Showcase Olympus 17mm f/1.2 PRO

[Rasmus]

No I don't own this lens yet, and I assume that noone else does. I just wanted the thread to exist.

 

[m43happy]

Is this lens out yet? I looks like on the getolympus site it's available, but everywhere else it says coming soon.

 

[Rasmus]

That's why I assumed that noone has the lens, AFAIK it's supposed to ship in January. And I will probably not get one until later this year. Main reason for creating the thread was to remind me that I want this lens.

 

[ijm5012]

I'm a bit torn, and will have to wait for further reviews to decide what I want to do. The DPR samples didn't do anything to impress me, however the shots at MirrorLessons were much more compelling. I'll have to wait until more reviews make their way out, and actual users have had a chance to offer up their opinions.

I do own the 25 PRO, and have been beyond impressed with it. The combination of wide-open sharpness along with the smooth bokeh makes for some great images. It will be interesting to see how the 17 PRO compares.

 

[Chris5107]

The lens arrived yesterday. Have not had time to take it out but have taken a few shots around the house. It is not as sharp wide open as the hyperbolic reviews would suggest. I need more use of the lens before I can form an opinion overall.

All with EM5-mk2, iso 200, jpg out.

Here is a shot wide open of a face that I have in the back yard. The cat was busy

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Below is a comparison of f1.2 (top) f1.8, and f2.8 (bottom) to show how it sharpens up when stopping down a bit.

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[Chris5107]

Another f1.2 shot. Lens is growing on me a little. Focus on near eye. ISO 200, f1.2, jpg out, EM5-mk2

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[Tifoso]

Have fun with it

 

[BPCS]

Nice! Enjoy!

 

[Rasmus]

More than anything I got the impression from your images that contrast increases slightly on stopping down. It's a bit like my ZD 300/2.8, the difference in sharpness between f/2.8 and f/3.2 is negligible, but there is a noticeable increase in contrast and color saturation.

Also, I'm not far from calling that "sharpest wide open" thing a myth. So far, I've never encountered a lens that didn't at least sharpen up a little on stopping down. Unless they are so slow that they are diffraction limited wide open, of course. But I consider that kind of lenses marginally usable anyway.

 

[Chris5107]

More than anything I got the impression from your images that contrast increases slightly on stopping down. It's a bit like my ZD 300/2.8, the difference in sharpness between f/2.8 and f/3.2 is negligible, but there is a noticeable increase in contrast and color saturation.

Also, I'm not far from calling that "sharpest wide open" thing a myth.

Agree, it gains contrast as you stop down. Even 1.4 is noticeably better than 1.2.

I have some brick wall shots that are too boring to share but they make this clear. Sharpness and contrast increase nicely as you stop down and by 1.8 are what I would call excellent. They seem to reach the highest levels already by f2.8.

My comment about the sharpness at 1.2 was a bit of a personal rebuttal to some of the early reviews that commented on the lens being pin sharp wide open or no loss in sharpness wide open. The lens sharpens up just like most other lenses. Uniformity across the frame is very good and I consider it very good wide open. So far I am very happy with the lens and can't wait to get out and use it.

 

[m43happy]

A couple test shots at home. I can tell I'm going to love this lens. Both shots taken wide open at f1.2 on an E-M1mk2.

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Bokeh ball test courtesy of Baby Groot. Just made a random polkadot wallpaper in Photoshop and took a pic at an angle so you can observe the transition from near to far.

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[Chris5107]

I took a quick walk in Ellicott City, MD today with the new 17/1.2. All posted here were at f1.2 (1.4 for the last historic sign). Lighting was harsh and I was in a hurry but did get to use the lens a little. The bears were focused on the head and give a good indication of the performance wide open.

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This last one at f1.4 to get the shutter speed below 1/8000th.

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[thranth]

I got to try the lens at a Olympus & Profoto event/photography class run by the local camera store here in Houston. I really like how it handles and the image quality is fantastic. I was limited by the 1/160 flash sync on my camera, so I didn't really get to try shooting wide open.

 

[rstrader]

Mine arrived this morning! Hope to have some shots by this weekend.

 

[Chris5107]

Visiting the Car show.

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[Gillymaru]

The 17mm arrived today and I had try it out of course. After a 33 degree day the beach was the spot to be this afternoon. My daughter is a semi willing subject so grabbed a few photos before heading out for a swim. All are shot at F1.2 on my Panasonic G9.
I am really enjoying my brief time with this lens, it is expensive but the image quality at F1.2 is amazing Olympus have really nailed it.

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[Zuri]

The 17mm arrived today and I had try it out of course. After a 33 degree day the beach was the spot to be this afternoon. My daughter is a semi willing subject so grabbed a few photos before heading out for a swim. All are shot at F1.2 on my Panasonic G9.
I am really enjoying my brief time with this lens, it is expensive but the image quality at F1.2 is amazing Olympus have really nailed it.

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Looking good... is it possible for you to share full res photos? Really interested.

 

[tomO2013]

So I took this for a test drive last week on the G9.

You can get super creamy shallow DOF with this lens up close.

Even far away you can get pretty darn nice 'feater' creamy bokeh. It's quite lovely.

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[johnaldmcgee]

I got mine in week before last. I took it to a scotch tasting Friday night and then pulled over after work to get a couple pictures of the rocket park here on Monday. Settings/full size are available on flickr

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Rocket Park

Small Moon

 

[Gillymaru]

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