Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic
94 Overall Score
vs
Tamron SP A025E 70-200mm

Tamron SP A025E 70-200mm

Tamron
86 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

Tamron SP A025E 70-200mm

92 out of 100 medium confidence 11 reviews

The Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 G2 is overwhelmingly praised for its sharpness, fast autofocus, and excellent value compared to the Canon equivalent. Users highlight its superb build quality and versatility for sports, portraits, and low-light photography. A minor caveat is that the VC switches can be accidentally bumped during shooting, but this does not detract from the overall positive experience. Most reviewers consider it a no-brainer purchase, saving significant money without sacrificing image quality.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Excellent value for money
  • Superb build quality
  • Versatile for sports and portraits
Cons
  • VC switches easily bumped accidentally
  • Slightly more vignetting than Canon
  • Heavy and requires tripod for long use
  • Price could be lower in some markets
👍 Image quality 8
👍 Autofocus performance 6
👍 Value for money 7
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Versatility 4
👎 Vc switch design 2

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Tamron
98
Professional
Panasonic
92
Tamron
87
Landscape
Panasonic
91
Tamron
73
Portrait
Panasonic
89
Tamron
91
Budget
Panasonic
90
Tamron
86
Travel
Panasonic
86
Tamron
67
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Tamron
84
Street
Panasonic
83
Tamron
77
Macro
Panasonic
76
Tamron
79

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mmTamron SP A025E 70-200mm
Optics
Typezoomtelephoto
Focal Length Min12 mm70 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm200 mm
Elements1423
Groups917
Aspherical Elements4★—
ED Elements1★—
CoatingNano Surface CoatingeBAND Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Min Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsCanon EF
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★2.10 kg
Filter Thread58 mm77 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusUSD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive)
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops5 stops
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★950 mm
Max Magnification0.21x1:6.1★

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile

Tamron SP A025E 70-200mm

  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong af (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong optical (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Below average build (12th percentile)12th %ile

Pricing

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Tamron SP A025E 70-200mm

No current pricing available

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Scores 94 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm Better at:

BudgetStreetTravelLandscapeProfessionalVideo Cinema

Tamron SP A025E 70-200mm Better at:

MacroWildlife Sports

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