Olympus 17mm F1.8 Is Fantastic

[@robinwong]

I loved the photo Matti took of me when he visited KL and we met in 2014, that I used that photo as my profile picture for many years! Yes, that portrait of me was shot with the Olympus 17mm F1.8! Thanks Matti!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks Robin. I still remember that moment when I hit the shutter😀

[@andreasrochow5170]

@@mattisulanto How beautiful to witness this friendship.

[@devroombagchus7460]

Thanks Matti. I also have the 17mm, which on occasion I find very useful. When I don’t want to carry much, I think it is an ideal all-purpose lens. Light, small, fast enough, with an angle that suits taking pictures of your surroundings. Not expensive, so I never expected the top in sharpness. Not being a professional, I should not care about this. As you mentioned, it’s finding the right image/composition that counts. Keep up the good work by stimulating so many people!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

[@enduringtech822]

While I agree that we should not get tied down to a system, the other side of the coin is that unless we have a very specific need, any new camera from the past 5 years is probably good enough and don't need to be replaced.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. Like I said open mind is good to have, but no need to buy or own loads of gear.

[@joetag5429]

I thought about buying the 17mm f1.8 for a couple of years, and when I finally did it, the next day this video released. I have watched and of course, liked, your channel for 3 years. I found it interesting how nostalgic and emotional that lens made you feel. Thank you for sharing. I have used the lens a few times. It makes me smile.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for watching😀

[@geogu3images]

Thanks for the memories, Matti. I had that lens (or the PanLeica 15mm) on my Pen-f all the time when I traveled extensively. Both were awesome but the 17mm eventually got ‘welded’ on to that Camera. Both camera and lens are gone now but they were fun to use and created very contrasty B&W images, what a monster street setup. I even shot a friends wedding with that combo. And I miss that Pen-f body a lot too.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing your memories.

[@paolopicchel653]

Many people have an idea of photography as if they were fans of a football club. I like his philosophy, open mind and experimentation with various photographic systems if of course he can afford it. Having an open mind also means not having prejudices, this is also growth. Thank you 😏

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. I'm privileged to be able to try different cameras and lenses, but it's not necessarily expensive to explore gear. My friend just bought a Nikon D600 for about $170😀

[@glennsak]

Love the 17mm's aesthetic - the design, all metal construction and the clutch focus. But I love the field of view and sharpness of the Lumix 20mm more!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks.

[@ricachuuuu]

isn't it slow to focus?

[@andreasrochow5170]

Thank you for the 2014 pictures from Kuala Lumpur. They are great and vibrant. Sometimes I mistrust my M. Zuiko 17 mm lens not because of sharpness problems but because of the look. For comparison, I shot photos with the Lumix 14-140 mm and the heavy Leica/Lumix 12-60 mm, and at the same focal length I did not have this "problem". That is my argument against this small prime lens. I can not help myself.

[@trishf29]

Thanks Matti. I have the 17mm too, but use it only occasionally. I like the fact it has the manual clutch, the only f1.8 smaller lens to have it.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks.

[@theoderzweite8272]

Hi Matti, this video make it a lot clearer for me, why you talk the way you do. There was a mystery for me about your videos, but the still unknown things that happened about your Olympus enthusiasm is for me declaration enough! I also like 17mm on my Pen - but I use the smaller one with F2.8 ! Not so sharp in the edges as the 1.8f, but for me ist it a lense with more charme in its images.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks, and glad this video clarified something😀

[@K7.2023]

I have one... I love it!🤩

[@c.augustin]

I got the 17mm F1.8 as a kit lens with my Pen F (the sales person used some persuasion to buy the kit), and I was astonished about its qualities. Not bad at all, and though I'm not a big fan of this angle of view, I'll keep it for its size and practicability! I prefer to use the 25mm F1.8, 45mm F1.8 and 12mm F2, but the 17mm F1.8 comes in handy at times (as a low-light single-lens setup).

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@krimke881]

Love the MFT's, because of the em5. It's pointless to build the camera body as big as a FF, when you can minimalize, and still make it ergonomically perfect, lightweight, and waterproof. I am currently looking for a 20 or 17mm to use it even more. So on the hunt for more fantasticness.

[@paulanderson24]

This is a great lens. I have ordered another (I previously sold my M43 equipment as it "wasnt good enough"). Big regret so I am writing that wrong and am going to have it on the EP-1. Size is king for me and that camera produces beautiful images.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks.

