Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Zeiss Batis 000000-2136-691 18mm
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
Zeiss Batis 000000-2136-691 18mm
The Zeiss Batis lenses (85mm, 135mm, 25mm, 18mm, 40mm) receive overwhelmingly positive feedback for their exceptional sharpness, beautiful color rendition, and solid build quality. Users praise the fast and accurate autofocus, compact size, and the pleasing bokeh, making them favorites for portraits, landscapes, and travel. Some concerns include the high price, occasional autofocus issues in low light, and a few minor quirks like the OLED display being less useful and close-focus limitations, but these are outweighed by the overall optical excellence.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful color rendition
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Compact and lightweight
- Pleasant bokeh
Cons
- High price
- Autofocus issues in low light
- OLED display not very useful
- Close focus limitations
- Chromatic aberration in some cases
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Zeiss Batis 000000-2136-691 18mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 11 |
| Groups | 9 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4 | 4 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 7★ |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | ZEISS T* coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 16★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.33 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 250 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
Zeiss Batis 000000-2136-691 18mm
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong build (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm offers 2.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
