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

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

Panasonic
95 Overall Score
vs
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 25mm

Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 25mm

Zeiss
83 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

Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 25mm

89 out of 100 high confidence 100 reviews

The Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 and 135mm f/2.8 lenses are overwhelmingly praised for their stunning image quality, sharpness, beautiful color rendition, and fast, accurate autofocus. Users frequently highlight the excellent build quality and compact, lightweight design, making them ideal for travel, street, and portrait photography. Common concerns include minor issues with close-focus performance in low light, some chromatic aberration, and a higher price point, though most agree the optical performance justifies the cost.

Pros
  • Stunning image sharpness
  • Beautiful color rendition and contrast
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Excellent build quality
  • Compact and lightweight design
Cons
  • Higher price point
  • Close focus issues in low light
  • Some chromatic aberration
  • OLED display not useful for professionals
  • Focus ring lacks grooves
👍 Image quality 85
👍 Sharpness 35
👍 Color rendition 25
👍 Autofocus performance 20
👍 Build quality 18
👍 Size and weight 22

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Zeiss
79
Professional
Panasonic
92
Zeiss
85
Landscape
Panasonic
91
Zeiss
56
Portrait
Panasonic
89
Zeiss
88
Budget
Panasonic
86
Zeiss
70
Street
Panasonic
82
Zeiss
80
Travel
Panasonic
82
Zeiss
56
Macro
Panasonic
75
Zeiss
79
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Zeiss
71

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mmZeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 25mm
Optics
Typezoomwide-angle
Focal Length Min12 mm25 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm25 mm
Elements1410
Groups98
Aspherical Elements44
ED Elements1★—
CoatingNano Surface Coating—
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/2
Min Aperturef/2.8f/2
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsSony E
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★0.34 kg
Filter Thread58 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocuslinear motors★
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★200 mm
Max Magnification0.21x★—

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 optical (86th percentile)86th %ile

Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 25mm

  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong social proof (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong aperture (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Below average versatility (34th percentile)

Pricing

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

Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 25mm

No current pricing available

Verdict

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

Scores 95 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.

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

BudgetStreetTravelLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 25mm Better at:

Macro

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