Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
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
Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
The Samyang 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC manual focus lens is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and outstanding performance in astrophotography. Users note that it requires patience and practice to master manual focusing, especially at f/2, but the image quality rivals much more expensive lenses. The build is solid but heavy, and it lacks weather sealing and electronic communication with the camera. Despite these drawbacks, it is considered a fantastic value for photographers who can work with manual focus.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Solid build quality
- Great value for money
Cons
- Heavy weight
- No autofocus
- No weather sealing
- No electronic communication with camera
- Stiff focus ring initially
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 135 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 11 |
| Groups | 9 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Ultra Multi-Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon F |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.82 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 800 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
Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average build (21st percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th percentile)
Pricing
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm offers 1.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.
