Olympus 17mm / 25mm / 45mm f/1.2 Pro lens review

[@TheRealRichardWong]

***** Correction: Filter thread is 62mm for all these lenses (Not 67mm as I said in the video) ******

[@catherinejoanpiazza420]

Excellent review. I'm still trying to decide but leaning toward the 17 1.2 with the thought that it would be useful to have one fast aperture lens to use for travel in low light conditions. I could see it being the most useful for street photography, architecture, urban landscapes, etc. Probably that lens along with the 12-100 for a two lens combo for travel would be perfect.

[@tenzinpeljor]

Thank you. I've seen several reviews now on these three lenses. I can afford only one of them and bought yesterday the 17/1.2 Pro - just sold for almost 60% of its origin prize at Olympus shop. For me your video is the most informative video I've seen on these three lenses because the image comparisons tell a lot about what they produce. Thank you! Very helpful!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Glad I could help! Tenzin!

[@tenzinpeljor]

@@TheRealRichardWong The 17/1.2 Pro arrived today. Perfect also for webstream.

[@daysofgrace2934]

You nailed it on background compression, more compression generally creates a less busy backgrounds, you can easily see this in the shots with 75mm f1.8. I went with the Lumix Leica 25mm f1.4 for this reason over a 35mm equiv. I use that and a m.Zuiko 9-18mm f4-5.6 zoom for when I want to capture the background (site-seeing snapshots) and 25mm f1.4 for better subject isolation snapshots. I have the m.Zuiko 45mm f1.8 but don't use it as much. Bigger the sensor more compression, I like FF compression...

[@appledadlife]

Excellent review, I always want to try out the Olympus lens, love the quality and the way to switch to manual focus. I love that you mention the different focal lens with different field of view, many people don’t understand that part, this is a very good real life explanation!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you very much Leica Dad! Yeah the way Olympus and Panasonic design and made their lenses are a bit different. Some of my favourite m43 lenses are made by Olympus like the 75mm f/1.8. And yeah thinking back the days when I started learning photography, it took me quite a while to understand how focal length affect the photos so I thought I could share this and hopefully other people can understand it a lot faster than me!

[@codyrobinson22]

There’s no doubt this review hands down is your Best review to date @Richard Very impressed! Your reviews are getting better with age like a fine wine lol

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you Cody! There are so many things I could improve and I learnt a lot from making each video (all those mistakes!!) So yeah hopefully my reviews and videos will get better in the future. Thanks Richard

[@BTCAsia]

Very thorough review. I especially liked how you demonstrated vignetting differences. Your example shots were quite good. Regarding the focusing clutch being accidentally pulled, this is a training issue. I did it once. I was very upset because I thought I had accidentally hit some hot button and expected to spend hours searching how to ‘undo’ the damage. When I realized I pulled the clutch, I felt like an idiot. First, I grip the lens a little differently during mounting. Second, I’m more sensitive to sound and feel of clutch. Third, I developed the habit of tugging outward on the clutch as I bring the camera up to shoot. Problem solved; I don’t think about it anymore and I’ve never accidentally pulled the clutch again. The focus clutch is one of the most brilliant and innovative features of the lens. We can easily learn to work with it to our overall advantage.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you BTCAsia! Yes I agree we will just get used to the focusing clutch design. I kind of developed the same habit after using it for a week or so too. But I also had a few lenses with similar design and never had this issue. Maybe the tension/friction was a bit too low hence the issue? But at least you can just disable that if you are shooting with an Olympus body.

[@KROMAprd]

Just picked up a brand new 17mm 1.2 Pro for my GH4! Can’t wait to start shooting with it! :) Great review! I’m subscribing !

[@dwainwilder7337]

Richard, great review! I really got a better understanding of the different focal lengths viewing your photo comparisons. I have the 25mm. A local camera store has a used 45mm at a great price, in like new condition in the original box. You just sold it for them, I have to go back and get it! Hopefully it’s still there. Thank you again! Great job!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hey Dwain glad to hear you find the video useful :) tell the camera store about my channel!! Get them to subscribe hahaha

[@DJAnamaly]

Great comparison. Can/Would you recommend any of them with a focal reducer/ speed booster. Just to achieve a bigger field of view?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hi there, sorry don't have too much experience with the focal reducer so I am afraid I can't make any recommendation for you

[@SuperRockinRobert]

Excellent comparison. This information for field of view difference is what I need. I am a total Am, so the two sets of comparison pics was very helpful. Plus great comparison of technical differences.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hi SuperRockinRobert thanks for watching glad you find the video useful

[@sylvainhimmo]

I really enjoy this review! We can understand the difference between them in real life scenario! These lens are awesome for low light condition, the weather sealed is such a nice addition that can't be find on Panasonic lens (I really wish they had fast prime weather sealed). I own a Lumix DC-G9 and looking to get the Olympus 25mm f1.2 lens. It's all depends on how this lens behave with the G9 since the G9 use DfD (Dept of Defocus) to make focus really quick in continuous auto-focus mode. Did you try one of these lens on your G9 body? How did it behave in continous auto focus mode? Did you try it in photo and video mode? I can't find anyone making reviews on using Olympus lens on new Panasonic body (G9, GH5, GH5S, etc) for continuous auto-focus using DfD technology. Thank you for this review, it does help a lot!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I have not done much testing shooting in continuous focus mode. But when shooting in AF-S mode, the autofocus performance is still very decent. Sorry can't say much about video autofocus performance

[@jamielloyd8396]

Great review. I would want the 25 1.2 Pro the most

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks Jamie!

[@pfortunato78]

Great video Richard. I got used to the MF clutch pretty quickly on my 12-40. The small learning curve by having it was a very small price to pay for the functionality of it. So good for video. I actually think this 3-prime set would make a fantastic video lens set too. They are still small enough to be used with a smaller gimbal, the MF clutch is fantastic, and the same filter size is extremely useful for video lenses.

[@kiwijinxter]

Thanks Richard - I've always had trouble trying to decide what is my favourite focus length. But this video is the FIRST video I truly realise the difference (the owl photo made all the difference)! Wow didn't realise how different the lenses are. I used to think I should pick the 17mm because I can always walk forward... but now that I see this, I prefer the 45mm because it really punches in very well into the object of focus...! Thanks so much!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Glad it was helpful! yes it took me many years before I finally understand the importance and impact of different focal length.. then i see the world very differently!

[@kiwijinxter]

@@TheRealRichardWong Thanks, Richard. Hope you're doing OK in level 3 - I'm in Auckland too :)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

So... which Olympus f/1.2 PRO lens would you want to buy? Is it the 17mm f/1.2? 25mm f/1.2? or the 45mm f/1.2? and why?

[@AnastasTarpanov]

I have a lot of shots with 3 of them, but classic 50mm was never my focal lenght. Two bodies with 17mm and 45mm is perfect combo for almost anything, street, events, travel and all kinds of documentary work!

[@matthewsachaullymce279]

I speak in representing my wife as she is the Pro Photographer while I’m only hobby 😁, she only use two lenses for event her work, 17f1.2 and 45f1.2 each of them attached to Olympus m5mii, Silver one is for wide lens while the black one is for portrait lens (45mm), she said those 2 lens and bodies covers enough what she needs ... 😁

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Good combo!

[@DrFlippin]

Hi Richard, this was my 1st viewing of your videos, and I must say that it was easily the best review I have seen on M43 gear. I have the original F1.8 17mm, 25mm and 45mm M.Zuiko Lenses (shoot primarily with PEN-F, and Lumix GX8). I found that the 45mm 1.8 had the sharpest image quality, and had been using it for portraits. Now that these faster pro versions of these lenses are out, I am trying to make up my mind about whether to fork out the money to get them. I can only afford to buy one, and was leaning toward the 45mm f/1.2 - thinking that my portraits will be that much better. Can you tell me your opinion about whether you think the upgrade in price and performance is worth it? I mean, am I paying too much for what might amount to an insignificant increase in image quality and overall performance? (BTW, you can probably tell that I am not a professional; I just enjoy photography as a hobby) Thank you! Your reviews are great!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hi DrFlippin! Thank you for watching and the long comment! The 45 1.2 would be a great portrait lens. The shallow depth of field and really sharp at f/1.2 means you can create background seperation a lot easier than the 45 1.8, and great for low light portrait too. Re whether it's worth it or not, it is a hard question to answer. There is always a huge increase in price when you step up from the mid range lens to the top model. Consider the 45 1.8 isn't a bad lens already, that lens is definitely a much better value for money lens than the 1.2. But you get the better build quality, weather resistance (45 1.8 isn't iirc), and just overall better lens in every area. Another lens you could consider is the Olympus 75 1.8. I had that lens before and absolutely love it! Really nice bokeh and colours. And the price is a bit lower than the 45 1.2 too. But of course, it's quite a bit longer than the 45mm focal length.

[@DrFlippin]

@@TheRealRichardWong Thank you for taking the time to respond! I've never considered the 75mm f1.8 before but will give it serious consideration. I just hope that the 150mm equivalence isn't too long, and require greater distance from the portrait subject. Thanks again - your reviews are excellent.

