Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8
Announced September 17, 2012
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 is a compact, all-metal prime lens that delivers sharp imagery and fast, quiet autofocus for street and general-purpose photography. While it excels in portability and build quality, it lacks weather sealing and requires a separate purchase for the lens hood.
Weighted from 17 reviewer scores
Pros
- Fast, quiet, and accurate autofocus with manual focus clutch
- Sharp optical performance with well-controlled distortion
- Compact and lightweight all-metal construction
- Pleasing bokeh and color rendition
- Versatile focal length for street and candid photography
Cons
- Lacks weather sealing
- Optional lens hood sold separately
- Chromatic aberration issues
- High levels of distortion in uncorrected raw files
- Softness at edges and corners when shooting wide open
- Launch price $499 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 17mm f/1.8
- Mount & coverage Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 25 cm (0.08x)
- Filter thread 46mm
- Autofocus motor Micromotor
- Weight & size 120g (4.2 oz) · 57.5 x 35.5 mm (2.26 x 1.40 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 17 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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The lens hood is optional, there's no weatherproofing and the price is quite high, but the quality is great and it could end up being your most used lens, especially if you don't already own the 20mm.
- OpticalLimits 7/10
The Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 may not be a stellar performer but it is certainly an interesting lens considering its strengths.
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This lens is not exactly a successful construction and it should have been thought out better – I write it without scruple.
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The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.8 is a very very sharp lens with an excellent, compact and lightweight build.
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In terms of its overall aesthetics, craftsmanship and mechanical quality, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.8 is a jewel of a lens that's a pleasure to look at and a joy to use.
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[I]t’s a great lens for walkabout shooting and for candid street photography.
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The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f1.8 is a fast wide-angle lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. It's extremely sharp, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
- Photo Review 8.8/10
Buy this lens if [y]ou require a fast wide-angle lens for general-purpose use.
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It’s sharper, has less CA, better bokeh, focuses faster and is built much better. However, it falls short of Olympus’ other recent higher end lenses.
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This lens has the build, the speed, the feel, the looks, the design and the performance in IQ that makes it a no brainer for your Olympus Micro 4/3 camera (especially the E-M5).
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Would I recommend the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 premium lens and the short answer is absolutely, it's a no-brainer. If you are a 35 millimeters full frame guy, if you're moving into the Micro Four Thirds this is the lens you should get.
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Like most lenses I've always I haven't come across very many lenses that are so bad that I don't like to use they all good in their own way and this is just a perfect lens for so many things that if there are any small faults I don't care to be honest.
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Technically the lens is sharp. It's shot wide open f/1.8, the corners are sharp, it produces beautiful bokeh, the technical flaws are well controlled.
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Other photographers who like consistent edge-to-edge sharpness at all apertures won't be as thrilled with this optic.
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Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 lens is clearly not for everyone. It’s certainly not a bad lens, but it’s not up to the levels of excellence we’ve seen in other MFT lenses, particularly in recent years.
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For my part, this 17 is a lens that, like my 45mm Olympus, will never be out of my bag or sold. I like it that much.
- Darren Miles 10/10
With a list price of $499, which by the way is frequently discounted to $399 at places like B&H, you get a reasonably fast and well-built lens with lightning fast autofocus and stellar optics.
