favorite and is almost always the one on my PenF. After watching this video though I think I will put the 25mm on and give that a whirl.
The 17mm looks so good on the PEN-F! Do give the 25mm a chance, it is a wonderful lens
Excelent video! I wish it had been available before I bought my prime lens. I bought the 17mm 1.8, and I don't regret buying it, because I like fitting many things in my pictures, instead of focusing on very specific objects. But I bought it not because of this, but because there was a good second hand offer on this lens. So I accidentally made the right choice for my style. This video highlights the goods and the bads of each lens, and what is each lens appropriate for. Very useful for those looking for their prime lens. Thanks!
Thanks, and glad you have the 17mm, it is a little gem! Keep shooting
3 small lenses that offer fantastic quality. Switching to Olympus was my best decision in photography ever.
Glad you have made the switch!
The first prime I bought was the 45mm but it wasn't long before I added the 25mm which sits 75% of the time on my camera. Have to agree about the working distance of the 45mm. Nearly fell off a mountain taking pictures of my family 😉. You didn't mention the 30mm macro though. I have one and find it really cool when visiting Gartens in the summer. It gives a nice perspective and I can zoom in for macro shots without having to change lenses.
Oh we will talk about the 30mm separately. It is a macro lens, and it does not have F1.8 like the other three lenses in this video, so the 30mm does not quite fit into this discussion.
Nice pix! What to do? Pen-f + lens= I grind on the choices! You should add the 75mm f1.8 to this mix! I am just now trying it (from LensRental) and love it! Compact, fast, isolates a subject brilliantly! Now my 45mm & 25mm are wides! Lol! All good lenses- I really love the Pen-f and lens options! Your message & photos resonate with me! Thanks! 😊
As I mentioned 75mm is too long and has become a speciaalized lens. Comparing 3 lenses is difficult enough for one video. The 75mm will get it's own video soon.
Own the 17mm and 45mm and love both. The 45mm is really sharp and i love it.
Glad you have them! 45mm is my favourite too
@Shoot To Save 75mm just to long so that i have no need for it and 12mm again to wide for me and a bit pricey but agree it excelent glass.
I owned the 17mm f1.8, and enjoyed it when doing street photography. I particularly liked the manual focus clutch with a depth of field scale, which allowed me to easily "zone focus" to get shots more quickly and covertly. I also had the 45mm f1.8 briefly as a portrait lens, and it worked fine. But then I got a great deal on a second hand 12-40 f2.8 Pro zoom, and it has been living on my camera ever since. I do 95% of my shooting with it. For what I do, I see very little difference between the f1.8 maximum aperture of the primes and my 2.8 zoom, but I know others may feel differently. And I love the build quality, weather sealing, and manual focus clutch of the Pro zoom. I eventually sold the two primes because I wasn't using them much.
I do have two EM-1 bodies, and am thinking about getting one of the primes again to stay on the second body as a small, light, "grab and go" camera. Not sure whether it will be the 17mm again, or a 25mm. On the used market the 17mm seems to be about twice the price of the 25mm, although neither one is all that expensive. I'll shoot with the zoom for a bit and then look at which focal length I use more to decide.
Hello Robin thanks for your great video. I own all the three lenses and I’m saving money to buy the 12mm f2.0
The lens I most frequently use is the 17mm because I love street photography.
Greetings from Sicily
Marco
Sounds about right, most people who love the 17mm are street photographers! Thanks and glad you liked the video.
@@robinwong What of face distortions? I guess your streets are also narrow and everything happens up close. I can see the use.
I have 2 primes - 25mm & 42.5, the 25mm is my fav. Most of the great iconic photographs taken by legendary photographers from the 19th century to the 60s where taken with "normal" lens. It's so versatile, it give me the most "normal" results. Too wide or too tele draws attention away from the subject and to the lens. If I can't do it with these 2 lenses I'm not interested.
My most used lenses are 25mm and 45mm! I think we can get along just fine.
