Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Rokinon 50M-C
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
Rokinon 50M-C
The Rokinon 50mm f/1.4 lens receives generally positive feedback for its excellent value, sharp optics, and solid build quality, especially for astrophotography and low-light use. However, many users note that the autofocus can be inconsistent and unreliable for fast-moving subjects, and some copies have decentering issues. The lens is fully manual on certain mounts, which is a key consideration for buyers.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Sharp optics for the price
- Solid all-metal build quality
- Great for astrophotography
- Good low-light performance at f/1.4
Cons
- Inconsistent autofocus performance
- Autofocus unreliable for fast-moving subjects
- Some copies have decentering issues
- Soft corners at f/1.4
- Fully manual on certain mounts
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Rokinon 50M-C | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 50 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 9 |
| Groups | 9 | 6 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Ultra Multi-Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 8★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.54 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★ | 450 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x | 1:6.25★ |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
Rokinon 50M-C
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong build (67th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Rokinon 50M-C offers 1.8x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
