The japanese blog Egami (Click here for the google translation) spotted that new Olympus patent describing an updated version of the current [shoplink 14798]17mm f/2.8 pancake lens[/shoplink]. The lens has an improved optical performance. Egami also noticed that usually Olympus announces 6-12 months after a patent has been published. This means the lens could be announced within the year.
One more news: Photoshop launched the new App for the iPad (Click here to see it on iTunes). This really sounds like an amazing app!
107 Responses
Wished Oly will come up with faster aperture,..
Priority 1a: optical quality
Priority 1b: pancake
Priority 2: faster
My reasoning is: Given the OM-D series, the PEN series makes most sense with pancake lenses.
+1
Nobody complains that the 8mm fish eye, the 2.0/12, the 1.4/25 or any of the 45 are bulky.
But thats not what we are looking at. should they make the 17mm faster and because of that *gosh* as bulky as the 1.7/20 : seriously, that would beat the purpose of m43!
Seriously, nobody is asking for a f0.95 in hope that Olympus keep it small and compact. There is plenty of room for what we call a compromise!
Completely agree. I wouldn’t mind something faster, but with the performance we are seeing in the new cameras 2.8 is enough for most purposes. If it performs, I’ll pick it up.
For me a faster version of this lens is the top priority. Optically it’s not that bad. The Pens have a nice pancake version. Now come out with a 1.4 or 1.8 version for the OM-D. Another 2.8 lens is just ridiculous. Panasonic could come out with a 1.7 compact lens that is not that far off in terms of focal length. Please Oly, not another 2.8 prime.
Great news. It is the poor cousin of the oly primes! If only it was f2 it could replace the slow focusing 20/1.7 and optically poor 17/2.8 in one hit.
17mm F2.8 is one of the worst optical products Oly ever made. I tried it and was lucky enuf to sell it for a three digit amount (which it is not worth.)
its nonsense…if a lens does not perform well in a lab test, it doesn’t mean you can’t make great photos with it.
That’s true, but the 17/2.8 is really a bad lens. Especially for a prime. The optical quality is even below the cheapest zoom lenses.
can you see it with your bare eye? i can’t….
+1
Well, I know I have eyeglasses, but it’s actually quite obvious in computer screen(and in E-P3 screen sometimes). Especially if you just changed from optically superior 12/20/25/45…
Check out the 17mm 2.8’s flicker group. Those images look nice.
That’s ridiculous. I have that lens and it actually performs very well. I can get some fine photos with it. Your comment is typical of many on this forum. You and others need to improve your photographic skills instead of blaming it on a lens.
+1 !!! Its a great little lens. I love it. Tons of nice pics made with it on the www if you look around.
I’m quite happy with my 17mm. It does its job, takes great food photos and the colours are nice. Files from it sharpen up very nicely, too. I only use it for fun so maybe I’m not that discerning, but the overall image quality is better than what one might think given comments on the Internet.
Or not… Patents often never reach production stage. Other than that, Olympus would be foolish to release another 17mm f/2.8 lens. A higher quality 17mm f/1.4 would be much better as a different lens in the line up. It could also warrant a higher price.
+1
I would def pay more for a fast 17mm
Yes! We don’t need another 17/2.8. Faster, please!
yes faster than 2.8 and weather sealed. we need a great walk around prime for OMD.
F/2.8? No, thanks.
+1
What for?
It should be very easy to improve the IQ from the existing Oly 17/2.8! I bought one for my EP1 and it was a real disapoinment. Worse than the kit lens.
To offer 17/2.8 is now without sense.
Optically worse than standard zoom 14-42mm.
Competition from Panasonic is much better – 20/1.7 and 25/1.4 (Leica).
Moreover, it’s dark – f/2.8, and there will be zoom 14-35mm with the same light (or brighter) from Panasonic.
There is necessary a new version. Better optically then zoom. It could be pancake or not, but there have to be DIFFERENCE between it and zoom. Now it’s not significantly brighter and better than zoom 14-42mm. Moreover, Panasonic offers zoom-pancake, therfore there is no significant difference in size.
Well – I always was more than happy with my FT HG zooms that started at f2.8. So I don’t think this is too slow – as long as it’s optically great and delivers sharpness throughout the frame wide open it would be absolutely fine for me.
