Panasonic 20mm f1.7 vs 25mm f1.7 for same price

20mm f1.7 without a doubt. It's discreet, sharp, nice bokeh, fun lens.

I filmed my cousin's wedding using only the 20mm f1.7 on my GX85. Nobody even noticed I was filming:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1tIzWWFPFficE1nUUFvMkk5QXc/view?usp=sharing

(download to see in full resolution. Most of it was was shot using the Ex Tele Conv function for 2.6X crop factor, but some clips were shot in 4K; all handheld)

I LOVE the 20mm f1.7 and I ultimately just had to learn to work around its short comings. I leave the camera in manual and use back button focus to get it to focus quickly. If you use it for video stick with manual focus and you will be fine.

If you need auto focus go with the 25mm f1.7 as its faster and quieter to focus.

I love the rendering and focal length of the 20mm which overcomes the slow/loud focus motor.

Algreen345 said:

FunGuy66 said:

Most would consider the 20 a better lens overall, and the pancake form factor is a nice bonus. However it’s relatively slow and noisy to focus.

The 25 is quieter and faster, and overall a very good value though the build does feel cheap compared to the 20. It also comes with a hood. It’s bigger than the 20 but still very small and light,

So... tough call but IMHO for video the 25 is the safer bet. But since the 20 is used, maybe you can give it a try before deciding? You should be able to tell fairly quickly if focus noise and speed are problems for you.

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the 20mm 1.7 was the first m43 lens I purchased and I used it on the EM5 and EM1. I loved the focal length, sharpness, and size. I sold it when I bought the O12-40 because the zoom had the same sharpness but the focus speed, especially in low light, was way better. To its credit, it has a very short minimum focus distance. To its demerit, it has some distortion and makes noses look very long in portraits. The 25 is probably a safer bet.

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Just wanted to chime in for beginners here... the 20mm doesn't distort noses, Algreen is only getting nose distortion because they moved closer to the subject, and framed the nose in the middle, which is quite a normal result if you're used to using a longer lens before you bought the 20mm.

waloshin2015 said:

I am looking for a prime lens to compliment my kit lens 14-42 mm ii. The primary use with be for video with my GX85. I can get a used 20mm f1.7 for the same price as a new 25mm f1.7. What would be the better lens?

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The Olympus 25mm f1.8 is supposedly a better lens than the Penny 25mm f1.7.

The 20mm is an excellent lens for stills. From what I’ve read, it focuses too slowly for video.

There is the excellent PL 25 1.4 which comes in 2 versions the first has noisy focus and no weather sealing but the second updates both. I has beautiful rendering. There are lots of the first version on the used market.

waloshin2015 said:

I am looking for a prime lens to compliment my kit lens 14-42 mm ii. The primary use with be for video with my GX85. I can get a used 20mm f1.7 for the same price as a new 25mm f1.7. What would be the better lens?

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I had 3 20mm f1.7, 3 25mm f1.7 and 2 25mm f1.4.

At f1.7 the 20mm is the sharpest of the three lenses, second place for the 25mm f1.4 , and the less sharp is the 25mm f1.7. However my first copy of the 25mm f1.4 was very very soft.
At f2.8 the 25mm Leica is the sharpest, the 20mm f1.7 is very close and again the 25mm 1.7 is the less sharp.

About the drawing, I always liked the 20mm more for colors and contrast. The 25mm f1.4 is close though.

It's a different story about the AF, the 25mm f1.7 is the fasted closely followed by the 25mm f1.4. The 20mm is a slower, and very slow and noisy for video.

It's worth noting the 20mm is very light and compact, it's the lens I use the most for photos with small cameras, along with the 15mm Leica.

waloshin2015 said:

Thank you. What is everyone thought on the 14mm f2.5?Very small, silent AF, good colors, cheap.

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Pros:

• very small
• Silent AF
• good colors
• cheap (especially used)

Cons:

• not much sharper than the 12-32.
• F2.5 a bit slow for a prime.
• not weather-sealed
• no IOS (12-32 has it)

Looks like the OP is in the Nikon camp now

this is a different focal length and should be a companion for the other 2 lenses,

14mm is a wide angle

20 and 25 are in the normal range