At the beginning of fall the same again on how small can be Mu43 lenses. The packaging is downright tiny. A small cubes of about 8cm edge length. This is then in fact not very much in it (more on that later). The very compact dimensions are certainly certainly worth your first bonus points.
When it then attaches to the camera, my first criticism comes. I think, who sells black and silver cameras, also black and silver lenses should provide it. As hard as it may not be the. On my black EM-5, the relatively high-quality looking and made of metal silver lens does not look pretty suspicious price. Still unforgivable however, I find that the color does not really fit to the silver models of Olympus Mu43 cameras. Guys!
Well, appearances are not all known. At some point you should also start times to photograph.
This is immediately apparent that the image angle is very pleasant especially for indoor shots of people. Not too far and not too tight. The autofocus is very fast and usually sits accurate (and if not, then probably mainly because the focus fields at Olympus are so large). Manual focus also works well. Although there is no real manual focus, you have to be able to control the feeling quite right, what's going on. Since then of course all the more pleased that the switch from auto to manual focus at the 17er is so super easy. Simply the focus ring pull back and off you go. A distance scale is equal attending yet. So much for the technical aspects.
But why should you get a fixed focal length ranging from 17.5 mm (= 35 mm in the classic format) at all?
Answer:
Because this focal length is seen along with the classic 50mm no coincidence as THE REPORT focal length. If you shoot with 35mm, is automatically forced to approach close to the subject. Due to the resulting perspective creates an image impression, which acts on the viewer of the finished photos midst of it.
The lens is certainly not the first choice for head and shoulder portraits and for some architectural recording as it may already be too long.
But there is no better mE focal length by social interaction (or sometimes against each other) better catch than 35mm. Sure, in theory you can reach the course with a zoom lens. The only problem is that one does not often easy, because you're too lazy and zooms. Also .....
.... Makes the Olympus 17mm 1.8 - although it is much smaller - four times as much light into the camera as a kit lens. The maximum aperture of F1.8 is of course a very important argument for a fixed focal length. At night you can use ISO 800 if the kit lens already ISO 3200 would be needed. In addition, a kit-zoom with a maximum aperture of f3.5-5.6 or 6.3 always makes naturally for a very high depth of focus. Who wants a certain separation of its focused object from the soft background, needs a kit zoom at Mu43 not even begin. Now is really not much. Unlike the Oly 17 1.8. Because of the relatively short focal length and the small sensor, the depth of field is still quite high. But an emphasis of the subject, it is sufficient in most situations anyway.
IMAGE QUALITY
At home at the computer the fun continues. Contrary to the prophecies of doom, the Olympus 17mm f1.8 delivers consistently beautiful results. It's sharp, provides good contrast and in the field of fine textures and shades also very good micro contrast. The Olympus 17mm f1.8 is one of those lenses that simply "fun". Do not stop to this broker that only it rumreiten that it does not reach the same resolution levels compared to one or other objective of Panasonic or Olympus. In my experience, does not play any role in practice. This thing is sharp (much sharper than the 12-50 kit lens of the EM-5), the images of the 17ers appear crisp and clear. What interested me because if a Leica Summicron or a Zeiss Planar laboratory three pairs of lines can depict more?
ACCESSORIES and value for money
I find that the Olympus 17mm is very expensive, if not sold too expensive. As already indicated, can be found in the package except the lens and some paperwork nothing of value. A sun visor is not only not provided, they should also 65 costs. This is simply rude. One can indeed make do with cheaper third-party alternatives that should fulfill their function also.
Still, the price is mE the downer at the piece and also the reason for the deduction of points.
ALTERNATIVES
Anyone who ever chooses a relatively short fixed focal length to buy, which is likely to take even a two other candidates in the eye. For example, the
- Panasonic / Leica 25mm f 1.4 Summilux
This lens is slightly superior to the Olympus 17mm my impression from a visual standpoint. Unfortunately, it is often a bit too long for indoor shots. Therefore, it can not really replace the 17er. Even if it hurts: I would strongly recommend to buy both! The pain passes, the joy remains.
- Panasoic 20mm f 1.7
This piece is also good damn sharp. Probably even sharper than the Olympus 17mm. I found the focal length but often do not really fit. It also gave me some downright poor contrast values, which I personally find almost more important than sharpness.
- Olympus 12mm f 2.0
Also nice. However, to me the 12er for daily use would be to a wide angle. If you put people on the edge of the picture, the quite beautiful eggheads can get because of the distortion.
OTHER BUSINESS
The lens has a 46mm filter connection. That's good, because this is exactly the size of several prime lenses in Mu43 system. So there is no need to buy specially appropriate filter for each lens.
CONCLUSION
The Olympus 17mm f 1.8 is a tremendously versatile and because of its compactness and very practical lens with good optical properties. If the bit excessive pricing would not, you'd be a little more delight full of the wonderful results.
Despite strong buy recommendation
