Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic
96 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED 24mm

Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED 24mm

Nikon
72 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

92 out of 100 medium confidence 22 reviews

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
👍 Optical performance 7
👍 Build quality 6
👍 Autofocus speed 5
👍 Versatility 4
👍 Video features 3
👎 Depth of field 2

Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED 24mm

78 out of 100 high confidence 74 reviews

The Nikon 24mm f/1.4G ED is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and outstanding low-light performance, making it a favorite among professionals. However, a significant number of users report autofocus issues, particularly at distances beyond 30 feet or at wide apertures, which can be inconsistent across copies. Despite its high price, most agree it delivers superb image quality, though some note it is slightly soft wide open and heavy.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Excellent low-light performance
  • Fast aperture f/1.4
  • Good build quality
Cons
  • Autofocus issues at distance
  • Inconsistent AF across copies
  • Soft wide open at f/1.4
  • Heavy weight
  • High price
👍 Image quality 30
👎 Autofocus performance 15
👍 Low light performance 12
👍 Bokeh 10
👍 Build quality 8
🤔 Value for money 7

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
98
Nikon
79
Landscape
Panasonic
95
Nikon
64
Professional
Panasonic
92
Nikon
78
Portrait
Panasonic
89
Nikon
86
Travel
Panasonic
86
Nikon
50
Budget
Panasonic
86
Nikon
66
Street
Panasonic
84
Nikon
70
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Nikon
56
Macro
Panasonic
76
Nikon
75

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mmNikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED 24mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min12 mm24 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm24 mm
Elements1412
Groups910
Aspherical Elements4★2
ED Elements12★
CoatingNano Surface CoatingNano Crystal Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/1.4
Min Aperturef/2.8f/1.4
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsNikon F
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★0.62 kg
Filter Thread58 mm77 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusSilent Wave Motor
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★250 mm
Max Magnification0.21x1:5.55★

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

Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED 24mm

  • Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong optical (78th percentile)
  • Strong macro (75th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

Pricing

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

No current pricing available

Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED 24mm

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Scores 96 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm Better at:

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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