Image courtesy: DSLRmagazine.
Lenstip writes:
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25 mm f/1.8 complements their offer nicely, being a very interesting alternative to both the Panasonic 1.7/20 and the more expensive Leica 1.4/25.
Camerastuffreview writes:
Already at full opening, the sharpness is high from the corner to corner. You don’t often find that with bright lenses. On the Olympus website, the Olympus 25 mm f/1.8 is praised as an indispensable lens. For photographers with a preference for an affordable, compact, light and qualitatively high standard lens, Olympus is right. The only disadvantage that I can think of was that the lens is not extra well sealed against dust and splash water
A few thoughts about the Olympus 25/1.8 by Duncan Martin.
Time will tell if the Olympus 25 has any negative aspects which bite me in the backside, but so far I’m feeling positive.
Olympus 25mm store links:
25mm f/1.8 Black at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, GetOlympus. In EU at Wex UK, Amazon Germany.
25mm f/1.8 Silver at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, GetOlympus. In EU at Wex UK, Amazon Germany.
30 Responses
At least in terms of resolution, it seems to be a more consistently sharp lens across the frame than the Pana 25m 1.4. Rendering preferences aside, Not sure the panny is worth the extra scratch for a bit more sharpness in the center and 0.4 extra f-stop.
maybe not, but the panny comes with a hood and a pouch and at this aperture .4 is 2/3’s of a stop and that can make the difference between iso 3200 and iso 6400 which might be important to some. I really like how my 1.4 renders where the 45 1.8 is very sharp, but I’ve never loved what it gives me. Some things can’t be messured in the lab.
Agree .
Leica rendering & F1.4 when you really need it in ISO 3200 or higher .
The Oly 25mm is a late show but it did provide an option for Oly users that yelling so long for such 50mm lens . Not really for Pana users as Summilux is right lens to go with .
I have to politely diagree. I am going to buy the GM1 and the Oly 25 is the better fit for that camera. So not the right lens for all Pana users. 😉
Olympus 25 also comes with a hood. A first for Olympus 🙂
Like I just said up above, most people don’t know enough about what makes a good lens to realize how much better the PL25 is. As far as how it renders, it kind of blows away the the Olympus, but if you look at a sharpness chart they seem almost equivalent. But I will say this. Olympus sure makes pretty gear. If thats what you are looking for, they deliver in spades!
Like faith, and brand strength…
Or like you know stuff…
This is a “very good” lens, not excellent but more than good. The review matches my experience. It has fast AF, and no glaring weaknesses that the Panasonic 20mm and 25mm have (issues with sharpness across frame or at large apertures, AF issues/banding, or size/weight/price penalties. A safe bet and an easy to use lens due to its size/weight/AF. Those who prefer an even smaller lens or a slightly better performance by using only particular apertures and do not mind working harder to get that can buy the Panasonic 25mm.
Sorry, but the Panasonic 25mm is bigger than the olympus 25mm!
Don, I hate to break it to you, but you sound like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, like a broken record, . . . . .
I have the PL25 f1.4 on my E-M5 and it kicks butt. You have OBVIOUSLY not used this lens. The Pana/Leica 25 is AWESOME . . . . and I believe you KNOW that. Get out and take some pictures, Don!
In terms of how it renders (contrast, transmission, color etc.), the PL 25 is miles ahead of this lens. Of course, those qualities are harder to quantify and compare on a chart than sharpness, so most people don’t know enough to realize how much better the PL25 is. I guess thats actually good though. If you know enough to tell the difference you can get much more for a few extra dollars, and if not, the Olympus 25 is a decent value for a good lens.
