The Micro Four-Thirds system has always offered a pretty decent range of sharp, fast prime lenses, and now there’s a new option from Panasonic.
Olympus introduced their 25mm f1.8 lens two years ago and now Panasonic is following suit with a new 25mm f1.7 prime lens.
So which 25mm prime lens should you get? I own the Olympus 25mm and have played with the Panasonic for a bit, so here are a few thoughts.
Panasonic
The Panasonic 25mm has a f1.7 aperture and is a bit cheaper, going for just $249 / €199 on Amazon, compared with the Olympus at $299 or even €349 here in Germany.
However, it can occasionally lack a bit in sharpness off-center and is a little bit bigger than the Olympus model.
Olympus
The Olympus 25mm f1.8 was introduced 2 years ago and offers a really great lens in a compact package. While both lenses are made of plastic with metal bayonets, the Olympus feels slightly sturdier. Both come with a lens hood and offer similarly-styled focus rings.
The Olympus 25mm is a great lens and tack sharp throughout. It does have a slightly lower aperture of f1.8 vs f1.7 on the Panasonic, but you’re not missing much.
Here are a few Olympus samples:
Neither lens is stabilized, something worth bearing in mind if you have an older Panasonic camera that doesn’t do in-body stabilization.
Verdict
Unless you can get the Panasonic at a really amazing price, I’d recommend springing for the Olympus. The 25mm focal length is a great format for a wide-range of scenarios and I hardly ever take mine off, so it’s worth getting the better version.
Links
Olympus 25mm f1.8 on Amazon.com
Olympus 25mm f1.8 on Amazon.de
