Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Panasonic
96 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR 2161-cr 70-300mm
Nikon
57 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
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 2161-cr 70-300mm
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Video Cinema
Landscape
Professional
Portrait
Travel
Budget
Street
Wildlife Sports
Macro
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Nikon NIKKOR 2161-cr 70-300mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 70 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 14 | — |
| Groups | 9 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Super integrated coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/32 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 4.5-6.3 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | F-mount |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.74 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | Pulse stepping motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | 4 stops |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 300 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
Nikon NIKKOR 2161-cr 70-300mm
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average bokeh (4th percentile)4th %ile
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average build (35th percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.
