What 45mm at f/2.8 actually gives you
45mm sits close to the way the eye takes in a scene, which is why this range tends to get used as a general-purpose focal length.
f/2.8 is the working standard for a fast lens — a stop or two of low-light headroom over a kit zoom, and noticeably more background separation.
Size, close focus and filters
At 599g (1.32 lb) it sits in the middle for handling: substantial enough to feel planted, light enough not to dominate the kit.
Maximum magnification is 5x, meaning the subject can be projected onto the sensor at life size or larger — true macro rather than a close-focus marketing claim.
Filters are 56mm — worth checking against what you already own, since polarisers and ND filters at this size are reusable across any other lens sharing the thread. A dedicated aperture ring gives direct control without going through a camera dial, which mostly matters for video work.
Manual focus and stabilisation
Focus is manual only. That suits deliberate work — landscapes, macro, video pulls — and rules it out for anything that moves unpredictably.
There is no optical stabilisation in the lens, so handheld steadiness depends on the body having IBIS, or on keeping the shutter speed up.
