Olympus 45mm vs Panasonic 42.5mm

[@adrian65165]

Thank you for this comparison. For those wanting further (albeit written, not video) comparisons, I'd recommend looking at the comparisons at CameraLabs and MirrorLessons at the links below -- they both confirm the findings of this video comparison and offer further image sample comparisons to analyse in detail. The Olympus out-of-focus backgrounds are smoother and side-by-side it gives the impression of a slightly wider aperture lens than the Panasonic, although that may be down to the slight difference in focal lengths. The Panasonic's backgrounds can become slightly busy in some situations. However, a look at portraits on flickr taken with each lens show that the Panasonic creates a more 3-dimensional separation, has stronger colour and contrast and generally imparts more character and 'pop' -- some might say a more Leica look, even. Some photographs from the Panasonic look like they were taken with a high-end lens and it seems favoured by product photographers, where the close-focus, sharpness, clarity and clarity create high-end looking images. The Olympus has an overall softer and slightly lower contrast semi-dreamy feel, so is more suited to images where that's desirable. With post-processing, though, of course images can be softened or made more contrasty and that can go some way to balancing out the inherent differences. Comparison links with side-by-side image samples: www.cameralabs.com/panasonic_lumix_g_42-5mm_f1-7_h_hs043e/ and mirrorlesscomparison.com/micro-four-thirds-lenses/olympus-45mm-vs-panasonic-42-5mm-vs-nocticron-42-5mm-vs-voigtlander-42-5mm/

[@CinquecentoX]

Love the way you tell your message, very calm. Well done. I also appreciate the small and valuable mft lenses and can not understand, why mft is not more popular. I love my Olympus /OMD - gear.

[@AerialLensVideo]

Great comparison - THANKS! In fact, you have done a great job of summarizing each lens as a stand-alone review/summary.

[@vladvolstok]

The Olympus looks sharper to me in the close crop, and in the UK it's ridiculously cheap, half the price. And on an Oly body I have no need for stabilisation.

[@samsantana]

Neither does anyone with a Pana body, they all have IBIS now (and for the past 5 years or so)

[@MichaelGerrard]

I have owned the Oly 45mm f1.8 for years and it hasn't fallen apart yet. I think saying that it is made in China is irrelevant. Both Oly and Lumix lenses are high quality. Close focus distance and IS are the reasons to get the Lumix lens, especially if you have a recent Lumix body because of Dual IS. For me, I love my Oly 45 and will not part with it 😁

[@fthprodphoto-video5357]

The Olympus is more suitable for nice wedding or family and boudoir portraits with the softer background and contrast and the panasonic is very good for contrasty / modern looking portrait / professional headshots and stabilized video

[@Bullebongen]

Thanks for the in depth comparison. The big difference in bokeh really made me decide on the Olympus.

[@MrNyuntshwe]

I haven't got Olympus, but a panasonic and quite satisfied. I like its bokeh when I take portrait photos. Though it's close to hexagonal, the shape of them and color fringing is so beautiful. Thank you for choosing the panasonic one!

[@sammyt3514]

While I haven't tried the Panasonic version, I've had the Olympus for years and never been anything less than thrilled with the photos I take with it. I can't put my finger on it, but it just renders portraits in a flattering way; people I photograph look better with the Olympus than they do with other lenses at the same focal length (I have a bunch of Olympus zooms, as well as a Fuji system with a couple of lenses to compare with). That's why it's my go to for portraits and will probably remain so for the foreseeable future. Thanks for the useful comparison.

[@SkylerKing]

I absolutely love the Olympus lens. Hindsight being 20/20, I still prefer it.

[@genemaysonet3558]

About time exactly what I was looking for a REAL REVIEW I just bought the panasonic have had the Olympus for a year still love it don't know why. Inne Minnie miny more. You win I'll keep them both .Excellent job brother ty

[@BEST_Pictures_Film]

That was very, very helpful!!! 😍👍😍 Was looking for such a comparison. You made my day. Thank you!!!

[@richardbresden8474]

I bought the Panasonic because of the near macro capabilities. But so many people love the Olympus, I always wondered if there was a big difference in sharpness or boca. I take it from your review, there isn't. This was very helpful and clear. Thanks.

[@a.b.8375]

What? The bokeh is quite a lot better on the Olympus lens.

