I have used Olympus cameras (currently OM-5) and lenses for many years for my primary interest in travel photography. My usual lens is the 14-150 zoom, but I recently bought the 25mm/1,8 for low light applications. It's extremely sharp lens, very portable, and much faster than the zoom. My only critique is that if the provided lens hood is in place, it is very difficult to place and remove the lens cap. A different configuration - possibly with a center-of-cap handle might be better. I am planning to purchase a 46mm UV filter to use as a "lens cap", and replace it as needed.

I am newer to the micro four thirds system and purchased this 25mm f/1.8 ii as my first lens. For years, I have primarily used a 50mm full frame equivalent field of view, regardless of the camera system. Such a versatile focal length! This lens provides excellent sharpness and clarity starting wide open. Great bokeh and out of focus areas, very pleasing, especially when focused on a close subject. This lens will almost always be on my OM-5 Mark ii for family and travel photography.

Om System has made a great lens even better. Weatherproof and more solidly built. Sharp and smooth to focus just right to keep on my walk around camera nearly all day.

This lens is a great addition to my set and meets all my expectations of shooting sharp and rich images.

Loved my excellent "old" E-series' Macro 35mm f3.5, but the 25mm f1.8 is lighter, needs no adapter, of course, and it is, as sharp as anything I have used under $800! Comes with a hood (ahem, why don't some other M 4/3s lenses?), feels smooth and solid: it has a strong metal base. Remember 2 things: no macro, and f1.8 gives shallow DOF. "Reconditioned"? I have had 5 bodies and 4 lenses that Oly said were not new and never 1 proble. Hint! How good is the 25 recon? I just shot 200 RAW pix at a brunch in a huge home with wildly diverse EVs: no problem with my E-PL5. This lens shows the 50mm perspective of 35mm film cameras, but few "normals were as sharp, distortion-free, and soooo light. I carry this on my E-PL5, the kit zooms packed, and the beloved 35 on a spare E-PM2 body. Be sure to hold the feathery PENs straight and level -- then be amazed at lightning-fast stills-shooting. A darned near perfect prime for PENs and OMD's. Oh, the price? It's the best investment in sharp since the longbow.