ZUIKO ED 12mm f/2.0 vs 17mm f/1.8. THoughts?

My thought is that they are VERY different focal lengths so it makes little sense to compare them.   Figure out what focal length you want, and the answer will be clear.

HarbourDog wrote:

I have a 25mm for my regular street lens, but am undecided between adding a 12mm (which of course would be equivalent to my old 24mm), or adding the 17mm. While the 17mm will be just a tad wider than the 25mm, I'm wondering if it will be 'enough' of a difference compared to my 25mm. Anyone have experience with the two lenses and would like to give me their opinion? Thank you in advance.

Ideally you would have both, but if you must choose one I'd opt for the 12mm.

While 12mm and 17mm may seem like not much difference but it's pretty substantial. 12mm gives nearly 72° x 57° and 17mm gives about 54° x 42° degrees,

Also in a pinch you can crop an image from the 12mm to the 17's FOV.  Can't go the other way 'round nearly as easily.

Check out this example of full frame focal length fields of view:

Source: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/prime-lens-101

Lew wrote:

Also in a pinch you can crop an image from the 12mm to the 17's FOV.

You can, but you are losing just about exactly half of your pixels.    Your 16MP 4/3 sensor becomes about like a 8MP 1" sensor.

I'd go to the 12. It's considerably different than your current lens and so adds more range to your kit. It's also a very fun lens to use and beautifully made. The 17 (34 AoV in film days) is more a wide normal, in fact my best 135 format compact has a 35/2.8 lens.

We used to have a very talented Brazilian street photographer on this forum who did wonderful portraits with the 12. Not the typical street lens but it results in full interaction with the subject, given the close working distances. (No, it doesn't mangle faces with distortion when used with care.)

Cheers,

Rick

I remember the old rule of doubling the FL from lens to lens... with a 25mm, the logical step would be a 12 and a 50 (more or less). I used a 35mm (equiv. FF) on film and APS for many years, but in the end, it was a compromise for me. Not that wide, not that isolation effect. As soon as I went for a second lens with my m43 kit, I found a 12/25 or, in my case, the 15/25 combo more appealing.

However, I'll go for a 3-days-backpack tour this week. Will take my 3-lens-kit 7.5/15/25 with me... I am really curious which will be most on my camera...

tkbslc wrote:

Lew wrote:

Also in a pinch you can crop an image from the 12mm to the 17's FOV.

You can, but you are losing just about exactly half of your pixels. Your 16MP 4/3 sensor becomes about like a 8MP 1" sensor.

Yes, while not ideal it's certainly not the end of the world.  I have several photos still hanging on my wall which I took with 3, 6, and 8MP cameras in years past.

Still far better to lose half your pixels than all of them.  

Of course, as I implied initially, it is best to have the focal lengths you will use and not crop.