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 215g (7.6 oz) it is light enough that it stops being a decision — the kind of lens that stays on the body or in the bag without thought.
It focuses to 24cm, which is close enough to fill the frame with small subjects.
Filters are 55mm — 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.
Autofocus and stabilisation
Autofocus is driven by an STM motor.
There is no optical stabilisation in the lens, so handheld steadiness depends on the body having IBIS, or on keeping the shutter speed up.
