Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic
95 Overall Score
vs
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di USD

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di USD

Tamron
75 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

92 out of 100 medium confidence 22 reviews

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
👍 Optical performance 7
👍 Build quality 6
👍 Autofocus speed 5
👍 Versatility 4
👍 Video features 3
👎 Depth of field 2

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di USD

88 out of 100 medium confidence 10 reviews

The Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional sharpness, fast autofocus, and effective image stabilization, especially given its affordable price point. Users praise its image quality for wildlife and bird photography, though many note its significant weight and the need for careful handling, particularly with older camera bodies. A few reviewers mention autofocus can struggle in low light or complex scenes, and the lack of a Canadian warranty for US versions is a concern for some.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness at 600mm
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Effective image stabilization
  • Great value for money
  • Excellent image quality for wildlife
Cons
  • Heavy weight
  • Autofocus struggles in low light
  • Manual focus ring has short throw
  • No rear filter slot
  • No Canadian warranty for US version
👍 Image quality 8
🤔 Autofocus performance 6
👍 Image stabilization 5
👎 Weight 6
👍 Value for money 5
👍 Build quality 4

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Tamron
70
Landscape
Panasonic
95
Tamron
74
Professional
Panasonic
92
Tamron
69
Budget
Panasonic
90
Tamron
77
Portrait
Panasonic
86
Tamron
74
Travel
Panasonic
83
Tamron
63
Street
Panasonic
82
Tamron
67
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Tamron
72
Macro
Panasonic
76
Tamron
58

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mmTamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di USD
Optics
Typezoomtelephoto
Focal Length Min12 mm150 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm600 mm
Elements1421
Groups913
Aspherical Elements4★0
ED Elements13★
CoatingNano Surface CoatingeBAND Coating, BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/5
Min Aperturef/2.85-6.3
Constant✓★✗
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsSony A
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★1.99 kg
Filter Thread58 mm95 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusUSD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive)
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops★4.5 stops
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★2.20 m
Max Magnification0.21x0.26x★

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong social proof (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di USD

  • Strong stabilization (95th percentile)95th %ile
  • Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong optical (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong versatility (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Below average build (13th percentile)13th %ile
  • Below average macro (27th percentile)

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Scores 95 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports