Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS 400mm
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
What Buyers Say
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS 400mm
The Sony 400-800mm lens is praised for its sharpness and fast autofocus, often outperforming the 200-600mm. However, it is heavy, front-heavy, and requires fast shutter speeds and good light due to the F8 aperture. A significant concern is a reported crack in the fluorine coating not covered by warranty, leading to frustration.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Fast autofocus
- Outperforms 200-600mm
- Internal focusing
- Great for wildlife photography
Cons
- Heavy and front-heavy
- F8 aperture limits low-light use
- Requires fast shutter speeds
- Warranty does not cover coating cracks
- Expensive extended warranty needed
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
The Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 lens is highly praised for its excellent image quality, sharpness, and build. Users appreciate its compact size, light weight, and the ability to use screw-on filters, which is a key advantage over some competitors. While a few users noted it is pricey and one had sharpness issues on an Olympus body, the overwhelming majority recommend it for landscapes, interiors, and travel photography.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Sharp and crisp
- Compact and lightweight
- Accepts screw-on filters
- Weather-sealed
Cons
- Pricey
- Variable aperture
- No OIS
- Sharpness issues on some Olympus bodies
- Slight distortion at 8mm
Scores
Specifications
| Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS 400mm | Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | super-telephoto | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 400 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 800 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 27 | 15 |
| Groups | 19 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 6★ | 3 |
| Coating | Fluorine coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/6.3 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | 6.3-8 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 2.48 kg | 0.31 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 105 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear motor★ | 240-fps autofocus drive |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 1.70 m | 230 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:4.34★ | 0.12x |
Pros & Cons
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS 400mm
- Strong optical (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Strong versatility (72nd percentile)
- Below average build (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
- Strong optical (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile
Pricing
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 offers 3.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