If Oly can come up with FAST Aperture F 1.4 or even faster F1.2, it would be A prime killer for any system SLR (APS-C & FF) or Mirrorless (Sony ,Pentax, Nikon, Leica). cause nobody have ever came up with F1.2 Auto focus.,.. I don’t mind bout the size and price
If it was F/2, it’d have been perfect.
Great move by Olympus – this sorts out the cheap, compact pancake for street shooters… now, *please* follow this with a weathersealed, high grade 17mm f1.4 for the OM-D!
Cheers
Brian
+1
If they must replace the 17mm, there are certain minimum requirements for it.
First, weatherproof;
Second, faster minimum f1.8 (idealy 1.4);
Third, it has to be considerably better than existing lens in IQ;
Lastly, size, same as existing would be great but could be a little larger.
My thoughts, if they must replace it.
Improved optically
MSC focusing (=FAST)
Weather sealed
Still pancake sized
Those put together would make for a worthwhile upgrade
Yes they are right . F2.8 might consider fast aperature in DSLR but not in M4/3 world . Please come out something faster , example F1.2 as mentioned by someone .
I suspect a revolution in M4/3 sensor is on it’s way & that’s why they dare to come out such aperature otherwise I don’t see how M4/3 can compete with Sony & Fujifilm with anything above F2 .
A sealed, black, 17mm/f2 Zuiko (I don’t even care if it’s a pancake) for the E-M5 would be perfect.
+1
We’re on the same page…
1. Weathersealed
2. Faster focussing
3. Better IQ
4. Only slightly bigger formfactor
Than I could life with f2.8!
Atleast 17mm f1.4 better 1.2
The current 17mm is very cheap, and as the system matures, I can see room for a high end, high cost, sealed, fast and larger 17mm, and a cheaper, smaller 17mm pancake with slower aperture (but still improved over current model).
Basically I want a better pancake than the 20mm. The AF just doesn’t cut it.
In fact, you could say we are without a high quality AF pancake. Kinda weird given what m43 is all about.
I think this is good news. I was never too impressed with the current F2.8 so a higher optical quality version of it sounds great.
Why the negativity? With OM-D’s improved performance, f2.8 doesn’t sound dark at all. In fact, most existing lenses will be fed new life…
Sometimes, we prefer not to crank up ISO too much, you know..
Exactly. These people don’t yet imagine what is a sensor dominated world. They are also not street shooters, because at 5.6 the lens is almost stellar and fast to AF.
Lots of wannabes here among the talking monkeys. 🙂
Finally, it’s not for the Panny fanboyz: they have no IBIS on the 20mm, so they must gather all the speed they can to picture their brats in their dim homes. 🙂
LOL
Calling everyone who doesn’t share your opinion as “Panny fanboy talking wannabe” is not for a civilized thread.
That said, the 17/2.8 is arguably under-appreciated, but its not “almost stellar”. No shame there, get down to earth. No one expect a $300 miniaturized lens to perform like a Zeiss cine. Besides, none of the reviews I read share your opinion. Lenstip.com, photozone.de, you name it. They all raises a bunch of issues, even at f5.6.
Are those people street shooters? They aren’t.
So you have my answer.
OTH I can remember at least three image threads in m4/3 sites, of stellar images made by street shooters.
The important thing is a lens that doesn’t preclude your getting close to people, and capturing the zeitgeist. The 17mm is.
It is fast to AF, and uses IBIS. So 2.8 is inessential.
Maybe they are street shooters, maybe they are not. All I know is that you claim to be one.
In any event, if that is your answer, it is fallacious.
I will agree that the 17mm is best suited for unobtrusive street photography than say, for birding. That does not make it near stellar optics.
Should have made it at least 2.5.
When Panasonic first showed the 14mm, it was f/2.8. People complained, that it was not really better than the kit zoom, and Panasonic reacted. 2.5 is an acceptable compromise for a “28”.
F2.5 would keep the size down!
With f1.4 that thing will getting huge!
F 2.8 is about as interesting as haemorrhoids
Would not want a 1.2 or 1.4 if it is not a pancake. 2.0 or 2.5 would be fine with me, if the quality is excellent.
e.g. 25/1.4 vs 20/1.7 – I keep my 20, as I value the size higher than the 0.3 win.
+1 although not f2.5.
Needs to be in the f1.8 – f2 pancake range
+1
Lets keep it a pancake!
