At the first glance, the build quality of the lens is very good as it is assembled with very tight tolerances. However, keep in mind that this is an "out of the box" impression and that we can't make any statements about the long term durability of the lens.

The Olympus 45mm f1.8 is a short telephoto lens designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras including Panasonic Lumix G, Olympus PEN and Olympus OM-D models. Mounted on a Micro Four Thirds body it delivers an effective focal length of 90mm, making it a classic portrait lens, while the maximum aperture of...

Superb image quality; Sharp right into the corners at f4, f1.8 focal ratio ideal for shallow depth of field (relative to MFT lenses), Great value for money, Incredibly small and light, No compatibility issues to report on Panasonic or Olympus bodies

Modest closest focusing distance of 0.5m means it's no macro lens; Lens hood not supplied as standard - it's an optional extra; Lack of optical stabilisation may be an issue for Panasonic owners; No weather-sealing

Olympus M. Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 This medium telephoto optic for Micro Four Thirds compatible cameras sports a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8, internal silent focusing and a low price of around ￡250.

Really should have been weather sealed. The designers were overly focused on this as a studio lens.

Incredibly sharp wide open; Almost scary sharp if the subject has, say, rough skin; Amazingly small size and light in weight

Not weather-protected; Silver color

As good as they get - definitely one of the must-have-lenses for µ43rds. Just bought a second one for myself, because our first one almost never leaves my wife's camera. Yes, they are that good.

sharpness; microcontrast; speed; price; about everything

lens hood is extra; and expensive as well

With excellent test results, this is a no-brainer of a conclusion - it's a great and inexpensive addition to your Olympus PEN kit, especially if you're a portrait shooter.