The OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II is an extended overdue replace to one of many traditional Olympus lenses, and provides two very welcome new options – nevertheless it additionally takes away a signature characteristic that made the OG so nice.
Launched again in 2012, the unique Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 was a diamond of an optic – nevertheless it lacked climate sealing and also you had to purchase the lens hood individually. Fortunately the OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II addresses each of those factors, however does so on the expense of the handbook focus clutch featured on the Olympus lens.
Because the optical development is similar in each lenses, this poses an fascinating query for potential prospects / upgraders: is the power to shoot in inclement climate extra necessary than the power to zone focus, particularly for a 35mm equal lens that is good for avenue images?
OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II: Worth & availability
The OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II is offered from February 27 with a $549.99 / £479.00 / AU$649.00 retail worth.
To place that in perspective, the unique Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 lens is presently obtainable for $279 / £325 / AU$486. Keep in mind that the Olympus model is just not climate sealed, and would not include a lens hood, nevertheless it does possess a handbook focus clutch and distance scale – which the newer OM model doesn’t.
OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II: Specs
| Mount | Micro 4 Thirds | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| Autofocus | Sure | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| Stabilization | No | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
| Climate sealing | Sure | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| Development | 9 components, 6 teams | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| Angle of view | 65° | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| Diaphragm blades | 7 | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
| Min aperture | f/22 | Row 7 – Cell 2 |
| Min focusing distance | 0.25m | Row 8 – Cell 2 |
| Max magnification | 0.08x | Row 9 – Cell 2 |
| Filter dimension | 46mm | Row 10 – Cell 2 |
| Dimensions | 57.6 x 37.6mm (dia x size) | Row 11 – Cell 2 |
| Weight | 112g (with out caps and hood) | Row 12 – Cell 2 |
OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II: Construct & dealing with
That is the place all of the variations lie between the brand new OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II and the unique Olympus model of the lens, provided that the inner optics are the identical in each.
To recap, the OM model now boasts climate sealing, with 5 inner seals to guard your system from mud and moisture. Whereas it nonetheless boasts satisfyingly strong steel development, the brand new lens is definitely 8g lighter than the outdated one regardless of the addition of the sealing – however there’s an necessary motive why.
As you possibly can see from the side-by-side photos beneath, the OM lens now not has the handbook focus clutch mechanism and distance scale featured on the Olympus lens – little question the rationale for the load discount.
It could be that this mechanism merely wasn’t attainable to seal with out re-engineering it; there are different OM and Olympus lenses which have a weather-sealed clutch, such because the OM System M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Professional II, however these optics have been designed from the bottom as much as accommodate seals. Because the 17mm was by no means constructed with sealing in thoughts, I am inclined to assume that this can be a design restriction quite than a churlish option to take away a helpful characteristic.
Additionally price noting is that, with the OM model being 2.1mm longer and that includes a brand new bayonet mount for the included lens hood, some lens caps that fitted the Olympus model will now not match this new one (together with the steel LC-48 Olympus PEN lens cap).
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OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II: Efficiency
Because the optical development within the OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II is similar to that of the outdated Olympus lens, so is the optical efficiency. And whereas this is not fairly the famous person that the OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II is, it is nonetheless a powerful little lens.
This can be a lens that I really like taking pictures with vast open; even at f/1.8, heart sharpness actually shines and there is solely a whisper of fringing. That is particularly necessary for Micro 4 Thirds lenses, the place topic separation and taking pictures in low gentle could be difficult, so the truth that it performs so nicely at its most aperture makes me very completely satisfied.
Certainly, it is my favourite 35mm equal lens to work with on any system – though nook sharpness is not fairly as spectacular, as you will must cease right down to round f/4 to get prime efficiency. For the sort of work I do, although – environmental portraits, reportage and avenue images – I’ve received no complaints in any respect.
There is not any doubt that shedding the handbook focus clutch looks like a loss. There may be, after all, a fly-by-wire focus ring, and it really works simply wonderful. However not solely did the outdated clutch have a distance scale for zone focusing – it additionally had laborious stops at both finish. Nonetheless, whereas it took a little bit getting used to, it was completely attainable to shoot avenue images with the usual focus ring (and when you’ve by no means used the outdated Oly lens, clearly you will not miss it).
If you happen to’re a video shooter, I would advocate that you just check this lens out earlier than shopping for it to see the way it behaves. Some copies of the unique Olympus model made a grinding sort of noise whereas autofocusing throughout video – nevertheless it wasn’t a common downside.
My copy of the brand new OM model did not make these noises whereas continually focusing, so it is attainable that the outdated focus clutch was the trigger – however provided that the internals are in any other case similar, I would advocate testing the copy of the lens before you purchase it.
OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II: Pattern pictures
OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II: Verdict
In pure efficiency phrases, the OM System M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 II continues to be one among my favourite lenses. It is unbelievably small and light-weight, tremendous sharp vast open, fast to focus – in each respect, an incredible lens for the whole lot from avenue and journey images to environmental portraits and content material creation.
You do, nevertheless, want to find out what’s extra necessary to you: having climate sealing or having a handbook focus clutch. Avenue purists will scoff and stomp and demand on the latter, however I feel the climate sealing – and the included lens hood – on the brand new OM System model will attraction to extra folks.