A really good and versatile prime lens

I pre-ordered about three days after announcement. I hope mine arrives soon!

James Jawo

Hey David, as I wait patiently I see you have received  yours. If you don’t mind me asking, where about on the planet are you?

WT21 wrote:

Do you own this lens, or are you just using on-line sample images? Can you post any of the images you have made with the lens, if you already own it?

Hi, I actually own this lens and I based my short review on some very boring test photos I made myself with the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and this new OM System 20mm f/1.4. Not a scientific test by any means, but in a controlled environment with all manual settings and based on many years of pixel peeping experience. I'm not going to post pictures. To me, seeing is believing, when it comes to image quality and I think this OM System 20mm delivers. Try one and see for yourself. If the Panasonic and the OM System lens were close in terms of optical quality, I wouldn't have purchased the OM System lens, but the difference is there, unfortunately

David Smith - Photographer wrote:

WT21 wrote:

Do you own this lens, or are you just using on-line sample images? Can you post any of the images you have made with the lens, if you already own it?

Hi, I actually own this lens and I based my short review on some very boring test photos I made myself with the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and this new OM System 20mm f/1.4. Not a scientific test by any means, but in a controlled environment with all manual settings and based on many years of pixel peeping experience. I'm not going to post pictures. To me, seeing is believing, when it comes to image qualityand I think this OM System 20mm delivers. Try one and see for yourself. If the Panasonic and the OM System lens were close in terms of optical quality, I wouldn't have purchased the OM System lens, but the difference is there, unfortunately

Bit of a contradiction there don't you think? How hard is it to just show us, as opposed to telling us to go buy the lens to see?

Ab Latchin wrote:

Hey David, as I wait patiently I see you have received yours. If you don’t mind me asking, where about on the planet are you?

Hi Ab, I actually just sort of ignorantly purchased it online from a Dutch store. It was in stock there, I had read some articles about it and I didn't know it was in short supply. I guess it was just dumb luck, because it was the last one and now it's out of stock for who knows how long. I often read these sort of stories in other people's online comments. I think it's a very good standard lens worth waiting for! Not too big or heavy and optically a strong performer. If you like the 40mm equivalent field of view, I think you'll really enjoy it.

Gnine wrote:

David Smith - Photographer wrote:

WT21 wrote:

Do you own this lens, or are you just using on-line sample images? Can you post any of the images you have made with the lens, if you already own it?

Hi, I actually own this lens and I based my short review on some very boring test photos I made myself with the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and this new OM System 20mm f/1.4. Not a scientific test by any means, but in a controlled environment with all manual settings and based on many years of pixel peeping experience. I'm not going to post pictures. To me, seeing is believing, when it comes to image qualityand I think this OM System 20mm delivers. Try one and see for yourself. If the Panasonic and the OM System lens were close in terms of optical quality, I wouldn't have purchased the OM System lens, but the difference is there, unfortunately

Bit of a contradiction there don't you think? How hard is it to just show us, as opposed to telling us to go buy the lens to see?

I understand your disappointment, but it's just my personal opinion expressed in words that I want to share. Believe what I'm saying, or not. I don't order you to buy (or try) something, you don't need to follow instructions, you don't need to read this thread or even believe a word anyone is saying. You are free, and so am I.

mtnroads wrote:

I agree, it looks like a winner. Perfect for my E-M5 III. I'm a hobbyist, but travel internationally, and think I could carry that, along with my 12-45/4 Pro and 35-100/2.8 and be all set for anything, under any conditions. 24-200 EFL, all WR, all 58 filter size. And only 3 pounds gear weight, not including the bag. Unbelievable. I would use that lens for street photography, foul weather and night walkabouts.

Well, that setup should cover pretty much any situation. How do you like your 12-45mm f/4? I'm thinking about getting this lens for wide angle photos and as an everyday walk around do most lens. However, the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 and Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 are interesting lenses too.

David Smith - Photographer wrote:

Ab Latchin wrote:

Hey David, as I wait patiently I see you have received yours. If you don’t mind me asking, where about on the planet are you?

Hi Ab, I actually just sort of ignorantly purchased it online from a Dutch store. It was in stock there, I had read some articles about it and I didn't know it was in short supply. I guess it was just dumb luck, because it was the last one and now it's out of stock for who knows how long. I often read these sort of stories in other people's online comments. I think it's a very good standard lens worth waiting for! Not too big or heavy and optically a strong performer. If you like the 40mm equivalent field of view, I think you'll really enjoy it.

Thanks David, as the owner of the pro primes I am sure I will, just hopeful I will get mine soon. I did notice a lot of European reviewers have it. So maybe they are prioritizing Europe.

olrett wrote:

Gnine wrote:

How hard is it to just show us, as opposed to telling us to go buy the lens to see?

Well, I don't blame him.

Thinking of how I play around with a new lens, I wouldn't want anyone to see the mess in my place.

Well, it's just plain bizarre behaviour when you think about it. We're discussing a visual medium, the OP went to ask the trouble of buying the lens, setting up test shots and comparing/analysing them, then ran to the interwebz, and provided.................. empty and hollow words. Bizarre.

Gnine wrote:

...

Well, it's just plain bizarre behaviour when you think about it. We're discussing a visual medium, the OP went to ask the trouble of buying the lens, setting up test shots and comparing/analysing them, then ran to the interwebz, and provided.................. empty and hollow words. Bizarre.

Yes, how dare he! Posting something that doesn't meet Gnine's standards, unbelievable. And then the likes he got, even worse! Bizarre indeed.

Jappie52 wrote:

Gnine wrote:

...

Well, it's just plain bizarre behaviour when you think about it. We're discussing a visual medium, the OP went to ask the trouble of buying the lens, setting up test shots and comparing/analysing them, then ran to the interwebz, and provided.................. empty and hollow words. Bizarre.

Yes, how dare he! Posting something that doesn't meet Gnine's standards, unbelievable. And then the likes he got, even worse! Bizarre indeed.

It's nothing to do with my "standards" It's just that his empty and hollow words are quite different to another person's, that actually posted some real world examples here https://www.mu-43.com/threads/olympus-20mm-f1-4-pro-released.112632/page-7

The OP here simply sounds and acts like a shill.

Jappie52 wrote:

Gnine wrote:

...

Well, it's just plain bizarre behaviour when you think about it. We're discussing a visual medium, the OP went to ask the trouble of buying the lens, setting up test shots and comparing/analysing them, then ran to the interwebz, and provided.................. empty and hollow words. Bizarre.

Yes, how dare he! Posting something that doesn't meet Gnine's standards, unbelievable. And then the likes he got, even worse! Bizarre indeed.

The content in the link provided by Gnine is a lot more informative than OPs waffle. OMD sure have produced a lens that provides a lot of contention in comparison to Panasonics offering.

Maybe this instead. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4616777

David Smith - Photographer wrote:

Because I was curious about this new lens, I compared my test photos from the OM System 20mm f/1.4 to those of a Mark II Panasonic 20mm f/1.7.

The OM System 20mm is optically superior, especially towards the edges of the image. It's sharper in the center too, but you have to pixel peep at 100% to see that. Also, it has better bokeh, weather sealing, it focusses very fast and it's nearly silent when focusing. I hoped the difference in corner sharpness would be less, because I like the Panasonic pancake, but it isn't. It is clearly visible.

I really like the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 because it's so darn small and lightweight. It literally fits in your pocket, has good image quality and combined with a compact MFT body like the E-M5 and E-M10 series camera, it forms a inconspicuous compact and lightweight system.

However, this new OM Systems 20mm f/1.4 is not only slightly faster, it's also optically superior. Although it's significantly bigger and heavier than the Panasonic pancake, it's not as big and heavy as the f/1.2 primes or Pro zoom lenses. It fits somewhere between the compact primes and the faster Pro lenses.

There's a place for both type of lenses I think. The Panasonic pancake is great to keep the size and weight of your camera gear down. Take this pancake and a short fast tele with you to travel light. The OM Systems 20mm is perfect if you want the best possible image quality, weather sealing and/or fast autofocus in the smallest possible package. It's a great lens, albeit a bit expensive.

ehem, just adding something...

here's someone from another forum tried his best to compare the pancakey 20mm vs non pancakey 20mm, and also added the 17mm f1.8 into the mix. and the heavenly news is, he attached the raw files...

ivan bayu wrote:

David Smith - Photographer wrote:

Because I was curious about this new lens, I compared my test photos from the OM System 20mm f/1.4 to those of a Mark II Panasonic 20mm f/1.7.

The OM System 20mm is optically superior, especially towards the edges of the image. It's sharper in the center too, but you have to pixel peep at 100% to see that. Also, it has better bokeh, weather sealing, it focusses very fast and it's nearly silent when focusing. I hoped the difference in corner sharpness would be less, because I like the Panasonic pancake, but it isn't. It is clearly visible.

I really like the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 because it's so darn small and lightweight. It literally fits in your pocket, has good image quality and combined with a compact MFT body like the E-M5 and E-M10 series camera, it forms a inconspicuous compact and lightweight system.

However, this new OM Systems 20mm f/1.4 is not only slightly faster, it's also optically superior. Although it's significantly bigger and heavier than the Panasonic pancake, it's not as big and heavy as the f/1.2 primes or Pro zoom lenses. It fits somewhere between the compact primes and the faster Pro lenses.

There's a place for both type of lenses I think. The Panasonic pancake is great to keep the size and weight of your camera gear down. Take this pancake and a short fast tele with you to travel light. The OM Systems 20mm is perfect if you want the best possible image quality, weather sealing and/or fast autofocus in the smallest possible package. It's a great lens, albeit a bit expensive.

ehem, just adding something...

here's someone from another forum tried his best to compare the pancakey 20mm vs non pancakey 20mm, and also added the 17mm f1.8 into the mix. and the heavenly news is, he attached the raw files...

Thank you for adding that. An interesting read and I understand the disappointment. Personally, I'm not considering the f/1.2 primes because of the high price, larger and heavier design and available focal lengths. If it's a 20mm you like and you want the best possible image quality in a relatively small package, there's no substitute for the OM System 20mm f/1.4 I think.

My findings are different than shreebles' and this lens is one of the sharpest I ever had. If you like perfect landscape photos, I think maybe MFT is not the best system anyway. The lens resolves a lot of detail and it's just a joy to shoot with it. It's not perfect though, but I think it's an excellent compromis (size, price, performance and features).

I haven't seen a compact and lightweight lens that's absolutely perfect wide open at f/1.4, ever. I wonder how big people actually print to see those evil defects. Everybody's needs are different and there's not one lens, car, hifi set, guitar or partner that does it all.