Laowa 50mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO 50mm
Laowa
61 Overall Score
vs
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Panasonic
89 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
Laowa 50mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO 50mm
No customer feedback yet
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
Scores
Portrait
Video Cinema
Street
Landscape
Budget
Travel
Professional
Macro
Wildlife Sports
Specifications
| Laowa 50mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO 50mm | Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | macro | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 50 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 15 |
| Groups | 10 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 4★ |
| ED Elements | — | 3★ |
| Coating | apochromatic (APO) | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | — | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.24 kg★ | 0.31 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | 240-fps autofocus drive |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 135 mm★ | 230 mm |
| Max Magnification | 2:1★ | 0.12x |
Pros & Cons
Laowa 50mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO 50mm
- Strong macro (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average social proof (27th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile
Pricing
Laowa 50mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO 50mm
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
No current pricing available
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.
