Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Sony G Master SEL1635GM2 16-35mm
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
Sony G Master SEL1635GM2 16-35mm
The Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM lens earns strong praise for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful rendering, and versatile focal range, making it a favorite for landscape, astro, and event photography. Users consistently highlight the excellent build quality and fast autofocus, though many note the high price. A minority of owners report autofocus failures or hot pixel issues, and some feel the premium over competitors is not fully justified. Overall, it is widely regarded as a top-tier wide-angle zoom that delivers prime-like image quality.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness corner to corner
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Excellent build quality
- Versatile 16-35mm range with f/2.8
- Beautiful rendering and bokeh
Cons
- Very expensive
- Autofocus failure issues reported
- Some hot pixel problems
- Heavy and front-heavy on camera
- Minor distortion and vignette at 16mm
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Sony G Master SEL1635GM2 16-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 15 |
| Groups | 10 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4 | 5★ |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.68 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 82 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | XD Linear Motors★ |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm★ | 280 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 0.32x★ |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile
Sony G Master SEL1635GM2 16-35mm
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong versatility (75th percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 offers 1.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
