Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
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
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
The Meike 85mm f/1.8 lens receives mixed feedback. Many users praise its sharpness, bokeh, and value for the price, especially for portrait and low-light photography. However, a significant number of reviewers report issues with autofocus noise, inconsistent autofocus performance, and even complete focus motor failure. Build quality concerns, such as a loose focus ring, are also mentioned, leading to a polarized sentiment where the lens is either loved for its image quality or criticized for reliability.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Great bokeh
- Excellent value for money
- Good for low-light photography
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Loud autofocus noise
- Inconsistent autofocus performance
- Focus motor failure reported
- Loose focus ring on some units
- Compatibility issues with some adapters
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm | Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 11 |
| Groups | 9 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | multi-coated on both sides, fingerprint- and oil-resistant coatings |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon F |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | — |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 650 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x★ | 0.17X |
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 (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
Meike 85mm F1.8 SE II 85mm
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (31st percentile)
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average build (31st percentile)
Verdict
Scores 95 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 22 specs.