Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
OM System M.ZUIKO DIGITAL V335930BW000 150-600mm
What Buyers Say
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
OM System M.ZUIKO DIGITAL V335930BW000 150-600mm
This super-telephoto zoom lens is praised for its exceptional sharpness and background blur, rivaling even prime lenses like the 300mm f4. Users love it for wildlife photography, noting it delivers impressive bokeh at 600mm and great value for its reach. However, the lens is heavy, bulky, and poorly balanced on modern M4/3 bodies, with an awkward I/S switch that can accidentally turn off. Despite these ergonomic drawbacks, most reviewers consider it a top all-around choice for wildlife, especially at its price point.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Great background blur/bokeh
- Excellent for wildlife
- Good value for reach
- Impressive at 600mm
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Poor balance on M4/3 bodies
- Awkward I/S switch placement
- Too long at short end (300mm equiv)
- Requires high shutter speed
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | OM System M.ZUIKO DIGITAL V335930BW000 150-600mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 150 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 600 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 25 |
| Groups | 10 | 15 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 0 |
| ED Elements | 3 | 6★ |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/6.3 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | 5.0-6.3 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 2.06 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 95 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 7 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm★ | 560 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 0.7x★ |
Pros & Cons
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
OM System M.ZUIKO DIGITAL V335930BW000 150-600mm
- Strong stabilization (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong optical (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong versatility (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong social proof (68th percentile)
- Below average build (11th percentile)11th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
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 22 specs.
