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

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

Panasonic
96 Overall Score
vs
Tamron Di III 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD

Tamron Di III 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD

Tamron
73 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

Tamron Di III 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD

82 out of 100 medium confidence 10 reviews

Users are overwhelmingly positive about this Tamron 50-300mm lens, praising its versatility, sharpness, and lightweight design. It is seen as a great value for travel and outdoor photography, with impressive macro capability and fast autofocus. A few minor complaints include a non-smooth focus ring and limited aperture in low light, but these are considered acceptable for the price.

Pros
  • Versatile zoom range
  • Lightweight design
  • Sharp image quality
  • Fast autofocus
  • Impressive macro capability
Cons
  • Non-smooth focus ring
  • Limited aperture in low light
  • Not compatible with teleconverters
👍 Image quality 5
👍 Versatility 4
👍 Weight 4
👍 Autofocus 3
👍 Macro capability 3
👍 Value for money 3

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
98
Tamron
61
Landscape
Panasonic
95
Tamron
81
Professional
Panasonic
92
Tamron
67
Portrait
Panasonic
89
Tamron
52
Travel
Panasonic
86
Tamron
74
Budget
Panasonic
86
Tamron
72
Street
Panasonic
84
Tamron
61
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Tamron
80
Macro
Panasonic
76
Tamron
78

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mmTamron Di III 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min12 mm50 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm300 mm
Elements1419
Groups914
Aspherical Elements4★—
ED Elements14★
CoatingNano Surface CoatingFluorine Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.822-32★
Min Aperturef/2.84.5-6.3
Constant✓★✗
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsSony E
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★0.67 kg
Filter Thread58 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusVXD Linear Motor★
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★221 mm
Max Magnification0.21x1:2★

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

Tamron Di III 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD

  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong versatility (95th percentile)95th %ile
  • Strong optical (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (25th percentile)

Verdict

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

Scores 96 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.

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

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo Cinema

Tamron Di III 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Better at:

Wildlife Sports