[@NPJensen]

Even though both lenses are MFT, I'd pick the lens based on the camera - Panasonic for Panasonic and Olympus for Olympus. It's not something I'm happy about, but there are reasons to do that. As I carry two cameras, when I do event photography, I carry one of each and bring two Olympus lenses for my Olympus camera body and two Panasonic lenses for my Panasonic camera body. I picked up an Olympus 45mm f1.8 a lot cheaper, than a Panasonic 42,5mm f1.7 would have cost me, so if I want to shoot 45mm, I reach for my Olympus camera. If I want to shoot 25mm, I pick my Panasonic camera which as standard has the Panasonic 25mm f1.7 mounted. I don't have to change lenses on my cameras (unless I want to use my other lenses), and the lenses do work better on their native camera bodies.

[@Began2011]

I agree with your choice. You can’t beat the image stabilization and focus distance on the lens. But I like the Olympus for stills and the Panasonic for video cause of the stabilization.

[@Leptospirosi]

7:07 one BIG caveat here: as an owner of cameras from both brands, I can say that there is some degree of software correction done in software if the lens is in the software catalogue; HEAVILY in case of Panasonic. this means That if you are shooting on a Panasonic body, the camera might NOT address CA at all from an Olympus lens unless (I doubt it) Panasonic decided to set software correction for the 45mm. In general Olympus lenses are Way more corrected optically the Panasonic in CA, to the point that I got rid of the 15mm panaleica just because I could not stand the amount of CA on such premium lens. The 14mm is just trash on any Olympus camera, borderline unusable. Olympus bodies in general do not correct CA in software and limits correction to optical distorsion on wide angle lenses if the camera can "talk" to the lens, and the same does Panasonic. In general both brands don't support the competitor product except for a general compatibility as seen from the aperture rings on Panleica lenses and the Fn buttons on Zuiko lenses. Seeing the difference in CA being so negligible and knowing how heavily Panasonic corrects CA in software it's own lenses makes me think Olympus is the better better lens when it comes to Chromatic Aberration correction. What would give an advantage to the Panasonic is the IS in lens, again, on Panasonic bodies capable of dual IS, as on long lenses, stabilization in the lens gives better results then just IBIS. On Olympus bodies it does not bring any advantage, but it's an advantage anyway. It really makes me shake my head when I see Americans giving importance to "Made in Japan" are we back to the seventies?!? 😂 A product is either "well made" or not, and you said the Olymous looks better put together (albeit the rattling might be cause d by the OIS motor). Being put together by a Japanese or a Chinese worker does not taint or sanctify what is an engineering object. Only the procedures and the material do.

[@SkylerKing]

I agreed with everything you said right up until the end. What is the difference in "Americans" pointing out "Made in Japan" vs non-Americans? And are you telling me that where something is made never has any impact on quality and this not only isn't worth considering, but shouldn't even be mentioned?

[@andreasrochow5170]

Thank you for this comparision. The difference between the bokehs counts. Here is the Olympus better. But closer focus and stabilisation go to the Lumix lens. I'll buy both.

[@77Calendula]

Thank you for the review! For me it contains interesting details. - But my conclusion would be different: If I had found my ideal portrait lens, I would stay to it! - However, my approach was the other way round: I started with the Olympus 60mm Macro and wanted to use it for portrait as well. You can do this despite its widest aperture of only 2,8 because with 60 mm the bokeh ends up in about the same. Then I realized that 60mm is a bit long for indoor use because you have to reserve some space for the distance between the model and the background. So this year I added the Olympus 45mm to my lens lineup - just for indoor use. I'm quite happy with this decision. - By the way: My Olympus 45mm is made in Vietnam, like all my Olympus equipment. And to my impression that doesn't mean any compromise in quality.

[@yasumotonoboru]

Great video! I guess it comes down to which situation you run into more often: having to get close to your subjects or having light sources in the bg.

[@progste]

Thanks for the comparison, very useful! The olympus is half the price on the used market so I guess the choice is obvious.

[@soundknight]

Really enjoyed that, thank you. Always wondered this myself, had the lumix for about 6 years

[@erondesu7530]

NOW THIS IS THE REVIEW I NEEDED

[@acbon6833]

This is a quality comparison. You got everything i needed to hear. Although I was convinced the 42.5mm’s close focus distance was a huge difference maker, the price difference (more than $100) in my location made me buy the Olympus.