Oh yeah, MUCH better… http://robinwong.blogspot.com.br/2014/02/olympus-mzuiko-25mm-f18-lens-review.html?m=1
You have a point Don, and I think it applies to a lot of the Olympus lenses. Most Olympus lenses are, for lack of a better term, “inoffensive”. They have no obvious weakness, but they render… I’m not sure how to describe it… neutral? The Panasonic and Sigma lenses have pop and punch and bite and contrast, while so many of the Olympus lenses are just kind of neutral and inoffensive. Kind of strange. I certainly prefer the pop and punch and bite and contrast. My Olympus lenses are nice, they deliver consistent quality results, but often lack that WOW factor. I think you pegged it when you called it a “safe bet”. They are safe.
Camerastuffreview link is not working.
Bought the lens. Using it for outdoor photography under low light conditions. So far i am happy. It performs better (on my EM5) compared to my old setup in the same conditions (Canon D50 + 50mm 1.4 USM). Portrait close-ups are quite impressive, though it wasn’t my main reason for getting this lens. This is my #1 walk-around-at-night-during-travels lens 🙂
I love my panny 25 but i have to admit the Oly is much better (physically) looking and compact. For the smaller M4/3 camera bodies it is a definite winner. I am jealous it looks so much nicer than my panny 25. You have to admit part of the appeal of m4/3 is the sexy camera bodies, and this lens just does it.
I have to agree. Olympus definitely makes the pretty gear while Panasonic makes the quality gear. If only this 25 rendered like the PL25 🙁
Interesting comment, I sold all my Panny lenses except for the 25mm, which is a decent lens, though not truly worthy of the Leica dot, 14 & 20 mm really disappointed me after all the praise they received. The 25mm I will soon have an Oly loaner to compare with the Panny reviews so for read favourable.
Duncan Martin compares the Oly 25mm to a a fuji 35mm equivalent??? And trashes what I consider to be a very decent lens. The Oly 17mmf/1.8. It’ same pretty useless read.
Perhaps he can compare a 24mm (equivalent) to an 85mm (equivalent), next. Can,t wait, 🙂
I suspect you might be trolling here . . . too many “equivalents”.
I don’t believe it matters in the slightest how lenses from an incompatible camera systems compare. Perhaps, for a “photo-purist” who hasn’t bought into any system yet and isn’t already committed to a lens mount/format yet there might be some academic curiosity, but to most camera users, equivalencies are irrelevant.
MOST camera users want to enjoy their hobby with their friends and family and NEVER consider esoteric factoids which make for tedious academic arguments but which do not improve the “Quality” of ones photographic life.
In other words: kids bought their toys in ignorance, and in ignorance they will stand up for them. Complacency and “fanboyism” beat educating oneself and improving.
LOL exactly, ignorance is bliss. I would take the money away from those dimwits and donate it to charity.
I guess I must be a like a kid playing with toys. I must admit it certainly is more fun than I had with my older pre-m4/3 cameras. As one who has owned many full frame cameras (film era), I am not so hung up on sensor size as I am liberated by the convenience of M4/3.
I watched a video challenge by Kai wherein he challenged actual pro photo-video guys to make video with a doll-camera, (looked like a Barbie doll) . . . seriously a “toy” camera and the pros actually were able to deliver. 🙂
Then again cell-phone cameras and such are getting ready to blow us all away. lol
My main beef is that Duncan Martin is comparing a 50mm (equivalent) lens to a 35mm (equivalent) lens. One is a normal lens. The other a wide angle. (The Fuji vs Olympus platform just adds to the absurdity and confusion).
He also casually just trashes the Oly 17mm with no facts? Quite amusing.
If you want to see a test video that I make all recorded with the Oly 25mm f1.8 and blackmagic pocket, here´s the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UVlkNFqR6I
It´s just an amateur video to help my niece in her class 😉
Cool, like an old school B movie, very professional looking.
Slasher movie hitting all cinemas this summer! Cool haha, I once did a similar short also for a relative 🙂
Camerastuffreview say under half a stop of vignetting wide open. Lenstip say almost 2 stops and rank it the worst “con” aspect. That’s a much larger disagreement than can be explained by sample variation.
“Camerastuffreview say under half a stop of vignetting wide open […]” in JPEG. Whyever on earth they have measured it.