Altura Photo Professional Lens Series QZ0296 8mm
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
What Buyers Say
Altura Photo Professional Lens Series QZ0296 8mm
This manual fisheye lens is praised for its excellent value and fun, creative potential, especially for landscapes and astrophotography. Users find the learning curve short, though focusing through the viewfinder can be tricky and some report a loose fit on certain Nikon bodies. Overall, it delivers good image quality and a vast depth of field at a very low price point.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Fun creative potential
- Good image quality
- Vast depth of field
- Short learning curve
Cons
- Manual focus can be tricky
- Loose fit on some Nikon bodies
- Difficult focusing through viewfinder
- Large lens case
- Not for frequent use
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
This Panasonic Leica 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, solid build, and constant aperture, making it a versatile workhorse for both photo and video on Micro Four Thirds cameras. Users highlight its impressive image quality that rivals larger formats, fast and reliable autofocus, and effective image stabilization, especially when paired with compatible bodies. A few note the lens is somewhat heavy and that depth of field at f/2.8 is limited on MFT, but overall it is considered a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-quality standard zoom.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Constant f/2.8 aperture
- Solid build quality
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Effective image stabilization
Cons
- Somewhat heavy
- Limited depth of field at f/2.8 on MFT
- Image stabilization barely noticeable at wide angles
- Not as sharp as prime lenses
- Plastic lens hood
Scores
Specifications
| Altura Photo Professional Lens Series QZ0296 8mm | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | fisheye | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 8 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | — | 14 |
| Groups | — | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | — | 1★ |
| Coating | multi-layer lens coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/3 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | — | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | — | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.52 kg | 0.31 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | — | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 9.14 m | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 0.21x★ |
Pros & Cons
Altura Photo Professional Lens Series QZ0296 8mm
- Strong stabilization (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong aperture (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Strong bokeh (79th percentile)
- Strong social proof (70th percentile)
- Below average af (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average build (24th percentile)
- Below average macro (29th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong optical (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (85th percentile)85th %ile
Verdict
Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 9 of 22 specs.