[@c.augustin]

Thanks for this comparison! The cleaner bokeh balls at open aperture of the Olympus and the better sharpness (at least on screen, the close crop was clearly sharper with the Olympus, and the chromatic aberration not visible, even though I know from experience that it's there) let me keep my Olympus and save money. And regarding close focusing - I have an achromatic close-up lens in my bag for the few occasions I want to get closer (and I can use it with my 25 mm lens too), so that's no problem for me. Good to know where the differences are to make an informed decision. And in Germany the Olympus is quite cheap, even new (or at least it was).

[@innercynic2784]

I recently took a trip to Thailand and had this lens paired to a Lumux G9. Wow! It was awesome. Along with the Lunix 15mm this is definitely a keeper.

[@nomancave591]

😂the funny thing is a guy did make a review of these lenses maybe 9 years ago, pretty good one to buy he deleted his channel for some reason. I came across him last year on a new headphone channel. Great channel man, im binging your videos right now, so thank you for your time 👍

[@diazramirez3835]

you has been the best solution for me, i just trying to find a good lense for my lumix g6 and i now what to buy. I was looking arround a good lense for portrait and the panasonic 42,5mm is a good price-quality. A lot of thanks

[@TheophilusCarlos]

Great honest review. New subscriber here. I have had both and as much as I love the bokeh on the 45mm F1.8, the 42.5 F1.7 is pretty much better in every other way as you mentioned. I passed on my 45mm to my brother as soon as I got the 42.5mm. It is now my main portrait lens. I do have photos I took with the 45mm that I still can’t replicate with the 42.5mm but in the end, I could only keep one of them. The 42.5mm also has a Pana-Leica look on the images.

[@williamburkholder769]

I think the Panasonic is the better choice for Panasonic bodies, ESPECIALLY the older bodies that are not IBIS-enabled. On a GH5 II or GH6, it won't matter much. Panasonic bodies correct their JPEGs for various lens flaws, so if you record JPEGs in camera, that is a plus. For a complete test, you would need to test both lenses on both brands of camera, and probably two different models from each brand. All that said, I think you made the better choice. I have that 42.5mm lens. It is a very versatile portrait and video interviewing lens.

[@danaross]

Thanks for the review. I'm going to get one of those. I'll probably get the panny for the close focus. BTW the Bokeh ball is the shape of the aperture blades. It's possible that on the Olympus the aperture blades retract completely and reveal a perfect physical circlular hole. And that's pretty smart. Thanks again.

[@datapro007]

David Thorpe reviewed the 42.5mm vs the Oly 8 years ago. Sorry you missed it. Here's the title of his review, and yes, it is a comparison to the Olympus 45mm f1.8 "The Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7 Lens for Micro Four Thirds Cameras". For me it's simple. If your body has IBIS, buy whichever one is cheaper. I've seen $100+ price differential in both directions over time.

[@a.b.8375]

Good thing he missed it because that video doesn't even mention the Bokeh or the Near Focus differences.

[@joseluisphotoReal]

nice video! close focusing isnt a huge deal for me- so you helped me decide to sell the panny and keep the oly!

[@rumperdumper]

Really enjoyed how you left in the conversation of how conflicted you were between the lenses.

[@RoxFontaine]

This is awesome! I'm a new Panasonic G9 user and I'm constantly comparing products and searching for reviews before I buy. This video definitely points me to the the Panasonic 42.5 mm. Dual image stabilization with native glass and that close focus will allow me to be more creative.

[@hunglongdee2587]

Awesome review, I'm picking up the Lumix 42.5 tomorrow. Cant wait to play with it

[@evilgeniusentertainment]

Great video excepting one crucial test - how does the AF work when on the other company's body (IE - how wll does the Olympus focus when on something like a GH5, and how does the Panasonic operate on Olympus bodies like the EM1 MII)? Specifically in video mode... Any way, great comparison - liked/subbed!

[@gerlomix.r]

Super Vergleichvideo. Vielen Dank! Ich habe das Oly und ärgere mich etwas über die 50mm Fokusabstand. Hatte überlegt mir auch das Panasonic zu kaufen. Aber irgendwie ist das nicht wirtschaftlich. Habe mich jetzt dafür entschieden mich über das Olympus zu freuen. Das Bokeh ist ein Traum. Und für Nahaufnahmen schraube ich einfach einen Zwischenring dazwischen, dann komme ich noch näher ran. Die Zwischenringe übertragen die Signale und somit geht mir der AF nicht verloren. 😉

[@SkylerKing]

das ist eine gute Idee. Die habe ich nicht verwendet. Sie sind hier weniger verbreitet.

