Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic
95 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

Nikon
87 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

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

72 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews

The Nikon AF-P 18-55mm lens receives mixed feedback. Many users praise its sharpness, silent autofocus in video mode, and lightweight design, but compatibility issues with older Nikon cameras like the D5000 and D3300 (without firmware update) are a recurring complaint. Some users report defective units where autofocus fails entirely, while others find it a significant upgrade over older AF-S lenses for video work.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality
  • Silent autofocus in video mode
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • Fast autofocus speed
  • Good value for money
Cons
  • Compatibility issues with older cameras
  • Autofocus failure on some units
  • Zoom noise picked up by internal mic
  • No VR or manual focus button on lens
  • Requires firmware update for some cameras
👎 Compatibility 4
🤔 Autofocus performance 6
👍 Image quality 4
🤔 Noise level 4
👍 Build quality 3
👍 Value for money 3

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Nikon
77
Budget
Panasonic
90
Nikon
92
Professional
Panasonic
92
Nikon
68
Landscape
Panasonic
91
Nikon
66
Street
Panasonic
82
Nikon
89
Portrait
Panasonic
88
Nikon
81
Macro
Panasonic
75
Nikon
86
Travel
Panasonic
83
Nikon
81
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Nikon
70

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mmNikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min12 mm18 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm55 mm
Elements14—
Groups9—
Aspherical Elements4★2
ED Elements1★—
CoatingNano Surface CoatingSuper Integrated Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/3.5
Min Aperturef/2.83.5-5.6
Constant✓★✗
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsNikon F
Formatmicro-four-thirdsAPS-C★
Weather Sealed✓★✗
Weight0.31 kg0.20 kg★
Filter Thread58 mm52 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocuspulse stepping motor★
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops★4 stops
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm83 mm★
Max Magnification0.21x★—

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

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

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

  • Strong macro (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong af (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile

Verdict

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

Scores 95 overall, wins 5 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.

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

PortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Nikon NIKKOR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Better at:

MacroStreet