Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
What Buyers Say
Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm
The Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens is widely praised for its ultra-compact size, lightweight design, and excellent value, making it a favorite for street photography and travel. Users note it turns a full-frame camera into a highly portable setup, though the fixed f/4.5 aperture and lack of manual focus ring are limiting for some. Image quality is considered good for the price, but low-light performance and autofocus in dim conditions are common drawbacks. A few users reported a stuck rear lens cap or battery drain on certain Sony models, but overall sentiment is positive for its intended casual use.
Pros
- Ultra-compact and lightweight design
- Excellent value for the price
- Great for street photography and travel
- Sharp image quality for its class
- Built-in lens cover
Cons
- Fixed f/4.5 aperture
- No manual focus ring
- Poor low-light autofocus
- Battery drain on Sony A5100
- Stuck rear lens cap issue
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent optical performance, sturdy yet lightweight build, and fast autofocus. Users highlight its versatility as a workhorse zoom for both photo and video, with particular appreciation for the linear focus mode on compatible cameras. A few note the shallow depth of field is limited due to the Micro Four Thirds system, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
Pros
- Excellent optical performance
- Sturdy yet lightweight build
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Versatile zoom range
- Linear focus mode for video
Cons
- Limited shallow depth of field
- Focus-by-wire system not linear
- No built-in gear ring for cine use
- Slight chromatic aberration in high contrast
Scores
Specifications
| Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 28 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 28 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 14 |
| Groups | 6 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| Coating | HD Nano Coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/4.5 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 6 | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Fujifilm X | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.06 kg★ | 0.31 kg |
| Filter Thread | — | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | VCM | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 340 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.1x | 0.21x★ |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm
- Strong build (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
Pricing
Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 XF 28mm
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 95 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.