[@liroymona]

Thank you! Very good, unique comparation👍

[@jeffersonross8682]

Yes! I own that Lumix 42.5 lens and it's a little workhorse. I've done beautiful headshots and portraits with it. Hard to beat for the price. Thanks for reviewing it. Like you emphasized in the beginning, there's hardly any info out there. Good work!

[@samsantana]

The only advantage of the panasonic is close focusing distance, I've had both and the olympus is the better lens in all aspects except focusing distance. It is smaller, lighter, sharper, and bokeh is no comparison. Made in wherever means nothing these days, the only is a 13-year-old lens and the reports of it breaking down are basically non-existent.

[@diff1980]

Thanks for creating this comparison and decision making video, really appreciate that. Because of your thoughts, I finally got a silver (my fav) 2nd hand Lumix 42.5mm f/1.7 yesterday replacing Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DN DC. And yes, a closer focusing distance makes a difference. It is also much lighter than the Sigma (130g vs 285g). Can't wait to go on my road trip with my wife and shoot her beautiful photos. Thanks again 🙏

[@SkylerKing]

Have fun on the road trip! I hope the lens is everything you need it to be.

[@thorstenwesthowe4858]

Thanks a lot. Great video. Extrem usefull

[@RogueSplice]

These are both great lenses. But I think the biggest deciding factor would just be which camera body do you have? Since image stabilization is in both lenses, but this feature isn't cross compatible with either brand, your better buy is going to be Panasonic for Panasonic, Olympus for Olympus. If that isn't part of the equation for you then I would say the Olympus is the better pick, simply because of the filter thread being 46mm instead of 37mm. Most of the smaller lenses for m43 are 46mm. That Lumix 42.5mm is a 37mm thread which is an odd ball in the majority of lenses out there which requires either a step up ring, or a separate set of filters. I'd like the 45mm but my cameras are Panasonics, so it ain't going to happen. I do however have wide angle Olympus lenses for my cameras because there is no stabilization in wide angle primes anyway so that lets me cross fit without any perk loss. Thanks for the review!

[@rickysvt]

Great video man! I was legit suppressed you selected the Pana Leica. They are so similar its just its an artistic personal preference. I own the Olympus 45+PanaG9. At the time I bought it there was no reviews and the Leica was alot more$...Very cool that the Leica has OIS I didnt know that. That OIS could be cool for some crazy bohek video close ups.

[@SkylerKing]

Yeah, I’m the end I’m still torn. I just absolutely love the Olympus 45mm. The close focus ability of the Panasonic is such a big deal, though…

[@fandysetiawanprayogo5171]

Thank you for your honest opinion

[@edgar_nistor]

Good video, but it looks like you will need a third lens :) Maybe a Sigma 56mm 1.4 and a future comparison.

[@daycube8506]

I have the Olympus and love it. I paid $120 used, so I can't complain. I was actually looking at getting the Sigma 56 1.4 for my GX85. Thanks for the content.

[@pharaohoo]

I am using Sigma 56mm 1.4 on my GX9 and I am very happy with it.

[@KingTut14]

I owned a Panasonic 42.5mm before giving it to a friend. now looking for alternative. and while I had it, reaching for a Macro lens was useless. I couldn't believe how close I could get to the subject...

[@laurapeter3857]

I think it depends on the use case. If taking a lot of headshots in good light, the Oly is fine. For close and low light work the Pana is better

[@JT-zb2km]

What set up did you use for your video review. That warehouse looks amazing and your video is sharp with nice blurry background.

[@SkylerKing]

I was recording with a Panasonic G9, at the time.

[@allxiee]

Thank you! I'm getting my first ever lense and camera and I went with the Olympus

[@Mraz75]

Thank you sir, this is really helpful. I am considering between these two lenses. I agree with you.