Not me. I think it should be 1.8 at worst. I’d much prefer 1.4 or even 1.2. I don’t mind it being bigger. If people want the pancake they’ve still got the 2.8.
I’m just looking forward to the new pen that I hope this have a paired release with 😉
17mm is an underrated lens, it’s not bad at all.
Considering the price, it’s great and tiny lens.
Much better choice over kit zoom lens IMO.
Sure, it’s not that great optically, but very few m43 lenses are.
+1
It’s the most underrated lens out there.
In many cases I prefer it over the 20/1.7.
OK, it is softer but still sharp enough and has far better bokeh.
Most of the time the Olympus 17/2,8 stills are more pleasing.
Look at the nice examples images at lenstip.com and photozone.de
This system makes me “WONDER”
nobody would ever thought, m/43 will come up with;
The first generation M4/3 camera were so slow in AF ,I still remember when somebody used to say ,” There no way the CD AF can Compete against PD AF technology ;especially Olympus,
but now they have the FASTEST AF technology
20 mm f/1.7,in A pancake,> but it happened
25 mm f/0.95,.as the M lens LIKE Leica Noct ,..m4/3 version
also 17.5 mm as equiv=35mm on FF with f/0.95
75mm f/1.8,.probably the first one in FF equivalent 150mm
If Olympus can make the new 17mm with F/1.2,..more and more people will be amazed with this system,..LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN OLY,.also Lumix ,..WHERE THE HECK IS YOUR 24-70 ,.70-200,..
Ha ha – 1.2? It would be massive! Why not ask for a f0.95!
M43 is about compactness – f1.8 to f2 means it would be small.
1.2 would not necessarily be massive but it would be considerably larger. 1.2 would be fine on the new OM-D line. Pen users can keep using the 17mm 2.8, which is a fine lens.
Time for a new lens poll?
I would like to see 10mm F2.8 and maybe m4/3 versions of 11-22mm and 50-200mm.
I hope there will be more fast lenses after E-M5 release. Yes, they are bigger, but if you want to play with DOF, you either need big apertures or tilting lens for m4/3.
+100 for a 11-22/2.8-3.5 and 50-200/2.8-3.5 – Would buy both, as I love the 4/3 versions.
The 11-22 could be *slightly* smaller, but the 50-200 would be the same size and weight.
I like the sound of those. I’d go for a 10mm 2.8 in a heartbeat.
How about a 7mm 3.5? I’d buys 7mm prime in a heartbeat!
This is what I would like to see:
1. An equivalent of the Sony Zeiss E-Sonnar 24/1.8 for the NEX.
2. Less bulkier than that E-Sonnar and weather sealed.
Don’t even think about making it in in Silver like the pathetic 17/2.8 was originally!
“An equivalent of the Sony Zeiss E-Sonnar 24/1.8 for the NEX.”
Mediocre quality, large, high price? I don’t need such a lens.
Obviously, you have no clue about quality. 😉
Yes? We’ll wait for the DPR review.
Why not an Olympus 25mm f1.8 pancake? Olympus doesn’t have a 50mm equiv. for the m43, i don’t understand why…
Olympus already has 5 or 6 mediocre zooms that cover 25mm.
Why would they need a pancake prime at 25mm?
😉
Because Panasonic already makes a 25mm 1.4 m43 lens that’s an excellent performer.
Although the Panasonic 25mm lens is great, I’d still prefer to have a pancake at the 25mm focal length. 35mm and 50mm are my two favorite equivalent focal lengths, and the pancake form factor makes them much more likely to be with me at any given time…
+1, but as Mr. Reeee said Olympus loves reissues of zooms… Olympus started the retro trend with the Pen but neglected the basic 50mm equiv. I have a E-pl1 and still waiting for an affordable 25mm lens.
If Panasonic can make 14mm f2.5 and 20mm f1.7 pancakes then it seems like a 17mm f2 pancake ought to be possible
I’d love for a faster-focussing good optic alternative to the Panny 20mm, but f2.8 is a bit too slow to consider
It was already possible to have f/2 on the old dog 17/2.8 if Olympus had chosen not to restrict the aperture.
Unfortunately, the 17/2.8 is a crappy lens even with f/2.8 aperture. 🙁
Sure, the lens is far from perfect, but I’ve taken some brilliant shots with it, and the central sharpness is very good. It also has better looking bokeh than the 20mm 1.7.
