Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic
95 Overall Score
vs
Sigma Art 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro 105mm

Sigma Art 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro 105mm

Sigma
80 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 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

Sigma Art 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro 105mm

78 out of 100 high confidence 40 reviews

The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro Art lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and versatile macro-to-portrait performance. Many users highlight its solid build and value, though some note slow autofocus, noisy HSM motor, and occasional focusing issues in macro or low-contrast situations. A few mention compatibility quirks with IBIS and a warm color tone, but overall sentiment is strongly positive.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Versatile macro and portrait
  • Solid build quality
  • Good value for money
Cons
  • Slow autofocus in macro
  • Noisy HSM motor
  • Focus hunting in low contrast
  • IBIS compatibility issues
  • Warm color tone
👍 Sharpness 12
🤔 Autofocus speed 8
👍 Macro performance 7
👍 Build quality 6
👍 Value for money 5
👍 Bokeh 4

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Sigma
84
Professional
Panasonic
92
Sigma
84
Landscape
Panasonic
91
Sigma
67
Macro
Panasonic
75
Sigma
91
Budget
Panasonic
90
Sigma
77
Portrait
Panasonic
88
Sigma
87
Travel
Panasonic
83
Sigma
57
Street
Panasonic
82
Sigma
72
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Sigma
74

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mmSigma Art 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro 105mm
Optics
Typezoommacro
Focal Length Min12 mm105 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm105 mm
Elements1417
Groups912
Aspherical Elements4★1
ED Elements12★
CoatingNano Surface CoatingSuper Multi-Layer 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★0.71 kg
Filter Thread58 mm62 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusHSM
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops★4 stops
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★305 mm
Max Magnification0.21x1:1★

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

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

Sigma Art 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro 105mm

  • Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong bokeh (89th percentile)89th %ile
  • Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
  • Below average versatility (34th percentile)

Pricing

Both products are similarly priced.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Sigma Art 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro 105mm

Verdict

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

Scores 95 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

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

BudgetStreetTravelLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Sigma Art 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro 105mm Better at:

Macro

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