Compare lenses

Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 vs Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

The Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 and the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 if you want a design for Micro Four Thirds, which usually means smaller and lighter and a lighter lens (116 g against 280 g). Pick the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary if you want a brighter f/1.4 (0.7 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; coverage of APS-C, so it suits the larger-sensor bodies too; and a fit on more cameras (180 against 49 in this guide).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 and the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8	Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary
Maker	Olympus	Sigma
Focal length	45mm (prime)	56mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent	90mm on Micro Four Thirds	84mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/1.8	f/1.4brighter
Made for	Micro Four Thirds	APS-C
Mounts	Micro Four Thirds	Sony E, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, L-Mount, Canon RF, Nikon Z
Stabilised	no	no
Autofocus	yes	yes
Weight	116 glighter	280 g
Cameras it fits	49 in this guide	180 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8: 45mm on Micro Four Thirds, like 90mm.

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary: 56mm on APS-C, like 84mm.

Aperture

Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8: f/1.8 wide open.

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary: f/1.4 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

49 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 fits 49 and the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary 180.