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 42.5mm F1.7 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 42.5mm F1.7 OIS is the longer of the two lenses at 50mm. The Olympus M 45mm f1.8 with a length of 46mm, is 4mm shorter. On the other hand, the Olympus M 45mm f1.8 has a larger diameter of 56mm compared to the Panasonic 42.5mm F1.7 OIS's 55mm 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 14g (10%) lighter than the Panasonic 42.5mm F1.7 OIS which has a weight of 130g.
Filter Threads
Both the Olympus M 45mm f1.8 and the Panasonic 42.5mm F1.7 OIS have the same Filter thread size of 37mm.
Below are links to the 37mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Olympus M 45mm f1.8 and the Panasonic 42.5mm F1.7 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 45mm f1.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 45mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
90mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Panasonic 42.5mm F1.7 OIS is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 43mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 86mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.