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
87 Overall Score
vs
Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Tamron
100 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

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

92 out of 100 medium confidence 12 reviews

Users overwhelmingly praise this lens for its excellent build quality, sharpness, and versatile focal range. It is highly recommended for landscape, architectural, and real estate photography, with many noting its silent autofocus and smooth zoom. The included filter bundle is a welcome bonus, and the lens pairs well with both Olympus and Panasonic bodies.

Pros
  • Excellent build quality
  • Sharp image quality
  • Versatile focal range
  • Silent autofocus
  • Smooth zoom
Cons
  • No significant cons mentioned
👍 Build quality 5
👍 Image quality 6
👍 Versatility 4
👍 Autofocus performance 2
👍 Zoom smoothness 2
👍 Value for money 3

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

92 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews

The Tamron 28-300mm super-zoom wins praise for its lightweight design, versatile focal range, and solid image quality. Users appreciate the compact build and smooth zoom mechanism, but note the slow aperture and trade-offs in sharpness compared to more expensive zooms. Verified reviewers find it an ideal travel lens that pairs well with Sony bodies.

Pros
  • Lightweight design
  • Versatile 28-300mm focal range
  • Smooth zoom ring operation
  • Compact build for travel
  • Good integration with Sony bodies
Cons
  • Small maximum aperture (f/4-7.1)
  • Reduced sharpness vs. premium zooms
  • Not an internal zoom lens
  • Slow autofocus at high fps on some bodies
👍 Build quality 3
🤔 Sharpness 3
👎 Aperture 2
👍 Weight and portability 3
👍 Zoom range 4
👎 Autofocus performance 1

Scores

Budget
Panasonic
82
Tamron
96
Macro
Panasonic
68
Tamron
91
Landscape
Panasonic
82
Tamron
90
Portrait
Panasonic
85
Tamron
84
Video Cinema
Panasonic
85
Tamron
81
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
75
Tamron
85
Professional
Panasonic
81
Tamron
84
Travel
Panasonic
77
Tamron
81
Street
Panasonic
80
Tamron
81

Specifications

Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min8 mm28 mm
Focal Length Max18 mm300 mm
Elements1520
Groups1013
Aspherical Elements4★3
ED Elements3★2
CoatingNano Surface Coatingfluorine coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/4
Min Aperture2.8-44-7.1
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsSony E
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.32 kg★0.59 kg
Filter Thread67 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF Type240-fps autofocus driveVXD linear motor★
Stabilization✓✓
Focus
Min Focus Distance230 mm190 mm★
Max Magnification0.12x1:2.8★

Pros & Cons

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

  • Strong optical (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong aperture (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

  • Strong versatility (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong optical (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile

Verdict

★ Winner: Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD

Scores 100 overall, wins 6 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.

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

Video Cinema

Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD Better at:

MacroBudgetTravelLandscapeProfessionalWildlife Sports