[@RB-pp5tv]

I have been wanting to buy this lens for street shooting ever since I bought the original E-M5 10 years ago, but stopped every time because of bad user feedback on its IQ issues. For Street, absolute sharpness is not so important, I heard you all. So I bought the Laowa 17mm at half the price instead and set the camera to f/8 and high ISO, so that everything from 5feet is in focus. No camera can focus faster than that. If size and weight is really important, then I do what Robin has also done, use the Panny 12-32mm. Mounted on the E-M5 III, the whole thing is really light for what they can do.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@silversteeler99]

Hello Matti, some months ago I bought the Lumix G85 with the kit lens and also the Olympus 17mm F1.8 lens, after watching your videos and others. Recently I bought a M43 mount fish-eye lens, but when I mounted on the camera, I get a message that Lens cannot be found, even though I place the camera on manuel mode. I know you have experience with Panasonic equipement, so I am hoping you can direct me to a possible solution for this problem. Thanks.

[@mattisulanto]

I don't remember any more exactly how it goes. I think you have to enable the shutter without lens. I also remember Panasonic will always display some message with manual lenses but you can ignore that by touching the shutter. Hope this helps but if not, please google more.

[@colin-4794]

Interesting and great photos, thank's.

[@mattisulanto]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@weisserth]

Yeah, it's a bit of a mixed bag. I love the 17mm f1.8. I loved it so much I bought two of them, so I could keep one if them fixed on one of my Pen F bodies while moving the other one around on other bodies. While shooting my second copy, I noticed the edges of the frame were REALLY fuzzy. The images would only sharpen up when I stopped down to f4. I shot both of my 17mm 1.8 copies on the same camera, same settings, same motive side by side and my second copy produced really CRAP images. Both lenses looked absolutely mint. I traded my second copy in online for a 25mm f1.8. My guess is that the quality control of the smaller, cheaper primes is not that great.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@thegroove2000]

Hi does this lens look good at 1.8 as there are other lenses that need to be stopped down to say 2.4 or further for decent results instead of the soft look?.

[@mattisulanto]

It looks good to me, but it's only one opinion. This is an old lens and there are many tests online, so please search and make your own conclusion.

[@jonastruemper637]

Yep, I like this lens a lot, too. I've also used it on a recent bike packing trip and it's compact size made it a clear winner. I probably would not have considered taking an M43 camera with me otherwise -- meaning all other lenses that I own are bigger or not as versatile in terms of focal length. I know there are even some pancake options, but they aren't really suited for low-light, so certainly not as versatile as the 17 f1.8. The 25 f1.8 comes close in size, but then the field of view is quite a bit narrower, similar the Pana 20 f1.7.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@imagenatura]

I have two 17mm's, one for livestreaming, the other for daily usage. It's very good and IMO a better choice to the 20mm Panasonic or OM-System options (even though they're brighter).

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks.

[@nikoforu]

Video is a bit weird. Matti holds an EM1iii and 17mm all during the video yet never takes a pic. All his pics are in fact from 8 years ago. As for the 17mm, I love it... the f1.2 Pro that is.

[@mattisulanto]

The whole idea was to tell about my past with that lens and Olympus, which I think became clear in the video.

[@FelipANadal]

What a moment for this video. I have the lumix 15mm 1.7 and this zuiko 17mm f1.8 and I want to keep just one of them, this video makes it even more difficult.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make your life more difficult😀

[@edwardlin2941]

what did you end up holding on to?

[@TITAOSTEIN]

I like to alternate between primes, using alternate focal lengths between the pro line and the small lenses. So I use the Leica 9mm, Nokton 10.5mm, Leica 15mm, Olympus 17mm f1.2, OLY 20mm f1.4, Nokton 25mm and Oly f1.8, Sigma 30mm f1.4, OLY 45mm f1.2, Sigma 56mm, OLY 75mm and looking for the Laowa 135mm f2. With the exception of 25mm, I always have “small” or “Pro” alternatives but that don't repeat the focal length, giving me greater coverage of alternatives. Among the wide-angle ones I like the remarkable little one, the Leica 15mm, inseparable companion of my “unsaleable” GX80.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for your insights.

[@mindseyeproductions8798]

Thanks

[@mattisulanto]

Thank you.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

Talk about leaving us hanging on why you left olympus!!!! Now I want to now. Tell us damn it!! 😂

[@fabscams4136]

I had this lens for about a year, I liked it but there was something about the focal length and sharpness that didn't feel right to me. I switched to the Leica 15mm and feel much happier with the results, even if I have to crop in I feel the photos look better. It's probably just me, but I either like the 15mm or 25mm look, the 17mm just doesn't agree with me.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. I don't think you are alone, there are many who prefer other than 17mm or 35mm FF.

[@funkmon]

I'm having some difficulty with the 17mm 1.2. I cannot get good focus on the subjects in action street photography, like people crossing the street and stuff. How do you do it? What's the trick there? Am I dumb?

[@mattisulanto]

I shoot street at around F5.6 to get enough DOF and I use mostly the center focus point, but sometimes I use subject tracking too.

[@ruuddirks5565]

I have been thinking of a 17 mm, but it is so close to my 20 mm that I may be better off with a 15 mm.

[@mattisulanto]

True, a 15mm is probably better with the 20 mm.

[@bamsemh1]

For me it's more the 12mm f2 😊 but yeah, you need to get close 😅

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks!

[@solidstream13]

I do not like my 17mm or Micro 4/3 omd-em1. I just find it’s uninspiring. There is no separation of the foreground and background. Also if you look at you pic at 4:13. Those highlights are not pleasing. I prefer my iPhone pics much more. I only like the size and build quality of the lens and body but the pics produced lack character.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing. I'm happy to hear you have found the perfect camera for you. There is nothing wrong with shooting on the iPhone. By the way, could you please share a link for your online portfolio? I'd like to see your iPhone photos and maybe I could also learn something about how to make characterful photos with pleasing highlights.

[@louismaxell]

😂 check mate ​@@mattisulanto

[@mosesmccall]

Well, I got two of them and no one was sharp enough. In comparison to 17/1.2 there is a lack of sharpness within deph of field. It is good value for money, not more.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@gerrymac5865]

Great review love this lens too, but ur friend Robin doesn’t like this lens not sure why?

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. Maybe that's why he was so eager to lend it😀

[@danny_r27]

2:01 and after hearing that I ordered a Leica SL (Type 601). Nah just kidding, not yet but I may do that before the summer of next year. I’ll be getting a Leica SL to compliment my Leica M10-R. I don’t want to just be stuck with MFT. I love my G9 but Leica Full Frame is something else. Glad I decided to give it a try because I absolutely love it!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks. It's good to experiment😀

[@Eti1968]

This lens in combination with the Pen-F is a great street setup where the interaction with people is very easy, it’s not overwhelming and really beautifull.

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks.

[@lorenschwiderski]

For those going wider, the Lumix 14mm f2.5, made in Japan, lens is pretty good, at $198 when on sale in USA. The Olympus lens which is most impressive, to me, is the 45mm f1.8 lens -- very nice indeed! Take care, Loren

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks, that little 14mm is a very nice lens.

[@jordandunlop5629]

the17mm 1.8 is plenty sharp it just renders colors too flat (for my preference) and does not have that special character and contrast like the pana 20mm. For travel and street photography oly 17mm all the way......in studio without too much movement pana 20mm! m43 users would do well to have both!

[@mattisulanto]

Thanks for sharing.

[@disjenmgn]

What an incredible strange topic, not telling why quiting Olympus and posting only old pics, WHY????????

[@sergeymartyn2255]

If 17mm F1.8 is not sharp enough which one is?

[@mattisulanto]

It's sharp enough for me😀

[@ElyRiverBlues]

And me!! Maybe I have a good one...I wasn't even aware there had been some bad reviews.

[@cameronkrause4712]

I have to tell you, that while I realize you can pretty much say what you want to say in your videos, that introducing an idea, and then pulling back and saying, "please don't ask me why I made this decision; I don't want to talk about it" is not just annoying to the viewer, but it's something that I would expect from someone who is just new to video presentation, and I am surprised that you, with all your experience, did this.

[@mattisulanto]

I'm sorry I disappointed you.

[@djf4468]

Your headline says 2.8

[@mattisulanto]

It does indeed, thanks.

[@masaradon8448]

too personal

[@mattisulanto]

Of course it's personal😀 I can only speak for myself. I can't talk about your experience😀

[@stevencrinson7986]

Sorry but a bit too much history and not enough info about the lens.

[@mattisulanto]

Yeah, look around KZbin and you’ll find many reviews and technical videos. This is not one of those 😀

[@JohnRobertsTV]

Actually we all know that you decided to take pity on Peter Forsgård and you gave him all of your Olympus gear, then moved onto a different camera system.

[@mattisulanto]

How did you know that, did you have a private talk with Peter?😀

[@theoderzweite8272]

Hi John, for me is it not the right way, to outen something, someone, who didn't want to say this or that. That means lacking respect!