Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic
95 Overall Score
vs
Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II

Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II

Sony
68 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

Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II

72 out of 100 high confidence 107 reviews

The Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS kit lens is widely praised as an excellent value for money, offering surprisingly sharp images, silent autofocus, and a compact, lightweight build. Many users find it more than adequate for everyday photography, especially when stopped down, though it struggles in low light and exhibits softness at the wide end. A recurring complaint is significant flare and washed-out colors in bright conditions, and some feel it doesn't fully exploit the camera's sensor. Overall, it's seen as a great starter or travel lens, but not a replacement for higher-end optics.

Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Surprisingly sharp image quality
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Silent and fast autofocus
  • Dust and moisture resistant
Cons
  • Soft corners at 28mm wide end
  • Significant flare in bright light
  • Washed-out colors in sunlight
  • Slow aperture limits low-light use
  • Not sharp enough for high-res sensors
👍 Value for money 18
🤔 Image quality 25
👍 Build quality 12
👎 Low light performance 8
👎 Flare and glare 6
👍 Autofocus performance 10

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Sony
68
Professional
Panasonic
92
Sony
67
Landscape
Panasonic
91
Sony
61
Budget
Panasonic
90
Sony
76
Portrait
Panasonic
87
Sony
75
Travel
Panasonic
83
Sony
67
Street
Panasonic
82
Sony
67
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Sony
70
Macro
Panasonic
76
Sony
65

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mmSony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min12 mm28 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm70 mm
Elements144
Groups98
Aspherical Elements4★3
ED Elements11
CoatingNano Surface CoatingMulti-Layered Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/3.5
Min Aperturef/2.83.5-5.6
Constant✓★✗
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsSony E
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★0.91 kg
Filter Thread58 mm55 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocuslinear motor★
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm70 mm★
Max Magnification0.21x★0.19x

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

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

Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS II

  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
  • Strong aperture (79th percentile)
  • Strong bokeh (78th percentile)
  • Below average social proof (12th percentile)12th %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile

Verdict

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

Scores 95 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports