73 of 73 people found this review helpful. 
Very solid performer, shows the potential of the M4 / 3 By Jeremy Thornhill I recently bought an E-P2 portable as an option to supplement my DSLR setup. I've been very happy with his performance in many respects, however, has no flash and the kit lens is slow, which means that the results in painfully indoor use high ISO and noise it is impossible to clean. That led me to buy this objective, which is faster to go to the M4 / 3 today.
First, this is wonderfully compact. Much thinner than the Zuiko M. 14-42mm kit, although slightly larger in diameter, and makes the E-P2 profile even lower when mounted. It balances well on the E-P2 and looks well at home for me, though it lacks the signature silver accents PEN. It has a manual focus ring mass is a pleasure to use (once you get the hang of manual focus mechanism micromotor, which shares with the 14-42).
Unlike the newer, smaller 14mm f/2.5 pancake Panasonic Lumix, this guy has some covers of oversized lenses that make it more cumbersome than it should be. One objective of this size leads us to be slipped into your pocket, but large caps that are on the road, you may want to look for aftermarket replacements.
As for intelligence ... so, you can read the letters, but suffice to say that this is a very good team. Unlike M. Zuiko kit lens, this guy is strong open, perhaps with only small gains by stopping down. This goal can really show what M4 / 3 is capable of intelligence perspective in a way that can not zoom kit.
The autofocus is at least as accurate as any other lens I've tried in this body, and accuracy of AF especially in light is very good (thanks, no doubt, to the grand opening). AF speed, but is mediocre at best, and is also a good bit stronger than would be ideal. The opening also makes a very noticeable sound click, it's a little upset with the E-P2 (who constantly plays with the opening when using live view). Neither the noise nor the sound of opening approach is a real problem for still images, but can cause some problems if the video recording with the internal microphone.
There is a problem with this specific objective using the Olympus bodies: do not distortion compensation software Panasonic bodies do with Panasonic lenses. This means that, in the bodies of Olympus only, visible light falloff in the corners when shooting open (goes for about f / 4). In practice there is a big problem, and the corners are not much in most shots anyway, but if you're a shooter PEN should be aware of this and stop losing deal if / when the curves are important.
I should mention also 17mm f/2.8 Olympus itself, which many consider an alternative to this goal. If you're new to photography and you are thinking of owning one, I recommend the Panasonic, whose opening edge and focal length combine to give better options to control DOF. I still enjoy the Olympian (and in fact, is even smaller than * this), but I think for most people in most situations, this is a better option.
In short: if you own body m4 / 3 without flash and attention in all low light shots, stop reading and buy this objective right now. For everyone else, you're here, presumably for the CI, the narrower DOF f/1.7 's, and portability, and in every way offers this goal. It's an all around a great player and cost, although high, is not entirely reasonable that something of this quality.
As a side note, if you're used to 50mm as "normal" age of cinema, I think you will find 20 mm very nice, I've shot a lot with my first 28mm on APS-C, and the 20mm Panny here provides a field of similar view to that.
** Update 05/21/2010 **
My first thoughts on this have proven to be successful. This little goes much, much more time on my camera as the kit lens, the faster opening a gift from heaven, and the smaller size is great for portability. The image quality is impeccable and the light falloff is almost never a problem in real world scenarios. If you only buy one lens for M4 / 3 of the body, make it this one.
** Update 07/08/2011 **
Panasonic has announced a version μ4 / 3 native 25mm f/1.4 Leica brand Panasonic, you should watch less than two times the price of this goal. I have (and revised) of the regular version of the Four Thirds lens, and accounts imply that early version μ4 / 3 should be nearly the same optical full-sized cousin.
The f / 1. 4 25mm is definitely better, but not by much, only half a stop faster, there is hardly clear, and still suffer from corner softness and vignetting wide. The normal focal length is more traditional, which (in combination with the advantage of the opening) makes it suitable for isolation of your subject, but ... least twice the cost and twice the size? These benefits seem difficult to justify.
As for me, the 20mm f/1.7 here remains the first objective to be purchased for a body μ4 / 3. It plays to the strengths of the system without breaking the bank.
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My favorite camera By Martha Piper I am a 'collector' of digital SLR cameras. I have almost all Panasonic Lumix cameras available and a few good canons, Sony, Nikon y. This camera is by far my favorite. It is easy to handle, easy to use, totally stupid test, and the pictures come out great. I have a Nikon D80 and is a great camera, but for me, this is still my favorite. It's just a fun camera and easy to handle. I am in no way a professional photographer, I love photography and the camera is a joy. 
