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

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

Panasonic
95 Overall Score
vs
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR AFSVR24-120G 24-120mm

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR AFSVR24-120G 24-120mm

Nikon
42 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

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR AFSVR24-120G 24-120mm

45 out of 100 medium confidence 10 reviews

The Nikon 24-120mm VR lens receives mixed feedback. Some users find it surprisingly sharp and versatile for landscapes and portraits, while others report severe softness on one side, distortion, and vignetting. Verified reviews highlight issues like missing hoods and caps, slow autofocus, and inconsistent quality, making it a risky purchase even at a lower price.

Pros
  • Surprisingly sharp for the price
  • Versatile focal range for landscapes and portraits
  • Good condition of used lens body
  • Decent image quality for casual use
  • Close focusing ability
Cons
  • Severe softness on one side
  • Distortion at borders
  • Vignetting at long end
  • Slow autofocus
  • Missing hood and caps in used purchases
🤔 Image sharpness 5
👎 Distortion and vignetting 3
👎 Autofocus speed 2
👎 Build quality and accessories 3
🤔 Value for money 4
👍 Focal range versatility 2

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Nikon
51
Professional
Panasonic
92
Nikon
57
Landscape
Panasonic
91
Nikon
60
Budget
Panasonic
90
Nikon
51
Portrait
Panasonic
89
Nikon
37
Travel
Panasonic
83
Nikon
57
Street
Panasonic
82
Nikon
42
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Nikon
54
Macro
Panasonic
75
Nikon
51

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mmNikon AF-S NIKKOR AFSVR24-120G 24-120mm
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min12 mm24 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm120 mm
Elements14—
Groups9—
Aspherical Elements4★3
ED Elements12★
CoatingNano Surface CoatingNano Crystal & Super Integrated Coatings
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/22
Min Aperturef/2.8f/4
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsF-Mount
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★0.57 kg
Filter Thread58 mm77 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusSilent Wave Motor
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★279 mm
Max Magnification0.21x0.39x★

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 (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR AFSVR24-120G 24-120mm

  • Strong versatility (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong stabilization (81st percentile)81st %ile
  • Strong optical (67th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (25th percentile)

Pricing

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

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR AFSVR24-120G 24-120mm

No current pricing available

Verdict

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

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

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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