I say you need to have all three if you use prime lenses. I sure do! I'm old and when I was coming up, zoom lenses were unsuitable and had low contrast. Then after you get all three, you get the 75mm f/1.8 and the 12mm f/2. The last part took me a few years. I don't think I have a desire for the f/1.2 versions of the trinity as long as I have to buy them myself!
The 75mm and 12mm are mroe specialized as they move toward the extremes of wide angle and telephoto. Not everyone needs 75mm in most situation.
This is exactly what I'm doing! I used to always use the 25mm, but the quality of the 45mm has made it take a special place in my heart
Great review of there great prime lenses. You had some great photos showing what these lenses can produce. I own all 3 of these lenses. The 17/1.8 and the 45/1.8 gets used more than the 25/1.8. I really should use the 25/1.8 more. Happy Holidays and wishing you a great 2020.
Glad to know you own all three too! Happy holidays to you too, and Happy New Year!
I've got only 25mm with my M10 M1 about 6 years. It's suitable for everything!
Best- and quickest answer is to this dilemma - ALL of them! Each of those has it's own purpose and advantages in different situations! I've got them all and most delighted with them in various situations! Please keep in mind, in case you have not started Photographing decades ago like I have, what the weight of equipment back in the day used to be! My 645 Pentax medium format - one lens weighted more than all Trinity described here so people, quit asking WRONG questions!
I have all three of these prime lenses. Of course, each has its purpose but I was shooting in the 80's so the 25mm (50mm FF) is what I usually use. As usual Robin, great video!
The 3 lenses can do a lot! Yes, the classical 50mm!
hello.wich one is top for vlogin,i have olympus pen e-p7.thnx lot
@@ismailmanssouri1687 I don't vlog. I guess that depends on what field of view you want. You should try a zoom lens first and see where you usually have your zoom set when vlogging. Good luck!
I have learned so much from you, as I just received my first Olympus camera! You’re such an inspiration and I love seeing life through your eyes!
Hi Robin I watched this video a couple years ago when I had the 17mm. A year ago I bought the 25mm and just recently I bought the 45. My go to lens is the 25mm but I love the 45 for blurry back ground and every now and then the 17 comes out. Thanks for the videos and sample images.
Thank you Mister Wong, I'm French and have some troubles to understand no French videos about photography. And you are the only one I can understand and follow in English without inconfort. I own the 45mm, and wonder if I will buy the 25mm or the 17mm and you gave me a good answer. Many thanks and congratulation for all your videos.
Hi Robin
I bought the 45mm after watching a Rob Trek video and find it great for getting candid shots at family get togethers.
Have you used any vintage lenses ? Although manual I have had some success with the old Olympus and Pentax primes. It’s usefull having image stabilisation in camera and focus peaking the omd e10 seems well suited to their use
Not a fan of manual focus. I need to be fast and I need my cameras and lenses to be reliable.
I'm new to Olympus & the 45mm f1.8 was my first purchase (before camera!) as I wanted a lens for gig photography. So far, it seems a good choice for that purpose, as you now confirm.
However, realistically, one other important factor in favour of this lens is how much cheaper the 45mm is. It's certainly massive value for money, especially on the used market (circa £100).
Also, although not f1.8, I figured the basic zoom lenses are relatively brighter through the wider focal lengths anyway so I would see most benefit with a longer focal length prime. For my own style of shooting this has worked well for me so far.
Agreed, the 45mm has a lot of bang for the buck, and is one stellar performer, it is the lens that produces fantastic results again and again!
@@robinwong And the kit 14-42mm Oly, and the 12-32mm Panny lens are sharp enough -- though a slow lens.
Robin, with your videos we certainly get value, you put a lot of work into them. Hats off and a useful vid here, thank you.
Just stumbled on this video, so very late to this party, but the video is just exceptional, and thank you for making it. Straightforward, honest, and informative. I have all three lenses. I shot a 50mm FF= lens for many years in the film days, but if you asked me today, (now that I am using MFT) I would respond by telling you that I currently use the 17 and 45 most often. I rarely reach for the 25. If I want an intermediate lens between the two, it is more likely to be the Panasonic 20 (also a great lens). Don't get me wrong, both the Oly and Panny versions of the 25 are great lenses. But in the field, if I'm going to be using two primes, it's the 17 and 45; if only one, it's the 20. But certainly, each to his own.
Good video , very educational. I learned something. Your Malaysian, I was also just in Penang for six days in October. Love Malaysia especially Borneo . Great for photography, no place better . I have a 45 mm Olympus lens that I use with my gf5 and Gx9 . Great lens . I recall going in a camera store in KL opposit the Central Hotel where we stayed . Tioman island we intended to stay three night but ended up spending fifteen . Stunning.
I just received my EM5II. Loving it. But the menu has so many options not so use to it.
Take your time. I have a cheat sheet video to help you set up the camera.
You got used to that quickly.
Hi Robin, I Thanks for another great video! I agree with everything you shared about these 3 lenses. My first Olympus prime was the 25mm f1.8, and it is my favorite of these 3. I have found that the build quality and feel of the 17mm is significantly better than the 25mm and 45mm - which have a 'plasticky' feel to them. The 17mm feels like a 'pro' lens because of its alloy material and its manual focus 'clutch' ring.
Also, I think that image quality varies among these 3 lenses. In my experience, the 45mm renders the sharpest images, followed closely behind by the 25mm. Maybe, perhaps I either acquired a 'faulty' 17mm f1.8, or that I became used to the sharpness of the 45 and 25, and thus expected similar sharpness out of the 17mm - (which I bought last) I found the 17mm to be the softest of the 3. The 17mm still renders superb, sharp images but it doesn't perform as good as its longer siblings. Am I wrong? (I know that you've worked with Olympus, and that you've worked extensively with these 3 lenses, so I'd appreciate hearing from you with regard to the 17mm f1.8 being the softest). Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words. I think the 3 lenses are very close when it comes to image quality, but the 45mm will give the "illusion"of being sharper being a telephoto lens, and everything is magnified! This is true when shooting people or distant subjects. Nonetheless the 17mm is my least favourite, nothing to do with the lens, just that I prefer to work with longer focal lengths for my own shooting.
I have all of 3 and my favorite 25 mm . it's not too narrow not too wide , its just perfect.
Thank you for your work Mr. Wong. I have been pondering a few options with Olympus. Your example images, thorough explanations, and positive attitude have been most welcome. Cheers sir!
I own all the lenses you compared along with a basket of other olympus lenses. When shooting primes I like the 17mm and 45mm combo for the interesting changes in perspective. I was concerned about using the 17mm to shoot people but used it with a flash at a crowded event in a small room with good results. Your video has motivated me to dust off the the 25mm and try it again especially for portraits.
Do use the 25mm more often, it is a great lens! You won't regret it.
Hi Robin, just purchased the 45mm. It is Magic. Reminds me of the crisp images i got on the classic analogue mjuII olympus...
I have the 17mm and the 45mm. I have never used the 25mm.
Instead of the Olympus 17mm, I prefer the image quality of the 20mm f/1.8 Panasonic,
I really like the 45mm f/1.8. It is a great head & shoulder portrait lens.
The 14mm f/2.5 is the third lens in my 3-lens micro 4/3 prime kit (14/20/45). The 14mm is a great landscape lens.
David Thorpe calls the Olympus 17mm and 45mm the “Batman and Robin” of MFT lenses... not sure which one is “Robin”. 😉
Your answer is at 14m10s: It's actually the 25mm ;-)
@@cmartin_ok so which one is batman
I love the 45mm. I bought it for my Inspire 2 a couple of years ago. I recently bought the M1X. I have to say it does look a little funny on that camera but works pretty good for video.
Distilled the differences among the lenses so choosing is easy. Thanks Robin. The more I watch your videos the greater my appreciation of your abilities as a communicator and photographer. Wishing you a happy healthy 2020.
