Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

https://blog.mingthein.com/2018/01/0...comment-560649

Looks a stellar lens... I want one :)

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

The file quality does look rather nice.
Practically it would have to sit on an E-M1 MkII rather than a Pen F IMHO.
17mm is a handy do all prime walk around FL, tempting but the size still bothers me a little.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

What's the purpose of a fast moderate wide angle? Such a lens is normally used to show the subject in context with its surroundings. Context being key.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

Depends what style you're after.

In street photography, people like Joel Meyerowitz and Alex Webb developed the 'field' style of image, with lots going on in layers, and m4/3 is useful for that with the extra depth of field and use of zone focusing. This is currently trendy, but extremely difficult to do well (and the interwebs are full of chaotic, jumbled rubbish as a result).

However, think of street images from people like Diane Arbus and Robert Frank and you'll see often very shallow depth of field with much more subject isolation. The only way to get that sort of effect with 4/3 is to have a lens with this aperture.

It's good to have choices.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

Not a lens for me..it's huge :eek:

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

Depends what you're comparing it against!

It is 68.2 x 87mm and 390g.

Panasonic 15mm f1.7 57.5 x 36mm, 115g = yes, it's huge (as when compared with the Oly 17mm f1.8).

Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 69.9 x 84mm, 382g = everyday wear for most OMD shooters, surely?

Versus a couple of other ways m4/3 shooters can get shallow depth of field, there are:

Olympus 75mm f1.8 63.5 x 69.5, 304g

Voigtlander 17.5mm f0.95 63.4 x 80, 540g

...and it sits in the middle of those two, for weight at least.

Yes, it is large, but for me only a try-out will enable me to decide whether the size/weight/cost is worth it. I've already found it will CA focus very well indeed at full aperture on the M1ii in the sort of way I envisage using it, so it's a matter of what the resulting images look like.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

Paul thanks forthe Link, it was particularly interesting given his early comment ----
‘A genuine concern, however, is the diminishing benefitof Micro Four Thirds systems having smaller, more portable lenses. These newF1.2 PRO lenses are no smaller or lighter than their DSLR counterparts. I can’tdeny that the size advantage is questionable now’------
This rather echoesmy comments in the Thread about the ‘Pro’ bias in the recent OlympusQuestionaire.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

That's fair comment but the beauty of the system is that we have a choice. The laws of physics say the brighter the lens the bigger and heavier it will be, but if you prefer small and light at least Olympus offers both.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

Very true................and I will stick with the f1.8 versions which are still excellent optics and the perfect size for my Pen F. My zooms are reserved for my EM1.1.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

The images look lovely - unfortunately it's listed at £1299 at Wex so I doubt I'll ever see it on my camera.
Thankfully the 17mm f1.8 is in my bag so I'll just stick with that!

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

I'm a bit puzzled by the statement in this review that "Neither myself nor MT are associated with Olympus in any way...." On his own blog (assuming it is the same Robin Wong) he states "I am an Olympus Malaysia employee" That was in 2016, so he may have moved on, but he clearly has had close connections with Olympus in the past

There is a direct comparison between the f/1.8 and f/1.2 on the Mirrorless Comparisons website, where you can compare images by the two lenses side-by-side.

I have no doubt that the f/1.2 is technically superior and weather-sealed but, for most practical purposes, there seems to be little to separate them and the f/1.8 is much smaller.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

I think he parted company with Oly a few months ago. He was always quite upfront about his connections, from what I remember.

John

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

The US list price is $1199 - so just over £900 at current exchange rates. Even if we add VAT it's still a lot cheaper. Leaves a bad taste about Oly stuffing us in the UK.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

Yes, Wong did part company with Olympus a while back. I was surrised and I think I posted.

He really doesn't like the 17mm FL does he, and disliked the Oly 1.8 especially, whereas others give that lens a good review.

I'm absolutely not in the $1200 prime price bracket, but if this causes a glut of used 17/1.8s on the market I might be temptable. Though it does seem as though Wong likes an alternative I'm considering - the Pan 20/1.7. Probably don't need either realistically.

Re: Robin Wong review of 17mm f1.2
 

I would certainly edge towards DoF, for subject isolation, given my style and limitation (I simply don’t see or compose quickly enough).