Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 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
Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens is widely praised as a versatile all-in-one walk-around lens for APS-C cameras. Users consistently highlight its silent and smooth STM autofocus, effective image stabilization, and useful zoom range that covers wide-angle to short telephoto. While image quality is considered very good for a kit-level zoom, some reviewers note softness at extreme focal lengths, barrel distortion at 18mm, and a variable aperture that limits low-light performance. Build quality is described as mostly plastic but adequate, though the focus-by-wire manual ring and occasional stiff zoom ring draw criticism.
Pros
- Silent and smooth STM autofocus
- Effective image stabilization
- Versatile 18-135mm zoom range
- Good image quality for a kit lens
- Lightweight and compact design
Cons
- Softness at extreme focal lengths
- Barrel distortion at 18mm
- Variable aperture limits low-light use
- Focus-by-wire manual ring
- Plastic build feels cheap
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm | Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 16 |
| Groups | 9 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Super Spectra Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/5.6 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Canon EF |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.52 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | NANO USM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | 4 stops |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 390 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x | 0.28x★ |
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
Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
- Strong versatility (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong optical (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 95 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.