Thanks for the kind words! Happy New Year to you too!
Great video. I'm new to photography but the images and explanation gave me a good idea what was going on with these lenses.
This is really easy, I don't need to watch: All 3!!! ;-) On a more serious note: I have them all three, and I could not decide which one I would keep if I would be only allowed to have one of them. Most likely the 17mm, because it is such a nice and small lens. Combined with a good zoom lens (not the 14-42 kit lens, though) it could be a perfect set. A fine combination for nearly every kind of subject could be the 17mm F1.8, 30mm F3.5 Macro (instead of the 60mm macro) and the 45mm F1.8. And they are quite affordable. Put the 12mm F2 into the mix, and you are above the price of the 12-42mm F2.8 Pro - but with better low-light performance "at the ends" (and with the macro lens you can do subjects that are "out of reach" for the 12-42 Pro). But you have a valid case for the 25mm F1.8 - a good performer, even though a bit too high of a price!
To me the advantages of F1.8 is worth paying for the money. You get more than 1 stop advantage of EV and that means you can get away with lower ISO in low light shooting.
An interesting and informative video, Robin.
I have all three primes (as well as the 60mm f2.8 macro and my wife bought me the 75mm f1.8 as a Christmas present). Of the three you reviewed in this video, my go to lens is the 17mm - I simply find it the most versatile of the three. Sometimes when I go out for a photowalk (as I do at least once every day and always with my two mini schnauzers), I take my Pen-F and one prime. I find it forces me to work harder in my search for a subject and keeps the walk interesting.
17mm is the classical (35mm equivalent) street photography lens, so you are definitely doing something right.
I love all these wonderful primes. Great video, and thanks for sharing.
I just bought my first prime lens 45mm, it came in a kit of 3 lens and because I use my telephoto lens a lot
If I was to get another prime lens it would either be the 12mm or maybe the 75mm
I wish I have all of them.... the reality is dinamic and so must be ours kits of lenses... nice video. tks...
My most used lens is the first one I purchased s/h used the M.Zuiko 17mm f2.8 much maligned by many Olympus users though I’m not really sure why it’s a fabulous pancake lens that allows my camera body to fit in my pocket.
And it was because of the image quality I went on to purchase 17mm 25mm 45mm 75mm all f1.8s along with the 30 & 60mm macros and I have now completed my primes with the 12mm f2.0.
And all packed into a bag they weigh less then any of my other systems.
Either 17mm / 45mm duet or the 25mm / 75mm duet.
I agree with the working distance when working with the 45mm / 75mm. In addition, balancing on non-OMD bodies is difficult.
I don't think there is any issue for handling and balance with PEN cameras using any Olympus primes. Unless you are talking about 300mm, then it is a different story.
Happy New Year Robin, may 2020 be a wonderful year for you in your personal and professional life.
When I first became serious about photography way back in 1975, I bought an Olympus OM1 and it came with a 50mm f 1.4 lens. After the Digital era I stuck with Olympus and bought the E-520. Later when the mirrorless era was upon us I got the E-PL1 and the kit lens. When I needed a prime lens naturally I got the 25mm f 1 8, since then I added the 45mm f.1.8 and the 17 mm f 1.8. When the OMD series were introduced I bought the OMD EM-5 and then the Mark 2. Later I got the Pen F which is my favourite camera at the moment,(On the 30th of December I bought the E-M 5 Mark III with the kit lens 14-150mm as a new year present to myself, but I have yet to use them) I found myself using the 17mm more and more for street photography as I tend to shoot in old cities with narrow streets and sometimes there is not enough space to step back when I want to shoot an interesting subject. I tend to use the 45mm for portraits indoors or outdoors and alas the 25mm is staying in my bag. Thank you for your illuminating video now you have inspired me to go back to the 25mm 1.8 in together with my new Mark III. I learn a lot from you and always look forward to your latest videos 😊
I find Olympus 45 mm 1.8 lens to be my favourite from all my Olympus and Nikon lens lineup. For color rendering, sharpness, size/weight and price it is an absolute masterpiece in the world of lenses. What about 17 mm - strangely it did not impress me in terms of image quality, although I love this focal length. In my hands it gave images not distinguishable from the kit zoom.