Better looking bokeh than the 20/1.7 because that is all the lens offers as it isn’t sharp at all. With the 16MP sensor it is down right ugly, optically.
Mechanical construction is really pathetic as this (ie., the old dog) appears to have a rack and pinion focus. Attach a filter or a 37mm hood on this lens and you can pull it to its closest focusing distance of 10cm.
This “feature” will certainly be missed on the new version as that is likely to have a internal focusing. LOL!
I agree with this completely. An f2 version of the lens would likely be much sharper, and would be much more desirable (certainly for me, anyway). And there is absolutely no reason they couldn’t make an f2 version, or even a 1.7/1.8. No reason.
Making a lens a stop faster adds considerable complexity to a lens design. A couple years ago there was an interview with a Leica design, that IIRC said a stop faster lens design was something like thirteen more times complicated to manufacture. I think there are plenty of reasons why they may not choose to make a F2 version.
but like I was saying, Panasonic already make a 20mm f1.7 pancake, so it can’t be all that complicated (otherwise theirs wouldn’t be a pancake?)
I would be happy with the current 17 mm 2.8 in a weathersealed package, as a walk-around lens with the OM-D. If i would wish for better Fspeed, then i would go all the way for the Voigtlaender 17mm 0.95
Agreed, but they do need to improve the IQ with this lens if they are going to market it for OM-D users…
I would like to see a compact wideangle prime like 7mm 4.0 for landscapes and architecture. Not another normal. No FishEye!
I would like to see a compact wideangle prime like 7mm 4.0 for landscapes and architecture. Not another normal. No FishEye!
I wish they’d do at least one wide prime for 4:3, or find a way to adapt m.4:3 lenses to 4:3 bodies. Having no wide primes has never helped them sell 4:3 as a small DSLR system.
Seems like i have a sharp copy of the 17 2.8 one of my most used lenses, completely underrated, as the esystem 25 2.8
Seriously, why release another version of this again at f2.8? FWIW, I like my 17mm pretty well, but hate the maximum aperture.
f2.8? Seriously? It’s like making a 25mm f2.8 for 4/3. Nobody could seriously think that was a good idea.
Wait…what do you mean someone did that aleady….
I don’t know about you guys, but I like the 17mm even it has slow AF and a bit loud. To me, the lens perform very well especially sunny outdoors. The pictures I’ve taken came out clear and very sharp (even when magnified 400% in PSCS5). Let’s not get too technical about the build.
You guys are just whiners, you should be taking this little gem and just shoot.
Things on my dream list
17mm f2 pancake (Upgrade from the old pancake)
25mm f2 pancake (Fast 50 that’s cheaper than the Panny/Leica)
Olympus has been known not to go faster than f2 for the most part. And those old OM lenses at that aperture are superb.
+1
though I think f1.8 for both would look better in their catalogue next to the 45/1.8 and the forthcoming 75/1.8 🙂
I like my 17mm 2.8, to say it’s bad is kinda harsh, it’s just not stellar. A weathersealed version of it would be nice, I wouldn’t really need bigger aperture, since I’m using it mainly for quick snaps, always around 5.6~8.
I also think people are kinda pampered by the 20mm 1.7. In my days of the 43, the camera sensor was worse, and I could only afford HG lenses, even if I went to the realm of SHG, it’s still only 2.0
I too thought the 17 f2.8 was a good little lens. My copy was sharp enough for everyday shots.
I sold it and got the 20 f1.7 for low light shooting. But there was something about the 17 that was more pleasing when shooting outdoors. Can’t put my finger on it, but I do miss it a little.
The people that whine and complain about this little lens should remember that it’s usually almost given away with certain kits and can be found used for ~$150 in perfect shape.
The 20 f1.7 is much more expensive, relatively speaking.
They should make two versions. One an updated version if the 17/2.8. Another that is f2 or faster and weather sealed and higher grade ($$). Give consumers a choice between size and speed.
The Panasonic 25mm 1.4 is big and expensive. An Olympus 25mm pancake will sell like hot cakes. A 50mm equiv. is the a primary lens to have, it should be affordable to owners of m43 cameras.
+1!!!
Wish Panasonic would make a new version of the 20mm instead, with fast focusing.
