Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic
90 Overall Score
vs
Leica Elmarit-M 11677 28mm

Leica Elmarit-M 11677 28mm

Leica
25 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

85 out of 100 medium confidence 21 reviews

This Panasonic Leica 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, solid build, and constant aperture, making it a versatile workhorse for both photo and video on Micro Four Thirds cameras. Users highlight its impressive image quality that rivals larger formats, fast and reliable autofocus, and effective image stabilization, especially when paired with compatible bodies. A few note the lens is somewhat heavy and that depth of field at f/2.8 is limited on MFT, but overall it is considered a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-quality standard zoom.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness
  • Constant f/2.8 aperture
  • Solid build quality
  • Fast and reliable autofocus
  • Effective image stabilization
Cons
  • Somewhat heavy
  • Limited depth of field at f/2.8 on MFT
  • Image stabilization barely noticeable at wide angles
  • Not as sharp as prime lenses
  • Plastic lens hood
👍 Image quality 12
👍 Build quality 8
👍 Autofocus performance 6
🤔 Image stabilization 7
👎 Weight 4
👍 Value for money 5

Leica Elmarit-M 11677 28mm

92 out of 100 medium confidence 10 reviews

The Leica 28mm f/5.6 Summaron M lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its compact size, excellent build quality, and sharp image rendering. Users praise its lightweight design and smooth focusing, though some note the aperture ring placement can feel cramped. Overall, it is highly recommended for street photography and Leica M-series cameras.

Pros
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Excellent build quality
  • Sharp image rendering
  • Smooth focusing
  • Beautiful bokeh
Cons
  • Aperture ring feels cramped
  • Hood not included in some cases
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Image quality 5
👍 Size and weight 4
👍 Focus smoothness 2
👎 Aperture ring ergonomics 1
👍 Bokeh 1

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Leica
22
Professional
Panasonic
92
Leica
20
Landscape
Panasonic
91
Leica
14
Budget
Panasonic
90
Leica
22
Street
Panasonic
84
Leica
23
Portrait
Panasonic
83
Leica
17
Travel
Panasonic
82
Leica
17
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Leica
21
Macro
Panasonic
76
Leica
8

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mmLeica Elmarit-M 11677 28mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min12 mm28 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm28 mm
Elements14—
Groups9—
Aspherical Elements4★—
ED Elements1★—
CoatingNano Surface Coating—
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/22
Min Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades7★—
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsL-Mount
Formatmicro-four-thirds—
Weather Sealed✓★—
Weight0.31 kg★0.43 kg
Filter Thread58 mm—
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocus—
Stabilization✓★—
Stabilization Stops5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★—
Max Magnification0.21x★—

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong optical (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Strong social proof (85th percentile)85th %ile

Leica Elmarit-M 11677 28mm

  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Below average bokeh (13th percentile)13th %ile
  • Below average macro (14th percentile)14th %ile
  • Below average optical (20th percentile)20th %ile
  • Below average aperture (20th percentile)20th %ile

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 9 of 22 specs.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports