In this review, we will be comparing the Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7 for the MFT and the Olympus M 17mm f1.8 for the MFT, two Wideangle Prime lenses from Panasonic and Olympus.
We will start by looking briefly at the main specs of these two lenses, and in the next section, we will start analyzing them in more detail and listing the pros and cons of each lens.
What type of photography are the Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7 and Olympus M 17mm f1.8 lenses good for?
The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7 and the Olympus M 17mm f1.8 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
| Photography Type |
Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7 |
Olympus M 17mm f1.8 |
| Bird/Wildlife | Poor | Poor |
| Sports | Poor | Poor |
| Portrait | Average | Average |
| Travel | Average | Average |
| Street | Excellent | Excellent |
| Wedding | Average | Average |
| Walk Around | Average | Average |
| Vlogging | Good | Good |
| Landscape | Very Good | Very Good |
| Macro | Poor | Poor |
Size and Weight Comparison
The weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7 weighs 115g, which means it is 5g (4%) lighter than the Olympus M 17mm f1.8 which has a weight of 120g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Micro Four Thirds Mount for size comparison purposes.
Wideangle Prime Lenses in Micro Four Thirds Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7 and the Olympus M 17mm f1.8 has the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Micro Four Thirds lenses are OM System OM-5, Panasonic GH6 and OM System OM-1.
Focal Range
Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 15mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 30mm when used on a FourThirds format camera. Olympus M 17mm f1.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 17mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 34mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.