Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Tamron Di AFA037N700 17-35mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
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
Tamron Di AFA037N700 17-35mm
The Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD lens is highly praised for its sharpness, especially in corners, and excellent value for money. Users love it for landscape and astrophotography, noting good color, contrast, and flare control. Some drawbacks include lack of VR, no distance scale, and plastic build, but these are often overlooked for the image quality. A few users reported firmware issues with certain camera adapters.
Pros
- Excellent corner sharpness
- Great value for money
- Lightweight and portable
- Good color and contrast
- Effective flare control
Cons
- No vibration reduction
- No distance scale
- Plastic build quality
- Firmware issues with adapters
- Barrel distortion and vignette
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Tamron Di AFA037N700 17-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 17 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 14 | — |
| Groups | 9 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | protective fluorine compound |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon F |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | — |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.46 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | OSD |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 280 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x★ | — |
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 AFA037N700 17-35mm
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Strong versatility (74th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 22 specs.