I've been shooting M4/3 since 2010 but never got around to getting the 45mm (still my only Oly prime) until last year. Wish I had taken the dip sooner. As you said, the 45mm is great for isolation and is so tiny and easy to carry around.
I usually have an Oly 12-40mm or Pany 10-25mm on my camera and the 45mm is my +1 lens.
Thank you so much for the informative videos! I just got into photography and you've been helping so much already!
I have the holy trinity, with the 25 mm F/1.7 Panasonic instead of the oly, it came "free" with the GX8 house. The 45 was the first add-on lens I bought when I came into the M43 mulitiverse, due to it being hyped as much as it was back then, to give a bit more reach over the kit 12-32 that came with the GX7, and the 17mm came a year later. The one I have used most is the 17mm, dont know why, but I am somewhat bored of the "nifty fifty", probably from running that quite a lot when I came into photography back in the film days, I then ran a 28mm which had just come into fashion then, 50mm and a 135, so the 17mm angle of view is somewhat fresh to me. I ran with that solo for 10 months or so and find it to be very, very nice to the tune of I am quite happily popping it on the GX8 with a fresh battery in and that what I need for a day of shooting a bit of this and that. For tasks, I must admit to preferring zooms, but the simplicity of a single camera/lens combo is rather nice and unobtrusive.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the prime lenses. I was partially responsible for the initial hype of the Olympus 45mm lens, and I think that lens deserves every hype! Glad that you are shooting long term with just the 17mm, I think that is the way to go, more focused on just the images instead of worrying about focal length choices.
I don't have the 17mm but I have 15 and 20mm, and have the other two focal lengths (42.5 Panasonic 1.7 and 25 f1.4). Personally I'd rather have all the focal lengths you will use and pick the one you need when you need it, rather than trying to push one lens as a do it all lens. Just like a contractor has many tools and chooses the one that's right for the job.
The 30mm f3.5 may be another consideration in that as a walk-about lens, you have a little more range than the 25mm, a low price of $225 or less, and macro on hand, should you find a flower to photograph while walking the street.... Just a thought. -Loren
Good video Robin.
I've got the 25 mm and 45 mm on order and I'll think about getting the 17mm.
Out of the 25 and 45 mm which one do you like the most?
@@dovahkiink.7870 I like them both but if I had to choose only one of them it would be the 25mm.
I have and love the 25mm. Thanks so much for this great review and saving me a few $$'s. If I go wide, I'll probably get the 12mm f2.0 instead of the 17mm for landscapes. The amazing 45 though is on my want list.
The neat things about primes is they force you to not be lazy.
I have too many pictures where I forgot what zoom my 12-40 was on so the full body portraits looks fine but the background got warped.
Have the 45pro, thinking of putting the 17 on the wish list for 2/3 to 1/1 portraits and groups.
Prime is the way to go!
Primes .. oh my, i have 7.5*, 17, 25*, 45, 50* (* manual) .. and the 12-40 that almost does it all. With 2 bodies I usually have one wide and one long prime on and then it depends on the mood, if I'll shoot at night i take my 25/0.95 , for an easy walking around the 17 and 45.
The 50 is mostly for fun right now, it's kinda heavy and a pain to focus... also 25 works well enough for portraits.
The 7.5 is small enough to always be there if needed.
Your photos are so bright and wonderful. Are they straight from camera or do you slightly edit them ?
They are all post-processed. I will do some post-processing video soon. Stay tuned.
if i can have only one of these lens it's definitely 17mm 1.8. Great walk around lens. Great review and very informative thanks!
thank for this video, now i know which one lens should i buy
Hi Robin, If you had to carry just one fast prime for indoor use to photograph, lets say; people in restaurants, or churches, or indoor weddings, or parties, etc., what focal length would you pick?