[@quiver99]

Dear Richard, good morning. May I ask you for a little advise? I shoot MFT, Panasonic GX9, which I believe is an amazing little camera. As I travel a lot, I was think to add a 2nd body and thinking of a G90 or OMD E-M1 Mark II. At parity of price, which one do you think would be better performance wise? I have both Panasonic and Olympus lenses and I mostly do travel and street photography with some video once in a while. Many thanks

[@TheRealRichardWong]

it's a tough choice, i think they both are quite well.. but have you considered the G9 as the price is only slightly more than the G90 in a lot of places and it's the best m43 camera for photographers in my opinion .. if you don't mind the size

[@JustinValentino]

Very good review and in depth to help make a buying decision! this definitely helped my decision and I will go with the 45mm f 1.2! I love the bokeh and feel if creates. I will use my 40-150mm pro for longer focal lengths and hopefully get the 17mm f1.2 pro later down the track. Thanks!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hey Justin thanks for watching the video! The 45 1.2 is very nice

[@johnferry5668]

Excellent review Richard, I have the 25mm & 45mm pro lenses, they are fantastic lenses so I guess I’ll have to buy the 17mm version now that your comparison review on the 17mm and it’s wider perspective was brilliant. Thank you for sharing....

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hi John thank you for watching this video. Yes I personally like the wider 17mm lens the most. I feel like the photo i took gives me the feeling of "i am (was) there" when I look at the photos.

[@kenslyder]

Interesting!! I didn't know about those lenses before 😃 Thank you Richard!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Glad it was helpful!

[@weixiong1.0]

You should choose another angle for the video. The strong back light from your window is kind of a turn off.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hey Wei, thank you for the feedback. Yes I agree that backlight isn't good. I just need to find a clean background and good lighting. Will experiment different options and thank you again for the feedback!

[@ludo1632]

What's the focus throw (in degrees) on those? Looking for precise manual focus. Thank you.

[@SpaceSignaaL]

Would u recommend the 45 mm 1.2 for a body without IBIS? Or I should go for the Nocticron better which does have IS ?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

For photos, i feel the fast 1.2 aperture is ok to handle most low light condition (assuming you ok with shallow DOF)

[@Emind7]

Peace! I appreciate your time and attention to detail. The photo comparison for focal length helped me a lot!!!! Do know if there is a lens combined with a speedbooster that will give me the 17mm look of the 1.2 that is as fast or faster. I'm looking for 17mm best low light performance...will be taking photos however mostly video on gh5. I looking for best low light 17mm...Peace

[@TheRealRichardWong]

The voigtlander 17mm f/.095? It's a manual focus lens but an amazing one. Otherwise mitakon also made a few super fast prime

[@Emind7]

@@TheRealRichardWong voigtlander isn't weather proof...do you still use the 17mm 1.2?

[@Makta972]

The 17mm is the sharpest. Great optics

[@NetvoTV]

Minor title problem, f1 2 instead f1.2, I know right, KZbin always do this to your title, I some time need to deal with this too!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you my friend! I've just fixed it!!

[@NetvoTV]

Photo By Richard welcome, just send me a Leica CL for that!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Sounds like a fair deal to me lol.

[@NetvoTV]

Photo By Richard hahaha!

[@A1Bokeh]

Dang man you have used them all rich lol are you still using these lenses ? How do you feel this 17 compares to the mitakon ? Im getting really curious about olympus gear

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hey bro, no I don't have these lenses I only borrowed them for the review. They are beautiful lenses but the price is quite a bit more than the mitakon so completely different kind of lens I think

[@A1Bokeh]

@@TheRealRichardWong hmm you think better image?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Yes if you mean technically better. But the mitakon has some special look and also more bokeh than the olympus

[@A1Bokeh]

@@TheRealRichardWong hmmm interesting

[@Sameer-641]

Hi. Which one would you recommend to use on Pen f between 12-40mm and 25mm f/1.2 pro? I am very new to use the System camera. Thank you

[@TheRealRichardWong]

It's really a personal choice, both are great lenses but with different usage. I am a prime shooter so I love the 25 1.2 more but it's just because of my shooting preference.

[@Sameer-641]

@@TheRealRichardWong thank you so much🙏

[@fnubrawijaya6334]

Nice review. Thank you very much.

[@AnastasTarpanov]

Richard, filter thread is 62mm, not 67mm! The voice is still poor for me, on my laptop is very hard to hear what you're saying, this is my only complain, otherwise again great content!