[@jeffslade1892]

I too have the 45 f/1.8 and E-M5ii, and E-PL7, G7 and GH4, very much horses for courses; the E-PL7 is discrete, the G7 can do things the E-M5ii cannot, the GH4 is a does-everything brick. Whilst the 45mm is a very good lens I have often noticed that the lenses perform best on their native brand backs, probably due to in-camera compensation from the lens profile. Bokeh is never important to me, MFT has a deep DoF anyway and nothing you can do about that, but I feel perhaps the aperture blades on the Olympus retract into a circular iris whereas the marginally faster Panasonic cannot, leaving the blades visible. Personally I would not call 45mm a shallow portrait but a telephoto, good for portrait but a long lens, so without OIS it really only works well on Olympus. I do tend to use the pancake Panasonic G X PZ 14-42 in its place. I did have the razor sharp Leica 25mm f1.4 but the G 20mm f/1.7 got all of the work so the Leica got traded; both being 'standard' lenses on MFT. The Leica designed lenses come from the world of photo-reportage where tack sharp photos are wanted, so they have a deep depth of field designed into them, Olympus have more history for portrait and tend to be a little bit softer. Both brands are very good lenses for the intended job.

[@jimgraves4197]

Good comparison and I too haven't seen these 2 compared either.

[@SkylerKing]

Thank you, Jim. When it comes down to it, they are both compact, cheap little things with very good image quality. I can't imagine anyone being unhappy with either of them.

[@Mark_James_Hill]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4SaqH2hebCaeZY

[@user-jm7se9cf3u]

From your comparison it would seem that the pani specialty is macro and night shooting while the oly specialty is shallow depth of field for traditional portraits. They probably do the same landscape, cityscape shooting. The olympus did look sharper with your first picture with the film can. Also maybe more contrast.

[@SkylerKing]

Potentially more contrast, yes. The sharpness difference may come down to the Panasonic being slightly wider angle and thus needing to be zoomed in slightly more in order to match the framing for the comparison (something I didn’t consider as being a potential issue until after)

[@TheDIYFilmmaker]

Thank you, I was also doubtful about these two lenses and you helped me. Thanks!

[@mudgie069]

In the second hand market these days, if cost is an issue the Olympus is the clear winner. Here in the UK you can pick up the Oly 45mm for around £100-£120 second hand. You'll be close to double the price the Panasonic. I've owned both in the past and I ended up keeping the Olympus just because it really isn't a lens I use very often.

[@SkylerKing]

I still love the 45mm f1.8 so much that is probably pick it, half the time, I’d prices were the same. But if the 45mm is cheaper? Hands down, that’s the one I’d pick

[@i-klaus]

Thank you for your clear assessment of the two lenses. If you absolutely have to get closer and if you want / can spend money, then take a look at the m.zuiko 60mm 2.8. I bought an Olympus camera because of this lens.

[@ChugliTV]

Damn!!! Even I feel sad that the olympus didnt get the upper hand. That's a tad bit cheaper. :( I was rooting for it. Well it's 42.5 I guess. I use a GH5.

[@SkylerKing]

I have the G9. Other than those beautiful, perfectly round bokeh balls that the Olympus gives, the Panasonic just nails everything else every time.

[@Mark_James_Hill]

another review kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn-bp3V5nLCsp68

[@lucascjardim]

Very sober review.. Ive really enjoyed! Keep it up

[@WaddyMuters]

What I don’t like about the oly is the focus ring is cranky on mine. I wonder if the Panasonic one was smoother

[@itscraigfontes]

Really good comparison! Ive got the M.zuiko and your point about close focus is definitely true! I have trouble with close focus all the time 😔 I just prefer the overall image and bokeh quality of the Olympus. would love to try the Panasonic but like you said I just can't see a reason to own both at the same time lol

[@SkylerKing]

I honestly wish they would make a “mark ii” of the 45mm f1.8 with closer minimum focus. That would be the only thing they need to change/update to make it the perfect lens. The image quality (and especially the bokeh) is just beautiful.

[@itscraigfontes]

@@SkylerKing yess! I'd replace mine in a heartbeat!

[@tom5216]

Oly wins every time for me. i don’t care where it’s ,made. It has better bokeh, I don’t need the stabilisation and I have a 60mm macro if I need close focus. The Pana bokeh looks awful.

[@SkylerKing]

I agree that the bokeh absolutely looks better with the Olympus. No doubt about it. I love that lens. It doesn’t make much sense to factor in the abilities of a separate lens, though (the 60mm macro). If we are factoring in the abilities of all the lens in our bags, each being used for a specific purpose, then I could use that argument against the Olympus’ bokeh, as I own “this other lens, if I need the best bokeh”.

