The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM and the Olympus 25mm f2.8 Pancake 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. Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 59mm. The Olympus 25mm f2.8 Pancake with a length of 24mm, is 35mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM also has a larger diameter of 77mm compared to the Olympus 25mm f2.8 Pancake's 64mm 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 25mm f2.8 Pancake weighs 95g, 77% (335g) lighter than the Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM's weight of 430g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Prime Lenses in Four Thirds Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Four Thirds Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Olympus 25mm f2.8 Pancake has a 43mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM:
And these are the 43mm filters that we recommend for the Olympus 25mm f2.8 Pancake:
Lens Mounts
Both the Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM and the Olympus 25mm f2.8 Pancake has the same Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Four Thirds lenses are , and .
Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM is also available in Canon EF-S , Nikon F (DX), Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha and Sigma SA mounts.
Focal Range
Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 30mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
45mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Olympus 25mm f2.8 Pancake 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.