Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
The Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 lens is highly praised for its excellent image quality, sharpness, and build. Users appreciate its compact size, light weight, and the ability to use screw-on filters, which is a key advantage over some competitors. While a few users noted it is pricey and one had sharpness issues on an Olympus body, the overwhelming majority recommend it for landscapes, interiors, and travel photography.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Sharp and crisp
- Compact and lightweight
- Accepts screw-on filters
- Weather-sealed
Cons
- Pricey
- Variable aperture
- No OIS
- Sharpness issues on some Olympus bodies
- Slight distortion at 8mm
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 manual lens offers exceptional value for astrophotography and portrait work, delivering sharp images and smooth bokeh at a fraction of the cost of autofocus equivalents. Users praise its center sharpness wide open and excellent performance when stopped down to f/2.8, especially for capturing stars. However, the purely manual focus and aperture can be fiddly, and build quality inconsistencies like a missing hood or accidental aperture ring bumps are noted. Overall, it's a highly recommended budget lens for those comfortable with manual operation.
Pros
- Sharp center wide open
- Smooth bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Great value for money
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Fiddly manual aperture ring
- Missing lens hood in some packages
- No autofocus
- Front-heavy with adapter on some cameras
- Accidental aperture ring bumps
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 85 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 9 |
| Groups | 10 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Ultra Multi-Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Canon EF |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm★ | 1.00 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 1:9★ |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (77th percentile)
- Strong build (67th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.