[@tom5216]

Hi. Just meant that the close focus capability isn’t important for me. The pana looks like a nice lens, I just prefer the Olympus for the rendering.

[@info-lh4bu]

Very well made!

[@JLEOY]

thank you for this. hopefully panasonic make an mkII version that has better bokeh

[@JohanJosefsson-j1e]

So now 4 years later, are you still using the 42.5mm or reverted back to 45mm? 🙂

[@SkylerKing]

Definitely the 45mm. Can't beat the bokeh.

[@JohanJosefsson-j1e]

@@SkylerKing Thanks! Looking at getting one of them I have somewhat the same feelings you expressed in the video. On paper and by many reviews, the 42.5 is the better lens, but when looking at people's images posted around the web, I much prefer the 45's rendering, especially for portrait distances, which i suppose will be the main point of the lens. Intellect says Panasonic, but gut feeling says Olympus. But with that comment I think you pushed me another step towards Olympus...

[@jochen880]

Keep in mind that the Pany IBIS don’t work with Oly cameras. In Germany the Oly 45 is much cheaper than the Pany.

[@pounceonyou1958]

Just can't have bad bokeh on a lens I need for portraits, Panasonic needs to fix that first, I'm with Oly on this one even on a Pany body.

[@danemarc]

Thanks for making this comparison, It really help me with my decision!!! LUMIX LENS FOR THE WIN!!!!

[@Paul_anderson_creative]

Nice work... Thanks. Agree... But I bought the Olympus...

[@samsantana]

Lol, you kept the pana only for the close focusing... IS is non-issue in any modern body, made in Japan means nothing. and if you want closeup you can do that with your kit lens which will do a far better job than either of these. Aperture is always higher for macro either way.

[@SkylerKing]

I’ve read both of your comments and don’t agree with anything you’ve said.

[@samsantana]

@@SkylerKing So you are really going to argue that the close-up ability of the pana is better than that of say the 12-50 olympus kit which costs like $50.. or even their current kit lens? or that there are literally no current bodies without IBIS? or that 'made in X' matters none if the lens has had no issues reported? or that the bokeh is smoother on the Olympus? or that the Olympus is sharper? or that the Olympus is smaller? or that the Olympus is lighter? I guess you picked a single criteria where the Pana beats the Olympus and chose to keep it because it suits YOUR need and that makes all the other factual measurements false because YOU disagree with them. Got it.

[@SkylerKing]

@samsantana you’re creating multiple strawman arguments. I never claimed or implied that the 42.5mm has better close-focus than any lens other than the 45mm… so when comparing those two lenses against each other, that is a clear advantage to the Panasonic as there is no advantage to “not” being able to focus closer. I also didn’t mention bodies with IBIS at all because again, this video compares two lenses against each other, not bodies. There are also plenty of second hand m43 cameras without IBIS that are still commonly used. Where a lens is made does, in fact, make a difference for a wide variety of reasons (which I’ve already addressed in multiple replies to other comments). I mentioned the size and weight difference in the video. In my tests, I didn’t see any consistent difference in sharpness. In this video, in order to match the images side by side, it required slightly more enlargement of the 42.5mm since its slightly wider angle (which with more “zoom” being applied, can make it appear less sharp in some comparisons). You also may be confusing sharpness with contrast. I also didn’t deny any factual differences. In fact, I mentioned all of them. I then chose a lens based on my needs and preferences, yes… as we all do.

[@claudiuavram6317]

Lol, that was so dramatic at the end of the vlog. 😂😂😂 I also use the G9, but for video work and I just had that same dilemma wich one to choose. Tx to you now I know what I need. That close focusing distance and the image stab makes Pany Boy the winner. Huh, that was tight... 😬😂

[@Mark_James_Hill]

But you didnt mention fringing and chromatic aberation and flaring. can you do a folowup video? i am having issues with flaring on the Pan 1.7 at night

[@SkylerKing]

I did mention chromatic aberrations. Flaring isn’t a concern for me, so I didn’t worry about it or test it. If you’re having issues with flaring, adjust the angle at which you are shooting in relation to the light source, and/or use a lens hood.

[@ivangusev6206]

Thanks 👍👍👍

[@BobK58]

My Olympus 45mm was made in Vietnam. I find it works great for me.

