How Good Is This Popular Lens? Olympus 17mm f1.8 (In-Depth Review)

This is an In-Depth Review of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 - one of the most popular lenses for Micro Four Thirds cameras.
We'll cover 12 important aspects, from build quality to image quality tests. By the end of this review, you'll know everything the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 has to offer.
Camera Used for the image quality tests: Panasonic G7 with all in-camera image corrections turned off. It was set at 12Mpx.
You can find the lens here: amzn.to/3TFDNIp
Outside b-roll was taken with a Panasonic G95: amzn.to/3J0prgK
The Panasonic G7: amzn.to/3TWM3F7
The Olympus E-M10 Mark IV: amzn.to/3TWM3F7
(the above links are paid links - I might get a commission for valid purchases)
0:00 Introduction
0:37 Build Quality
1:15 Compatible Cameras
1:33 Focal Length
2:18 Size and Weight
2:45 Min. and Max. Aperture Values
3:05 Focusing
3:23 Image Stabilization
3:48 Sharpness
4:50 Sharpness conclusion
5:09 Distortion and Vignetting
5:33 Close-up Image Quality
5:56 Bright Light Performance
6:11 Bokeh
6:56 Conclusion
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[@apertureatlas]

What is your opinion about this lens?

[@tonykeltsflorida]

Looks good. I can shoot at 17mm f/2 with my Tamron 24-70 lens. That wide but not distorted look works.

[@mohammedabbas7776]

I love this lens! One thing you've missed is how it renders colours - very nicely. This lens may not be be sharpest, but it has tonnes of character and is a no brainer if you just want a set up that's easy to carry around all day, especially while travelling.

[@apertureatlas]

Yes, it's a good thing you added this! The color rendering is very nice! Olympus 17mm f/1.8 is one of the best options for everyday photography/traveling. I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for the comment!

[@marian-ionel6246]

Deși nu am o cameră cu senzor micro four thirds, trebuie să recunosc, sunt impresionat. Felicitări, foarte interesant clipul! 😁

[@govertvanamerongen5902]

It is one of my favorite lens. I own the 17mm, 25mm, 45mm and 75mm 1.8 and 30mm 3.5. The 17mm and 25mm are my favorite street and general lens. The utimate is the 75mm...

[@govertvanamerongen5902]

At F6.3 you have the optimal performance. Instead of F8.

[@chrisgrieves1468]

Good review! Very useful lens, especially on a small body. And fun too with the manual focus clutch. I have all 3 1.8 primes and this is not the sharpest (the 45 is noticeably better, Pro grade really). But if you grab a good image it won't let you down. As a recreational shooter that's what I want.

[@apertureatlas]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm also more of a recreational shooter, and because of their small size and good quality, I like the MFT prime lenses that Olympus has made. I haven't had the chance to try the 45mm yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. It's great that you have all three (50mm, 45mm, 17mm). Enjoy using them!

[@ellox]

In what country yours 17mm was manufactured?

[@chrisgrieves1468]

@@ellox China

[@ellox]

​@@chrisgrieves1468, interesting 🤔. Try one made in Vietnam :P

[@bobbyhicks1078]

I love the 17mm focal length, and lack that in my lens collection. Do you think it is worth trading my LUMIX 14mm f2.5 for the 17mm f1.8?

[@apertureatlas]

The 17mm f/1.8 is worth getting only if you consider the 14mm f/2.8 to be too wide and if you really need a bigger aperture. In my opinion, the 17mm f/1.8 wins here because of its a faster lens, which is much needed in low light for MFT cameras.

[@brandonj8018]

Hello! Can you do some more DSLR lenses? Specifically: Canon 35L Mark 1, 28-70mm f/2.8L and the Tamron 35mm f/1.8 VC

[@apertureatlas]

This is your second request, in which you mention the same lenses. I'll see what I can do this year after I finish with the lenses that I have at home.

[@brandonj8018]

@@apertureatlas wow it’s been so long-I didn’t think you’d remember!

[@ionut1371]

Mie nu mi-a placut obiectivul, mi se pare sec, nu am observat ceva notabil. Într-adevăr e rapid, e clar dar imaginile sunt drepte, nu au ceva aparte. In schimb Lumix 20mm mi se pare mult mai plăcut si cu bokeh mai pronunțat doar ca este foarte lent si multe imagini sunt rateuri.

[@mamumonkan]

I can not understand why nobody has tested this lens on the new OM1mII !?!??!

[@apertureatlas]

Perhaps it's because the OM-1 MK II was just released in January 2024.

[@gp6367]

No weather sealing!!!!

[@apertureatlas]

Yes, unfortunately it doesn't come with weather sealing. Only Fujifilm offers weather sealing, in this price range, for their 23mm f/2 lens, for example. But even that is 100 USD more expensive than the Olympus 17mm f/1.8. So, we can safely say: no one offers weather sealing on a 399 USD prime lens.

[@snappychappy]

Don't take it out in inclement weather. Just saying.😶

[@gp6367]

@@apertureatlas
100 USD more doesnt really make a big difference. I would happily pay extra 100 or more for a weather sealed version of that lens.
I did considered moving to om system because of the size of this lens. I rejected it because of weather sealing.
It would be a perfect combination combining an om-5 body with a weather sealed 17mm f1.8 lens. That would be around 534 grams and could easily fit in my pocket
om-5 with 17mm and 25mm f1.8 and 20mm f1.4 combined with 40-150mm 2.8 would be an extremely light kit.
om-1 and 17mm f1.2 is too big for me. For that combination the size is similar to FF options so no reason to choose m43.

[@gp6367]

@@apertureatlas
"So, we can safely say: no one offers weather sealing on a 399 USD prime lens."
I think price is not the problem here. Its that there is no lightweight weather sealed combination.