Very informative! Thanks a lot. I already have 55 mm should i get 25 mm? I usually shoot landscapes, portraits and just go on about my day.
Hi Robin, love your channel and your photos inspire me to get the best out of my recently purchased em5 mkii. Some questions to try and get sharper photos:
1) Can you suggest aperture sweet spot where 17,25,45mm primes will be sharpest?
2) Sweet spot range (aperture and focal distance) where 14-42 & 40-150 kit zoom lenses will be sharpest
3) I've been using 2sek silent shutter to save shutter life (daytime sunny and cloudy conditions), will anti shock mode give sharper images?
4) I find very slight noise at ISO 200 in some mild shadows and sky (daytime cloudy shooting), I think even slight noise reduction in LR may soften images?
Thanks Robin! You're a star :) Keep well!
Great Video, Robin. I have the 25mm and i am absolutly happy. Fits for almost anything😊
I love the 17mm and the 25mm, and I have them both. The 17mm lens is extremely well made and the image quality is superb. I love it the most. But it is a harder lens to use, especially for beginners. You must take more care to the composition, because you have more things in background. Also the 25 it is a super sharp lens, and the focal range it's also beautiful, better for portraits, with a little more compressed background. I only use these two lenses on my M5 Mark II now, even for travel, when I carry around only the 17mm 1.8 most of the time.
I decided to buy all three of them plus the 40-150
Hi. Great camera. Great Videos. You convinced me to buy. My kit choices that are offered in my country are the body plus 12-45 F4 pro or body plus 14-150 F4-5.6ii... I am happy to buy another lens affitionally but which kit is best in your opinion. Both cost the same. Thank you for your time.
I bought the 45mm because I intended to take more portraits, however that's not been the case much. If I go to a music event in low light though it's my choice. I dont have the other two primes, but after your information the 25 is looking appealing 😊 Do you have anything on the 60mm macro by chance as I'd like to be using it better. Thanks for all your great information and presentation 👍🏻
Olympus 60mm macro video will be out next week. Stay tuned.
@@robinwong Now I have a wide angle smile, thank you!
@@robinwong can't wait your next video about the 60mm lens because I love to shot macro photography. 😉
Hello. Great pedagogic video, thanks. Zooms are more useful, when ligth exists. If not a 1.8 or 1.7 is much better even than a 2.8 fix lengh. So it s a question of use. For travelling without too much weight i take a 12/60 2.8/4 or simply 17mm 1.8. If i m courageous i bring my 12/100 f4 OMD1 only, with great stabilization, but much heavier. Its very important to think about the use before leaving house - ) Thanks again
This is lovely. Thank you for your teaching about focal length and what these lenses are for. Oh yes, i am looking at Sigma 56mm mft for my GH5ii.
Well said, all good but I love the 25mm
Thanks for posting this! I've been debating between the 25 & 45 for awhile. I'm a newbie and have been using the 17mm on my olympus pen-f but want to branch out now and do some more portrait shots. Definitely though, the 17mm has been my best friend on my travels.
similar thoughts, 25mm all day everyday anyday.
Likewise
Happy Christmas Robin and best wishes for the New Year. BTW this video was highly influential in my decision some months ago to purchase the 17 & 25mm (already had the 45) 2nd hand, as light weight & low light alternatives to my Pana Leica 12-60 f2.8-4 lens. Rich
I got 17mm for street photography and 45 and 75mm 1.8 for portraits
Perfect!
Well done, Robin. I enjoy your enthusiasm and i am learning a lot from you. Thank you for sharing.
Great video and some nice images. A difficult choice for photographers looking for one lens, I'd buy all three because they're inexpensive, small and nicely made.
Get the one that you need first, then the rest later!
