Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
What Buyers Say
Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm
This Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 fisheye lens is praised for its excellent value, solid build, and creative potential, especially on APS-C cameras where it delivers a full-frame diagonal fisheye effect. Users love the fun perspective it adds to landscapes, portraits, and skateboarding or astro shots, though they note it requires manual focus and aperture control. Some edge softness and chromatic aberration are mentioned, but these are correctable in post. Issues with full-frame cameras (heavy vignette) and inconsistent compatibility with certain Nikon bodies (e.g., D3500) are recurring drawbacks, and a few users reported a broken focusing ring or cheap-feeling barrel.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Solid build quality
- Fun and creative perspective
- Sharp when stopped down (f/5.6-f/8)
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Manual focus only
- Soft edges wide open
- Chromatic aberration at edges
- Not ideal for full-frame cameras (heavy vignette)
- Incompatible with some Nikon bodies (e.g., D3500)
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
The Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 lens is highly praised for its excellent image quality, sharpness, and build. Users appreciate its compact size, light weight, and the ability to use screw-on filters, which is a key advantage over some competitors. While a few users noted it is pricey and one had sharpness issues on an Olympus body, the overwhelming majority recommend it for landscapes, interiors, and travel photography.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Sharp and crisp
- Compact and lightweight
- Accepts screw-on filters
- Weather-sealed
Cons
- Pricey
- Variable aperture
- No OIS
- Sharpness issues on some Olympus bodies
- Slight distortion at 8mm
Scores
Specifications
| Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm | Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | fisheye | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 8 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 10 | 15 |
| Groups | 7 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | — | 3★ |
| Coating | super multi-layer coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/3.5 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.43 kg | 0.31 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | 240-fps autofocus drive |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 305 mm | 230 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 0.12x★ |
Pros & Cons
Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm
- Strong social proof (77th percentile)
- Strong macro (67th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile
Pricing
Rokinon HD 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye 8mm offers 3.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 21 specs.
