Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Sony FE SEL50F25G 50mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
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
Sony FE SEL50F25G 50mm
The Sony FE 50mm f/2.5 G lens is widely praised for its sharpness, compact size, and fast autofocus. Users appreciate its lightweight design for travel and everyday use, though some note the aperture could be wider. A minor quality control issue with a dot on the lens element was reported, but overall satisfaction remains high.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Compact and lightweight
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Excellent for travel
- Manual aperture ring
Cons
- Limited maximum aperture (f/2.5)
- Quality control issue (dot on lens element)
- Small hood design is unusual
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Sony FE SEL50F25G 50mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 50 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 9 |
| Groups | 10 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Multi-Coated |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | f/2.5 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg | 0.17 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm★ | 310 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 0.21x★ |
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
Sony FE SEL50F25G 50mm
- Strong build (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong social proof (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.