Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

Panasonic
89 Overall Score
vs
Canon L RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Canon L RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Canon
64 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

88 out of 100 medium confidence 18 reviews

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
👍 Image quality 12
👍 Build quality 8
🤔 Value for money 6
👍 Portability 5
👍 Filter compatibility 4
👍 Autofocus performance 3

Canon L RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

78 out of 100 high confidence 459 reviews

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, fast and silent autofocus, and robust build quality. Many users consider it a workhorse for sports, portraits, and low-light photography, though the lack of image stabilization is a notable drawback for some. A significant number of reviews highlight the lens's weight and the potential for focus inconsistencies, particularly with moving subjects. Concerns about Canon's support for older models and the tripod collar design also appear in negative feedback.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness and image quality
  • Fast and silent autofocus (USM)
  • Excellent for low-light photography
  • Versatile for sports and portraits
  • Robust build quality
Cons
  • No image stabilization
  • Heavy and bulky
  • Tripod collar design issues
  • Inconsistent autofocus with moving subjects
  • Canon no longer supports repairs
👍 Image quality 35
🤔 Autofocus performance 28
👍 Build quality 22
👎 Weight and size 18
👎 Image stabilization 15
👍 Value for money 12

Scores

Portrait
Panasonic
89
Canon
49
Landscape
Panasonic
83
Canon
87
Video Cinema
Panasonic
85
Canon
74
Street
Panasonic
84
Canon
56
Budget
Panasonic
82
Canon
71
Travel
Panasonic
82
Canon
69
Professional
Panasonic
82
Canon
69
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
75
Canon
76
Macro
Panasonic
69
Canon
59

Specifications

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4Canon L RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min8 mm70 mm
Focal Length Max18 mm200 mm
Elements1517
Groups1013
Aspherical Elements4★2
ED Elements35★
CoatingNano Surface CoatingAir Sphere Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/32
Min Aperture2.8-4f/2.8
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsCanon EF
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★1.07 kg
Filter Thread67 mm77 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF Type240-fps autofocus driveUSM★
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops—5 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance230 mm★700 mm
Max Magnification0.12x0.3x★

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

  • Strong optical (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile

Canon L RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

  • Strong stabilization (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong optical (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
  • Below average bokeh (8th percentile)8th %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
  • Below average macro (33rd percentile)

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

Scores 89 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 22 specs.

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitProfessionalVideo Cinema

Canon L RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Better at:

Landscape