Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Canon L-series EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
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
Canon L-series EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens is widely praised for its fast and quiet autofocus, lightweight design, and excellent image quality for the price. Users appreciate the effective image stabilization and compatibility across Canon DSLR and mirrorless cameras. However, a notable minority report reliability issues, such as lens errors and shutdowns, and some find the f/5.6 maximum aperture limiting in low light. Overall, most buyers consider it a great value for wildlife, sports, and travel photography.
Pros
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Lightweight and portable design
- Excellent image quality
- Effective image stabilization (IS II)
- Great value for the price
Cons
- Occasional reliability issues (lens errors)
- F/5.6 max aperture limits low-light performance
- Not weather-sealed
- Slow manual focus adjustment
- Some chromatic aberration outdoors
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Canon L-series EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 70 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 300 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 17 |
| Groups | 9 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/70 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 4-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 8★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Canon EF |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 1.05 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | USM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | 4 stops |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 1.20 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x | 0.21x |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
Canon L-series EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
- Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong optical (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average aperture (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average bokeh (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average macro (27th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.