[@aldrob108]

I know this is a 3 year old review but I have to say that I’ve never had a lens that was at its sharpest wide open. It doesn’t make sense to judge image quality without stopping a lens down at least a couple of stops. Plus you need to compare a lens in many different situations before you judge a lens for image quality.

[@SkylerKing]

"I know this is a 3 year old review but I have to say that I’ve never had a lens that was at its sharpest wide open." - I never said or implied that a lens is at its sharpest wide open. But, there is more to a lens' performance than just how sharp it is, most of which is best tested when it is wide open. "It doesn’t make sense to judge image quality without stopping a lens down at least a couple of stops." - It does if the goal is to specifically test performance when the lens is wide open. "Plus you need to compare a lens in many different situations before you judge a lens for image quality." - I tested both tripod and hand held, natural and artificial light, indoors and outdoors, synthetic and natural materials, vibrant and basic tones and colors, bright light and low light, shooting into and away from the light source, etc. Most other tests would be more about camera performance than lens performance, alone.

[@NeroMC]

You still shoot micro 43?

[@SkylerKing]

From time to time, yes. I was using as GX1 as my daily carry up until a few months ago.

[@halz7]

I came to the same conclusion. Went with the Panasonic. Panasonic also includes a lens hood, the Olympus does not.

[@valdiskrebs566]

It probably depends on which MFT body you have... match like with like for best performance. Although, like you, I take a lot of "close focus" images so the Pany would tip the scales.

[@YannickKhong]

Zuiko renders better so it wins? Lumix feels more of a feature stack

[@SkylerKing]

I still can't decide which is really better. Hindsight being 20/20, I think I will always personally prefer the 45mm f1.8, but the 42.5mm is very compelling for its own reasons.

[@Mark_James_Hill]

what do you mean? i have found many comparative reviews.

[@SkylerKing]

I have found reviews of other, more expensive lenses that will show one or both of these lenses as a reference. I have found videos where a personal preference for one of these lenses is mentioned or referenced, but I have never seen an in depth, detailed, head to head comparison of these two lenses.

[@duynguyenhoangphuong3492]

Very useful video, thank you

[@tas_roberts]

Saying that Olympus is made in China is irrelevant, considering you said yourself, that build quality and feel in hands is great. And it`s been enough years out to say, that there are no quality problems. Everything else was spot on.

[@SkylerKing]

It is absolutely relevant for a variety of reasons.

[@tas_roberts]

​@@SkylerKingand those are? I'm preferring Made in Japan myself everyday of the week, but saying that product is inferior, while advocating it's build quality and feel in the hands, seems like double standard. My Olympus is made in Vietnam, so what about that?

[@SkylerKing]

Build quality is one aspect. While my particular lens seems to have great build quality, that doesn't mean that it wouldn't be of even higher quality if made elsewhere. Along with that build quality comes quality control. Something coming out of China, for example, typically doesn't have the same quality control as something coming out of Japan, so it may increase the odds that you get a "bad copy". Some people also want to "vote with their dollars" and will not buy something based on the country it is made in, or will want to buy something specifically because of where it is made. As you pointed out, not all of the Olympus 45mm lenses are made in China. You have one that is made in Vietnam. There have been many instances with many different products over the years where a specific issue or a recall of a product is traced back to a specific country of origin. For example, there might be a recall on a product, but it only applies to the ones that were made in a specific place (or during a specific month, etc). Then there is the value/morality aspect. The whole reason why a Japanese company will choose to have some of its products manufactured outside of Japan (in places like China, Vietnam, etc) is to save money. It is simply cheaper to manufacture things in those countries. That, alone, introduces two things that are worth consideration; The first is value - If the consumer is comparing two very similar (or nearly identical) products that are also the exact same price (or of a negligible difference) but one is made in China/Vietnam/Indonesia/etc while the other is made in Japan/USA/Germany/etc, then this could indicate a better value for the same money. The second aspect is morality. China (as an example) is notorious for very poor working conditions. In some cases, they have been outright labeled "sweat shops". While a place like Japan (an another example) is known for higher qualities and standards in its work environments. So, people may choose based on morality.

[@pauldaniels921]

Won’t be long before your buying your beloved Oly back!😂😂 loved the review👍👍👍

[@SkylerKing]

Oh absolutely. I got rid of it then bought another one shortly after.