Dear Robin, what a detail sharing your preference regarding these 3 lenses, I love this video very much. Furthermore, will you produce another video to share multiple exposure techniques and if you had any experiences with it.
Thanks.
I have all three of them ☺️. And I will buy 60 mm too. It does make sense.
I kinda like photos from the lens you already let go of.
Thanks!
I started with the 17 as a wide and FAST companion to my travel lens (either P-Lumix 12-60 or Olympus 14-150). My logic was, if it was dim, I was probably indoors where I did not have much space. So the wider 17 made more sense to me than the normal 25.
I have since gotten the 45, to duplicate the old 35mm film pair 35 + 105.
I am now looking at the 25/1.8 or 20/1.4 for shooting gym sports (basketball and volleyball). The gym is dim, and I've given up trying to use a zoom.
Thank you for doing all these reviews.. I have an EM-1 mark 1. I carry over a couple MFT from Lumix system: 20mm, 12mm. I have the Olympus 75mm and 12-40mm pro. Now just need a proper 1:1 lens. Thinking maybe 25mm.
Great video. I missed the 17mm f1.8 as I started with the 17mm f2.8 for travel. No one seems to remember that one. I would still like to see a video on the high-res mode in the OM-D series. I have yet to get good quality images from mine.
Thanks. I personally don't use high res mode for my own photography, the 20MP is plenty to go around for the things I shoot. I shall see what I can do.
I don 't own the oly 17mm f2.8 but saw in a lot of reviews and sites that it was not the sharpest lens and the newer oly 17mm f1.8 is way better and sharper lens. Still with any lens, with a capable photographer anything is possible and good images can still be taken.
@@leonfourie5717 No doubt the 17mm f1.8 is the sharper lens. the f2.8 is way smaller and very easy to carry. Especially on the PEN series bodies.
Love your explanations and energy, keep it up.
Don't forget the 12mm f2. And also using the 60mm macro as a short telephoto.
if you`re using a (D)SLR a prime lense with a starting aperture 1.4 or 1.8 makes the viewfinder much brighter under bad light conditions no matter which aperture you use to shoot the photo in the end
I Disagree about the dining table - I've shot great images at the dining table with 45 and 17 f1.8 Zuikos.
One-person with the 45 - just right - it's a little gem!
My 1.2 should arrive tomorrow ... I already upgraded to the 17 1.2 - it's beautiful :)
With those two focal lengths you won't NEED a 25 and the 1.8s fit in a pocket easily :)
Thanks Robin for the great information from your experience. Totally agree & totally enjoyed the photos! I have the three but the 25mm I have is the Panaleica f1.4 that I got at a discount price. A lovely lens! One day I'll get the Oly 25 f1.2 (for the weather sealing mainly:) Regards from Barcelona Spain.
I got a good copy of a zuiko 17mm. It can get up close and resolve a nice amount of detail. Unfortunately it wasn't weather sealed. My EM5 mki body survived flooding but the lens didn't.
ouch, sorry to hear about that
Well done, Robin thank you very much. Greetings from Poland.
12mm AND 25mm AND 42.5mm
Im lucky to owned all three lenses in my journey of MFT photography. However, as my photography hobby grow deep i eventually ditched all of them in favor of high tier gears of equivalennce , like the 16mm F1.4, 25mm F1.4 and 45mm F.2.8 Marco. They are still decent cheap and easy to carry around, except the sigma 16mm.
It’s funny because on the canon generally encourages the 50mm which is an 80mm on APSC. Or an 85mm on a full frame.
I actually prefer the 90mm focal range of the 45mm. It’s a little bit more dramatic and most people using MFT use it as a standard lens (switching from Canon)
Great video clip with useful information Robin. Interestingly I do not have a 25mm prime lens but do own a 15mm, 42.5mm and 60mm macro with an 8mm fisheye on order. Guess I must be different and rather an odd ball with my photography and video ha ha !! Keep on posting 😊😊.
No worries! All great lenses in my book, and the fisheye is amazing, the only F1.8 in the market!