Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE 16mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
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
Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE 16mm
The Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent image quality, solid build, and outstanding value for money. Many users find it sharp, fast, and versatile for landscapes, astrophotography, and video. However, a few have reported autofocus inconsistencies, occasional bricking after months of use, and some limitations like unchangeable display units and manual-only aperture on certain mounts.
Pros
- Excellent image sharpness
- Great value for money
- Solid metal build quality
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Bright f/1.8 aperture
Cons
- Autofocus can be unreliable
- Lens hood does not snap tightly
- Some copies brick after months
- Display only shows meters, not feet
- Aperture control manual only on some mounts
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm | Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE 16mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 16 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 15 |
| Groups | 9 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 3 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | HD Nano Multilayer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.55 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 270 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x | 1:10★ |
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
Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE 16mm
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong macro (75th percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (24th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
No current pricing available
Viltrox AF 16/1.8 FE 16mm
Verdict
Scores 95 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