[@NE0stormG]

And about video, which one is best for you or more convenient while using manual focus ? I have a G9

[@Brianatthefarm]

The close focus is the deal breaker for the Olympus. Nobody is pixel peeping bokeh balls when you print and/or share a good photo.

[@CZOV]

Cheers!

[@greengenesis]

What if you put a pro mist filter on the panasonic might that help in smoothing the bokeh out?

[@Uilenstede48]

thank you for the video, man. it helps. btw, did you compare their AF speed? any significant difference between them?

[@SkylerKing]

AF seemed nearly instantaneous on both, as long as I wasn’t accidentally a bit too close when using the Olympus (that is the only time I ever have AF issues, is when accidentally trying to focus too close with the Olympus lens).

[@henrywestridge7298]

Does the IS sinc with em5ii?

[@dgreenspino]

Thanks for the video. I'm trying to decide between the Olympus 45mm 1.8 and the Panasonic 42.5mm 1.7 for video. My question is about the image stabilization. Is there a noticeable difference between the two lenses on your G9? I know it has in body stabilization but is that so good that there is no difference in hand held footage? Or is the IS in the Panasonic there for a reason and worth the extra $$ ? Ultimately, I think it's probably not the best idea to be shooting hand held video at that focal length but... just in case...

[@SkylerKing]

On the G9 the combined optical and sensor stabilization is freaky good. I tried the lens on an Olympus, though, and it didn’t work so well. It was as if the optical stabilization of the lens and the IBIS of the Olympus were fighting it out, with the result being that the image seemed to drift around unpredictably.

[@dgreenspino]

@@SkylerKing This is so good to know. Thank you x100. I could not find that info anywhere. I want that Olympus bokeh but I want the stabilization more.

[@FocalChemistry]

Did you forget the price difference??? From a point of view of someone who hasn't bought them yet, it might make a crucial difference.

[@SkylerKing]

I spoke about price, specifically.

[@dmitrymukha]

@@SkylerKing Thanks for the review. For the price thing, I guess it's different per location. Oly is 2x cheaper where I am, makes it too tough to choose :)

[@dmitrymukha]

Or easier!

[@Marcello1b]

First time I saw the Olypus one was in a camara shop with a Panasonic G9.... My reaction... Wow! But, I have to say, I didn't try the Panasonic and it should be the same... So, let see. I wish I could buy a Panasonic. Concerning you Panasonic bouket, maybe it is question of IBIS...

[@ogg66o]

Surely a portrait lens should be tied out in a portraiture shoot. Dissapointing.

[@SkylerKing]

The focal length does not mean that it is a dedicated, purpose made “portrait lens”. When trying to compare two lenses side by side, the goal is to photograph something that can be replicated in both photographs so that an honest comparison can be made and noted differences aren’t a matter of differences in each photograph, which you would have if shooting portraits.

[@ogg66o]

@@SkylerKing photographing a crap piece of plastic doesent help,. Nor does stating there's a 10gram weight advantage. Try asking the manufacturers who their intended market is. Models don't need to be identical, it's all about the eyes and skin.

[@SkylerKing]

@@ogg66o you know I actually started typing out a genuine response, then I caught myself and had to laugh. You’re welcome to whichever view suits you.

[@abnerdabarber1318]

Bravissimo!

[@daniiani167]

Hi, what camera have you used to make the pictures for the comparison?

[@SkylerKing]

Panasonic G9

[@s.wolters978]

Made in China an issue? Man this is 2020, not 1970! made If the lens was made in the USA I would have my doubts. The price would become twice as high. Butprobably they even are not capable to make it. I have both lenses and used the Panasonic more because of the better close up. My new favorite though is the m.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO.

[@MrVara411]

You chose... wisely. :)

[@SkylerKing]

Awesome reference/quote 😃

[@shoottosave8117]

Which one has faster focusing?

[@SkylerKing]

They appear to be identical in terms of focusing speed.

[@androidgameplays4every13]

I find the Olympus slightly sharper.

[@SkylerKing]

It could be. If you’re using this video as reference, though, keep in mind that in order to make the subjects in the photos arrest the same size, I had to zoom in a bit more on the photos taken with the Panasonic lens.

[@СтепанФилипас]

Panas is no sharpnes on the open aperture !!!