Awesome news, er ... rumor.

http://www.43rumors.com/

Might want to change the link to the direct one:

http://www.43rumors.com/ft4-christmas-present-17mm-f1-8-to-hit-stores-in-december-for-550-euro/

I'd rather have the Voigtlander 17.5mm F0.95.

I love the AF on the OM-D but F1.8 is a lot less than what I was hoping for.

F1.2 and we're in business.

I agree with Fly- 1.8 is not worth $500-$600 for me.

I'd like another Leica/Panasonic Sumilux (f1.4) at about $600, like the 25mm f1.4. Oh well.

After using the Olympus primes quite a bit, they definitely have a different look to it than zeiss or leica lenses. The color cotrast is a lot softer on Olympus, looks more natural. If you prefer that look, this might make a lot more sense.

FlyPenFly wrote:
I'd rather have the Voigtlander 17.5mm F0.95.

I love the AF on the OM-D but F1.8 is a lot less than what I was hoping for.

F1.2 and we're in business.

f1.8 is just fine for a wide-angle lens.

I'm looking forward to the Panny 42.5/1.2 lens early next year. It will rock as a portrait lens!

I know the Panasonic 20/1.7 has fallen out of favor here, but it is still a pretty good performer. Given the (rumored) relative prices, the Oly 17 will have to be optically excellent to get me interested.

bobbytan wrote:
FlyPenFly wrote:
I'd rather have the Voigtlander 17.5mm F0.95.

I love the AF on the OM-D but F1.8 is a lot less than what I was hoping for.

F1.2 and we're in business.

f1.8 is just fine for a wide-angle lens.

I'm looking forward to the Panny 42.5/1.2 lens early next year. It will rock as a portrait lens!


Wide angle shallow DoF is an awesome look especially for environmental portraits. See how popular 35mm F1.4 is on full frame.

35mm F3.7 is fine but not $600 fine.

FlyPenFly wrote:
Wide angle shallow DoF is an awesome look especially for environmental portraits. See how popular 35mm F1.4 is on full frame.

35mm F3.7 is fine but not $600 fine.

I've completely given up the thought of shallow DOF with MFT, so for me it's all about best IQ in smallest possible package. $600 and f/1.8 is fine if it's as good as the 12/2.

The 12/2 seems to be hit or miss quality wise. I hope this new one is better.

The voigt F0.95 gives you an equivalent to 35mm F2. Wish it at least had automatic aperture control. Maybe we'll see a II.

However, wide open, it seems slightly softer than I was hoping.

bpark42 wrote:
I know the Panasonic 20/1.7 has fallen out of favor here, but it is still a pretty good performer. Given the (rumored) relative prices, the Oly 17 will have to be optically excellent to get me interested.

Agreed. The 20 1.7 always seem to play second fiddle to the PL 25 1.4 but the 20mm is a very good lens.

One stop or 2/3 of a stop is not a huge difference on a w/a lens. I would rather have AF than MF any day, for shooting on-the-fly i.e. speed.

FlyPenFly wrote:
bobbytan wrote:
FlyPenFly wrote:
I'd rather have the Voigtlander 17.5mm F0.95.

I love the AF on the OM-D but F1.8 is a lot less than what I was hoping for.

F1.2 and we're in business.

f1.8 is just fine for a wide-angle lens.

I'm looking forward to the Panny 42.5/1.2 lens early next year. It will rock as a portrait lens!


Wide angle shallow DoF is an awesome look especially for environmental portraits. See how popular 35mm F1.4 is on full frame.

35mm F3.7 is fine but not $600 fine.

35mm at f2 and f3.7 is a significant difference in DoF... How many people do you think would be excited about an F3.7 RX1 vs a F2 RX1?

But I'm sure people have different priorities. I'm pretty good at fast manual focus even without peaking.

You don't think the DOF/blur quality on the 25/1.4, 45/1.8 and 75/1.8 is good? I think they are all really good for m43.

FlyPenFly wrote:
35mm at f2 and f3.7 is a significant difference in DoF... How many people do you think would be excited about an F3.7 RX1 vs a F2 RX1?

But I'm sure people have different priorities. I'm pretty good at fast manual focus even without peaking.

It's not just that the Voigtlander is manual focus, though that for me is a BIG deal. It's also three times the size and weight of the likely size/weight of the Oly 17mm f1.8. . . A sumilux 17mm f1.4 would be nice. . . The autofocus speed of the 20mm Panasonic is poor, IMHO.

It's certainly a personal taste and the Voigt is a very specialty lens. By F1.2 it's pretty dang sharp which is great when you consider the light gathering capabilities of it, I can't think fo a sharper lens at F1.2.

I do think the bokeh in all the lenses you mention are fine. Not spectacular but alright. The Oly 60 2.8 is a special lens because it virtually lacks any bokeh CA.

Look at not only the cost of the VC lens, but also its sheer size/weight in regards to m4/3, and then at the total m4/3 user base and how many want to manual focus all the time.

Doesn't matter how good it is, its simply not going to be popular with the masses because things like wide open sharpness and speed just aren't that big of driving factors in the market as a whole.

Sure in our little obsessive compulsive pixel peeping online enthusiast world they those are huge things, and darn if many haven't nearly gone bankrupt chasing perfection, but its the masses that drive corporate profits

Yeah, I think that's why I post here. I'm into alt gear that might not have broad appeal.

FlyPenFly wrote:
The voigt F0.95 gives you an equivalent to 35mm F2.

And it also ruins the whole concept of MFT by being very large and heavy. In my opinion, there is no reason to strive for equivalence, but rather smaller size and lower weight at the same f-stop. So, f/1.4 to f/2.8 as largest aperture is fine, as long as the IQ is good and the lenses small.