[@AnastasTarpanov]

Yes you can disable MF clutch inside Olympus body and for Panasonic, I thought is not working at all?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Opps!!! Thanks Anastas for the correction. And re the voice, I've already switched to a lapel mic, external audio recorder and a different room for recording . Is it the volume? Or maybe it's just my voice that is not very good? LOL Any suggestion what you think I could do to improve the audio? Thanks

[@AnastasTarpanov]

for me it's quite when I listen it to the laptops internal speakers, others video can be quite loud, you can also make a comparison yourself, maybe you can bring the level a little bit up, it's not necessary to scream in the mic :)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Okay, that would be a easy fix then! I could just dial the mic input (or is it output?) level a bit higher and make it louder. :) Will try it next video which I'll be recording this weekend and will be uploaded before at the end of this month. Thanks again for watching the video and valuable feedback

[@ImpulseVigil]

Photo By Richard It's fine for me if I max out my Pixel's volume but it's definitely a little lower than average, just a little tho.

[@ownvideofootage]

How stabilization of these lenses behave on G9? That's I'm waiting to buy 25mm

[@TheRealRichardWong]

G9's inbody image stabilisation is very good and it works fine with the Olympus lenses

[@ownvideofootage]

Richard Wong regards from Mexico

[@sergical5]

Awesome work 🤙

[@nicholasreese3982]

Have you tried the Olympus 12-40 ?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Only briefly for a few days

[@_systemd]

nikon z 50 1.8 costs less than half the price, offers a stop of shallower DOF, will provide slightly better noise performance on ff, higher resolution output, can be combined with high mpx bodies, is the same size and weight. whereas olympus pulls ahead with compact telephotos. every time there's a need for ff-like portraits, it s a money pit.

[@FierceSleepingDog]

Thanks bot. I will stick to my MFT. Enjoy your FF.

[@mendelhamoen645]

Yes, but the quality of the bokeh and overall rendering of the Zuiko Pro is probably better than 95% of the 50 mm FF lenses and probably better than 99.5 % of the lower priced 50 mm FF lenses

[@FierceSleepingDog]

Nikon Z 50 guy must not be so confident in his gear. Has to come in here and go FF fanboy.

[@luizz_k]

is that Auckland?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Correct!

[@flyroninfishing6894]

The 25mm 1.2 Pro is my favourite lens even though I pair it with the Panasonic G9. It has an organic look that is still sharp and the bokeh lives up to the feather bokeh billing. I just wish I could add the 45mm and 17mm 1.2 but that is probably not going to happen.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Nice feedback! And hey at least you have one of the three f/1.2 Pro lens already ;)

[@colinpeskett3074]

Olympus pro lenses prices

[@momchilyordanov8190]

The only problem with these lenses is the combined price of about $4000. Otherwise they are fine :)

[@astheskylarksings]

Hahaha.. i love the 3 pics comparison: the 45mm one was of course out of focus :) oh Olympus

[@Makta972]

What the fuck are you talking about ?!

[@zardosspinosa6944]

never managed to get thru the vid, looked too boring to continue, let's just say it's a cost benefit ratio, the 17mm 1.8 is pretty hard to replace no matter what, the 25 and the 45 and in particular the 45mm pro is certainly better than the 1.8, I think for portraiture where you really need that detail and max background blurr I would go with the 45mm pro if I could afford it, but when it comes down to cost benefit ratio pretty hard to ignore original primes, as a mainly travel photographer it's a no brainer, 1.8s all the way, and my images are still stunning, at end of day it's still about the capture, all this high end stuff is pretty much extravagant endulgence, but is does still represent the pinnacle of what is capable and in that respect we can applaud any achievement in excellence

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you for the comments and feedback Zardos. Let me know if you have any suggestions on how I could improve my videos thanks!

[@zardosspinosa6944]

Sorry, I am sure you did all the work presenting the details, so I commend you for the time involved, I suppose I have done the research and I just wanted to give my quick analysis, you still have to question why you want to do the You Tube thing, the guys or girls who are really successful either have outrageous personalities or just some quite special X factor that you can't really copy. Frankly I would sooner just watch them rather than trying to make them, for me it's all about education, and there is much to learn

[@TheRealRichardWong]

To be honest, I never really expect this channel will be super successful but there are many reasons I want to create this channel. I just love playing with cameras and I love photography so would love to share some of my thoughts with other people and also educate people as well as learn from other people through making of these videos. I want to learn more about how to film/edit video, I want to improve my presentation skills, I want to force myself to do something I'm completely uncomfortable of doing, and there are a few other main reasons but I think I don't really need to bore you but going through all of them. Anyway thank you again for your comment and maybe check out some of my other videos and give me some feedback on what I can do to improve? Thanks Richard

[@heytomas1]

Oh what a superior guy you must be, Zardos Spinosa! You don't need any people around, as you have so high regards of yourself, and low regards for other people. I think we will manage fine without your comments, thank you.

[@zardosspinosa6944]

Tomas Barth Fair comment. Yes, I had forgotten about this one, must have been a late night rant in the depths of winter when I had nothing better to do, I hate people like that and I am turning into one! That said I thought my comments were lucid!