Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic
95 Overall Score
vs
Tamron Di III 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

Tamron Di III 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

Tamron
56 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 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 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

78 out of 100 medium confidence 12 reviews

This Tamron 70-300mm lens is widely praised for its excellent value, delivering solid telephoto and macro performance at a budget-friendly price. Many users highlight sharp images at mid-range and macro distances, though some note softness at the long end and noticeable chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes. Build quality feels good for the price, with a smooth zoom action and metal mount, but a few reviewers experienced focus inconsistency and a slight catch in the zoom ring. Overall, it's a highly recommended budget telephoto for those who can work around its limitations.

Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Good macro performance (1:2)
  • Solid build quality for price
  • Sharp images at mid-range and macro
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
  • Soft focus at 300mm end
  • Noticeable chromatic aberration
  • Zoom ring catch around 180-200mm
  • Inconsistent autofocus on some bodies
  • Not as sharp as premium lenses
👍 Value for money 8
🤔 Image quality 10
👍 Macro performance 5
👍 Build quality 6
🤔 Autofocus performance 4
👎 Chromatic aberration 3

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Tamron
53
Professional
Panasonic
92
Tamron
57
Landscape
Panasonic
91
Tamron
67
Budget
Panasonic
90
Tamron
64
Portrait
Panasonic
87
Tamron
40
Travel
Panasonic
83
Tamron
64
Street
Panasonic
82
Tamron
51
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Tamron
72
Macro
Panasonic
76
Tamron
61

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mmTamron Di III 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD
Optics
Typezoomtelephoto
Focal Length Min12 mm70 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm300 mm
Elements1415
Groups910
Aspherical Elements4★—
ED Elements11
CoatingNano Surface CoatingBBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/22
Min Aperturef/2.84.5-6.3
Constant✓★✗
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsNikon Z
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★0.54 kg
Filter Thread58 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusRXD stepping motor★
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★800 mm
Max Magnification0.21x★—

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 aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile

Tamron Di III 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

  • Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
  • Strong optical (71st percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)

Verdict

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

Scores 95 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports