The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Olympus M 25mm F1.8 and the Panasonic Macro 30mm 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 Macro 30mm F2.8 OIS is the longer of the two lenses at 64mm. The Olympus M 25mm F1.8 with a length of 41mm, is 23mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Panasonic Macro 30mm F2.8 OIS also has a larger diameter of 59mm compared to the Olympus M 25mm 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 25mm F1.8 weighs 136g, which means it is 44g (24%) lighter than the Panasonic Macro 30mm F2.8 OIS which has a weight of 180g.
Filter Threads
Both the Olympus M 25mm F1.8 and the Panasonic Macro 30mm F2.8 OIS have the same Filter thread size of 46mm.
Below are links to the 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Olympus M 25mm F1.8 and the Panasonic Macro 30mm 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
Olympus M 25mm F1.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 25mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
50mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Panasonic Macro 30mm F2.8 OIS is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 30mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 60mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.