What would be ideal is an f1.4 17mm (weather proof), but I guess that could kill the 20mm Panasonic sales. Maybe if Panasonic makes it it would not be as big a marketing deal…
Adding a 17mm f/2.8 II and the upcoming 75mm f/1.8 to the existing 12mmmm f/2.0 and 45mm f/1.8 will make a great set of Pro Primes. I’d prefer a f/2.0 to a f/2.8, but if the IQ increase is good enough, No Big Deal.
f2.8 is fine as long as i performs well.
+weather sealing would make it a perfect trekking/landscape lens.
by the way, when m43 first came out, both companies used to promote these cameras with compact pancake primes. 20mm was a kit lens, and it was such a great strategy. i wish they go back to that. at least with the high end models.
Panasonic has the 14/2.5 and 20/1.7 pancakes.
Olympus has the 17/2.8 and possibly a 17/2.8II ?
I think Olympus is missing an opportunity to add something new for m4/3rd.
I agree with the comments of “anonymous” and “stageshadow” all or part:
1. Weathersealed
2. Faster focussing
3. Better IQ
but
1. a bigger form factor would be no problem for me
2. Faster!
I could not life with f2.8!
I would buy (in addition to the m.Zuiko 12-50mm)
– A (very) fast lens f1.2 to f.1.8 (at least f2.0)
– With very fast autofocus
– Weathersealed
– High optical performance (like the 12mm/f2.0 or the 45mm/f1.8)
Otherwise I would go for the manual focusing Voightlander 17.5mm/f0.95 lens for available light and stay with the Olympus 12-50mm m.Zuiko lens for flash photography without buying the Olympus f17mm/f2.8 II.
(Olympus wish list: black weathersealed versions of the m.Zuiko lenses
– 12mm/f.2, 17mm/f1.4[?], 45mm/f1.8 and 75mm/f1.8 and
– A fast HG m.Zuiko super wide zoom 12-75mm/f.2.4-3.3
as an successor of the famous Zuiko 12-60mm/f2.8-4.0)
Not sure what people want. The 12-60 costs $999 and is huge. Making it m43 would reduce the size but not the price. Something with 25% more reach and more than 1 stop faster would be larger and more expensive. I would not want to buy such a lens. I would by a 12-60 with the same speed but smaller for m43.
People living in an unrealistical dream land will most probably not get what they dream of.
Greetings from my unrealistic dream land:
http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/rumor-canon-plans-22mp-eis-60-micro-four-thirds-for-early-2011-20100913/
Canon plans 22MP EIS 60 micro four thirds …
“…. apparently, the new camera will ship with two available lenses, including a 12-75 mm f2.8-4.0 IS Macro and 75-300 mm f3.5-5.6 IS, and expand later on with a larger catalog including a 5mm F4 fisheye, 8-25mm F4 wide-angle zoom, 14mm F2 pancake, 25mm F1.2 pancake, 45mm F1.5 pancake, and 65mm F2.0 Macro.
And 43rumors.com 27. November 2010
http://www.43rumors.com/the-need-for-fast-video-lenses-cosmicarcanontokina-12-5-75mm-f1-8/
Best regards
I did a mistake of selling the 25/2.8 in 4/3, but Now I’ll wait a bit to see if it is re-issued in m4/3 for quick AF.
I suspect that 17mm was the sweet spot for the new distance to flange.
All I say make it sharp wide open and more sturdy, even faster AF, and it will be mine.
Being inexpensive to me is a virtue, and if it doesn’t come I’ll surely have a look at the Sigmas.
If you want to look as great photographers and millionaires, get the CV 17mm – LOL!
I’ve been hoping (as many of you have) for a faster 17mm with better optics, but a 17mm f/2.8 pancake with better optical quality and fast focusing would be very acceptable. Let’s hope for weather sealing as well.
I’m very surprised that Olympus has never come out with a micro 4/3 version of the 25mm pancake for 4/3. A rather peculiar lens, but I’ve been very happy with the IQ, and have used it with an adapter on micro 4/3.
Please Olympus, more small primes!
– Olympius
Olympus, make it a 17mm/2.0 the size of the 12mm/2.0 or 45mm/1.8 and I will buy one. I already have a decent 2.8 pancake so I don’t need a replacement, regardless of what other people say. If Olympus can give us a full line up of regular sized fast primes (f2.0 minimum) from 24mm equivalent to 135mm, that would be great.