The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 is an Olympus 45mm prime for Micro Four Thirds, released in 2011. It covers 90mm in full-frame terms at a maximum aperture of f/1.8. It offers a compact 116g body.
Best for: Portraits and light telephoto shooting
Pros
- Fast f/1.8 aperture for handheld low-light shooting
- Exceptionally light at under 120g
- Competitive price for the aperture and build
Cons
- Not weather sealed
What this lens is good for
Portraits
This is the lens most people buy the 45mm f/1.8 for. The 90mm full-frame equivalent is a classic portrait focal length: long enough to flatten facial features and compress the background pleasantly, while the f/1.8 aperture throws that background out of focus to separate your subject. At 116g it is light enough to carry all day, and despite the low price it is genuinely sharp wide open, so you do not need to stop down to get crisp eyes. The main limitations are no weather sealing and a plasticky build, neither of which affects image quality.
Low light and indoors
The fast f/1.8 aperture gathers far more light than a kit zoom, which lets you keep shutter speeds high and ISO low in dim rooms, at events, or after dark. Combined with in-body stabilisation on most M43 cameras, it makes a capable available-light lens for a very small outlay. Because it has no optical stabilisation of its own, you rely on body IBIS for the steadying, so it pairs best with a stabilised body.
A first prime lens
For anyone moving beyond the kit zoom, the 45mm f/1.8 is one of the easiest lenses to recommend. It teaches you what a fast prime and shallow depth of field can do, costs very little, and stays useful even as your kit grows. If you mostly shoot people rather than landscapes, it is a stronger first prime than a 25mm for the subject separation alone. Full guide →
Specifications
| Lens | |
| Brand | M.Zuiko |
| Type | prime |
| Status | current |
| Released | 2011-09 |
| Mount | mft |
| Optics | |
| Focal length | 45mm |
| FF equivalent | 90mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.8 |
| Min aperture | f/22 |
| Aperture blades | 7 |
| Elements / Groups | 9 / 8 |
| Focus | |
| Autofocus | MSC |
| MF override | Yes |
| Min focus distance | 0.5m |
| Max magnification | 0.1x |
| Stabilisation | |
| OIS | No |
| Dual IS compatible | No |
| Physical | |
| Weather sealed | No |
| Filter size | 37mm |
| Weight | 116g |
| Dimensions | 46mm length x 56mm diameter |
| Pricing | |
| Price (approx.) | $299 USD |