Oly 17mm vs. Pana 20mm...

remnant, have you looked at the image threads dedicated to both? Check this out: Native Lens Sample Image Archive - Micro Four Thirds User Forum it is a sub forum of the Native Lenses forum.

I can't help you with your question since I, unfortunately, never had the 17mm. Perhaps someone else can and will later on.

 

I have both and use both but unfortunately not at the same time.
The 17 is a wonderful lens, sharp, contrasty and a perfect FOV. The 20 is a Stellar lens.
That's why I have both.
Go to my galleries and check the exif data. There are many images from both lenses.

 

Hold out for another month or two until the next Panasonic m43 pancake launches. According to the roadmap, it's a 14mm f/2.5 (I think), which would be both wider and a third stop brighter than your 17mm.

Rumour has it that Oly might also launch a 12mm pancake.

 

To add a little to the above

I have both and they are both good

- the 17 is cheaper (and small) - making the EP into a pocketable cam - just about)
- the 20mm (is bigger) gets rave reviews, (justifiable) - (but) and is (probably) the one to get first - it is great in low light (and also good throughout the range).
- in cam IS on the Oly adds to the use of the 20mm - (and f1.7)

If you are on a budget 17mm can be picked up very cheaply

 

Cheers

Brian

 

LBA? I'm not sure what the acronym stands for, but I suspect I'm infected too  

 

I plan on buying two wide primes after Photokina - I prefer them over wide zooms. I am leaning toward the 20/1.7 and planned 14/2.5, but if Olympus comes out with a a nice 12mm then the 17/2.8 and 12 could make a nice pair as well.

 

I have the 17mm prime, and I had bought the 20mm prime at one point in time too. I ended up selling the 20mm prime because there was not a big enough difference. It was more worth my while to spend the $400 (or what ever) on something more different (like say a 9mm or 50mm).

The image quality is "better" on the 20mm but it's not that big of a difference to make me pick one lens over the other. The deciding factor on picking lenses would be the 1.7 or 2.8 aperature.

I ended up keeping the 17mm because it was cheaper and smaller.

 

You must've been really lucky to get most of your money back on the 20mm. If I was in your situation, with both lenses already in my possession, I could never let go of the "better" lens, even if the difference is minor.  

I will have to say though that the lens most often used on my Pen is the Zuiko 25mm f/2.8 pancake (the Four-Thirds one). I'm perfectly pleased with it.

 

I only lost about $10 reselling the lens because it was back when the lens was still quite high priced. (maybe it still is).

As for the "better" lens, I didn't let go of the "better" lens. The better lens for me is the physically smaller one, the one with a slightly wider FOV which I wanted, it just happens to be cheaper one and faster focusing one too. :smile:

 

Really? The 17mm focusing is faster than the 20mm?

 

Yes, many user reports say that the 17mm is faster focusing than the 20mm, given the same camera is used for both.