The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Olympus M 45mm f1.8 and the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS is the longer of the two lenses at 63mm. The Olympus M 45mm f1.8 with a length of 46mm, is 17mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS also has a larger diameter of 63mm compared to the Olympus M 45mm f1.8's 56mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Olympus M 45mm f1.8 weighs 116g, which means it is 109g (48%) lighter than the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS which has a weight of 225g.
Filter Threads
The Olympus M 45mm f1.8 has a filter size of 37mm whereas the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS has a 46mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 37mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Olympus M 45mm f1.8:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Olympus M 45mm f1.8 and the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS 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-1 II, Panasonic G9 II and OM System OM-5.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
45mm but while Olympus M 45mm f1.8 has the fastest aperture of
F1.8, the Panasonic Leica Macro 45mm F2.8 OIS's widest aperture value is
F2.8.