Which Olympus Prime Lens

True, but the OP stated he was deciding between 17 and 25.

I guess I missed the point.

I’d get 25mm purely because 17mm isn’t my favoured focal length. For me the choice is between the Panasonic 15/1.7 and 25/1.4. I bought a used 25/1.4 mk i and love the rendering.

No weather sealing and slightly slow AF are limitations on the mk i, but acceptable to me.

The Olympus 17/1.2 and 25/1.2 lenses are both excellent. Pick the focal length you like best.

Andrew

I don't have 17 mm prime lens, but I suggest that Olympus 17mm 1.8 is a very good design with auto & manual focus. Other lenses don't have the right design for manual focus.

But we can't know what is lens really better for you. You need to find your personal right size.

I don’t know what you mean by that, but the OMZ lenses have your typical focus-by-wire system, and they are all kind of awkward. Nothing beats the manual focus experience of Leica M glass.

I don't find a manual scale on 25mm 1.8, only on 17mm 1.8 & 12mm 2. (And all PRO 1.2 lenses have this scale 17mm, 25mm, 45mm).

Leica M is so expensive.

As manual lenses, I use GEEKSTER 35mm f1.1 & Kamlan 28 mm f1.4. That models are not expensive as Leica and cost less than 150$. But for some situations, I really wanted 12-17 mm & 50/75mm lenses.

25mm is nice for street photography, but for some places, 17mm is better. I suggest before buying a prime lens anybody can try kit lenses 14-40/12-50 and others, and after some time find the personal right size.

There’s one Olympus lens that for a while struck me as somewhat bonkers - the 75mm f/1.8.

Bought one recently to pair with my OM5 and I like it a lot.

But for short I use a Panasonic GX 12-35 f/2.8. Beautifully sharp and nice range, with modest bokeh.

If I could only have one prime lens, it would be either my Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7, or Panasonic Leica 25mm f1.4. Both beautiful lenses, there's sharper out there, and faster too, but they both have that "something" about them.
My lightweight, inexpensive, yet great quality travel kit

I ordered the 9mm in January, they told me I’ll have to wait for about three months, and I’m still waiting for it.

Can’t wait for the lens to finally arrive!

17mm is my least favourite focal length. The 25/1.2 Pro seems to be third out the f1.2s, judging by posts and reviews. No doubt it’s a great lens.

I got the PL25/1.4 mk i and it works for me.

So get the 25mm f1.2 or f1.8, whichever best fits your needs.

Andrew

If you can't decide then take the golden mean: 20mm!

If the OM System 20mm f/1.4 Pro is over budget then I suggest the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7.

Something wrong there. I've seen shops selling bodies with the 9mm as the included lens. They're not in short supply any more, I'd be giving your supplier a good sharp kick in the butt for that.
I pre-ordered mine pretty much at announcement, & I'm 99.9% sure I didn't wait that long even then. Fabulous little lens by the way.

Agreed. I didn't try to understand 'why', but the 25/1.8 gives me 'flat', boring images, when the 17/1.8 is wonderful.
Consequently I am using a lot more the 17/1.8 (and the Pana 30/2.8 Macro).
It is not due to the focal 'per se'. Both are useful, if for slightly different subjects. (for example 25mm for one or two people, 17mm for a group of people)

It really depends on what your photographic style and preferences are. If you are a street photographer, the 17mm is, in my opinion, the better choice.

What focal length to shoot really is a personal thing.... A person should ask themselves ..'how do I shoot"...what am I looking for in my images etc.... And it might vary. I know I will take out a 55mm and a 24mm many times when I shoot analog and that allows me to just about do what I want to do. I will need to get some prime for a new digital I picked up but find that my other lens' beyond the 55/24 and not really getting much use. An occasional 85mm.... jim

I own both the 17mm f/1.8 and the 25mm f/1.8 (as well as the 45mm f/1.8 and the 75mm f/1.8) Olympus prime lenses, and the 17mm is the one I use the most. I hardly ever use my 25mm lens, despite it being a really excellent lens.

It really all comes down to what you want to shoot and what your shooting style is. I just find the 17mm focal length incredibly useful for me. It is wide enough for landscapes and most indoor interiors, and it is fast enough to use in low light saturations. It is also a great lens for group portraits, and for event photography.

You really cannot go wrong with either lens. Just pick the one that you will use most. Then.... a year later.... buy the other one too!