Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm
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
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm
The Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF Lens is a compact, lightweight manual lens that delivers surprising value at its price point. Most users praise its portability and build quality, though they note it requires patience, a tripod, and good light to get sharp results. The donut bokeh and fixed aperture are seen as creative trade-offs rather than dealbreakers. A common sentiment is that it's a 'fun' specialty lens for nature, moon, or zoo photography, but not a substitute for high-end telephoto glass.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design
- Good build quality (metal construction)
- Smooth focus ring
- Excellent value for the price
- Fun creative donut bokeh effect
Cons
- Manual focus only with no autofocus
- Fixed f/8 aperture limits low-light use
- Soft image quality and muted contrast
- Donut bokeh may not suit all tastes
- Lens hood does not reverse for storage
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | super-telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 400 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 400 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 6 |
| Groups | 9 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Multicoating and Antioxidant Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | 5 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon Z |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.35 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 1.15 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x | 1:2.5★ |
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
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm
- Strong build (67th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average optical (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 22 specs.