Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
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
Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm
The Brightin Star 35mm f/0.95 manual lens is praised for its exceptional sharpness, fast aperture, and build quality, especially given its budget-friendly price. However, some users note it's a specialty lens requiring practice for manual focus, and at least one reviewer reported compatibility issues with certain Canon EOS R7 firmware. The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II lens receives high marks for sharpness and fast autofocus, but several Q&A posts raise concerns about internal movement when the camera is off. Overall, sentiment is very positive for both lenses, with a few isolated negatives.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Fast f/0.95 aperture
- Affordable price
- Solid build quality
- Beautiful bokeh
Cons
- Manual focus requires practice
- No autofocus
- Potential compatibility issues with Canon R7 firmware
- Specialty lens not for beginners
- Heavy all-metal construction
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 12 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 15 |
| Groups | 9 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Multicoated |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | 5 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Canon RF |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.55 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 34 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 240 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x | 2:1★ |
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
Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong macro (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong build (66th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm offers 1.6x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.
