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
89 Overall Score
vs
Sigma Art 270101 70mm

Sigma Art 270101 70mm

Sigma
72 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

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

88 out of 100 medium confidence 18 reviews

The Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 lens is highly praised for its excellent image quality, sharpness, and build. Users appreciate its compact size, light weight, and the ability to use screw-on filters, which is a key advantage over some competitors. While a few users noted it is pricey and one had sharpness issues on an Olympus body, the overwhelming majority recommend it for landscapes, interiors, and travel photography.

Pros
  • Excellent image quality
  • Sharp and crisp
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Accepts screw-on filters
  • Weather-sealed
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Variable aperture
  • No OIS
  • Sharpness issues on some Olympus bodies
  • Slight distortion at 8mm
👍 Image quality 12
👍 Build quality 8
🤔 Value for money 6
👍 Portability 5
👍 Filter compatibility 4
👍 Autofocus performance 3

Sigma Art 270101 70mm

85 out of 100 high confidence 34 reviews

The Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Art macro lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional sharpness, image quality, and value. Users praise its compact, lightweight design and versatility for macro, portrait, and product photography. While autofocus speed is a common criticism, especially at macro distances, most reviewers find it acceptable given the lens's price and optical performance. Some minor issues include focus hunting, lack of image stabilization, and a firmware bug affecting focus retention.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness
  • Great value for money
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Versatile for macro and portraits
  • Beautiful bokeh
Cons
  • Slow autofocus
  • Focus hunting at macro distances
  • No image stabilization
  • Lens extends when focusing
  • Firmware bug with focus retention
👍 Image quality 20
👎 Autofocus speed 15
👍 Value for money 12
👍 Build quality 8
👍 Versatility 7
👎 Focus hunting 5

Scores

Portrait
Panasonic
89
Sigma
83
Video Cinema
Panasonic
85
Sigma
71
Street
Panasonic
84
Sigma
69
Landscape
Panasonic
83
Sigma
49
Macro
Panasonic
69
Sigma
82
Budget
Panasonic
82
Sigma
62
Travel
Panasonic
82
Sigma
40
Professional
Panasonic
82
Sigma
70
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
75
Sigma
52

Specifications

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4Sigma Art 270101 70mm
Optics
Typezoommacro
Focal Length Min8 mm70 mm
Focal Length Max18 mm70 mm
Elements1513
Groups1010
Aspherical Elements4★2
ED Elements33
CoatingNano Surface CoatingSuper multi-layer lens coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Min Aperture2.8-4f/2.8
Constant✗✓★
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsL-Mount
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓★✗
Weight0.31 kg★0.53 kg
Filter Thread67 mm49 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF Type240-fps autofocus driveCoreless DC motor★
Stabilization✓★✗
Focus
Min Focus Distance230 mm★258 mm
Max Magnification0.12x1:1★

Pros & Cons

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

  • Strong optical (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile

Sigma Art 270101 70mm

  • Strong bokeh (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong optical (84th percentile)84th %ile
  • Strong af (78th percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

Scores 89 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.

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

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Sigma Art 270101 70mm Better at:

Macro