Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit H-ES045 45mm
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit H-ES045 45mm
The Panasonic Leica 45mm f/2.8 macro lens is highly praised for its sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and dual use as a macro and portrait lens. Users love the image quality and build, though some note the autofocus can be sluggish in close-up situations and the price is high. A few isolated defects were reported, but overall sentiment is very positive.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Beautiful bokeh
- Dual macro and portrait use
- Fast autofocus in most situations
- Good build quality
Cons
- Slow autofocus in close-up situations
- High price
- Occasional defective units
- Relatively heavy for Micro 4/3
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
The Nikon 16-85mm VR is widely praised as an excellent all-around zoom for DX cameras, delivering sharp images across the focal range with effective VR. Users note it outperforms kit lenses like the 18-105mm and even rivals the pricier 17-55mm in sharpness, though it is heavy and somewhat slow (f/3.5-5.6). Build quality is solid with a metal barrel, and the 16mm wide end is a key advantage for landscapes. Some caution about vignetting with thick filters and barrel distortion at 16mm, but overall it is considered a worthy investment for enthusiasts.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness across focal range
- Effective VR II image stabilization
- Solid build with metal barrel
- Useful 16-85mm zoom range
- Great for landscapes and travel
Cons
- Heavy weight (3.1 lb with D90)
- Slow aperture (f/3.5-5.6)
- Expensive for an f/3.5-5.6 lens
- Barrel distortion at 16mm
- Vignetting with thick filters at 16mm
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit H-ES045 45mm | Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | macro | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 45 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 45 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 14 | — |
| Groups | 10 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | multi-coated | Super Integrated Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon F |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.23 kg★ | 0.48 kg |
| Filter Thread | 46 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | inner focus motor system | AF-S |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 380 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:1★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit H-ES045 45mm
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong macro (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm
- Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong aperture (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 4 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.