The new M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 wide-angle lens isn’t the first 17mm lens Olympus has produced for its PEN and OM-D cameras. But it’s the fastest and one of the fastest in the Olympus stable. The other lens is a pancake-type lens that’s only 22mm long but has a maximum aperture of f/2.8. Both lenses offer a classical focal length equivalent to 34mm in 35mm format, which is popular for a wide variety of applications.
Although not as compact as the pancake lens, the f/1.8 lens is relatively small and light for a prime lens, extending just 35.5 mm in front of the camera body and weighing only 120 grams. Its optical design nine lens elements in six groups and includes three aspherical elements (one of them a Dual Super Aspherical type) to correct chromatic aberrations plus an HR (High Refractive index) lens with high spherical aberration correction.
The diagram above shows the location of the exotic elements. Olympus’ proprietary high-end ZERO multi-coating technology, which halves the reflectance of wavelengths between 450 and 650 nm, has also been applied to minimise the effects of flare and ghosting.
The autofocusing system is based on Olympus’s proprietary MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) mechanism, which drives focusing directly by using a precision-finished metal shaft and feed screw, rather than a geared mechanism (which causes operating noise). Only three small, lightweight lens elements are moved, ensuring smooth autofocusing with high speed and low noise.
The Snapshot Focus mechanism developed for the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2.0 lens has been incorporated in the new 17mm lens. With this mechanism, sliding the focus ring back towards the camera switches the focus to a manual mode and sets the focus to a specific distance (indicated on the inner barrel, which is revealed). Users can adjust the focus manually by simply turning the focus ring.
With the focus ring slid forward, the lens is set for autofocusing and the focusing mode is set by the camera. Snapshot Focus can be used for quick pan-focus shooting, in which both subject and background are in focus.
The lens is supplied with front and end caps plus an instruction manual and warranty card. The end cap supplied with the lens is a bayonet-type mounting, which is easy to attach and remove quickly. The LH-48B lens hood is an optional extra, as usual for Olympus lenses.
