Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Pentax Limited 28050 21mm
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
Pentax Limited 28050 21mm
The Pentax HD D FA 21mm f/2.4ED Limited DC WR lens is highly praised for its unique image look, sharpness, and build quality. Users find it a worthy successor to older lenses like the Zeiss Distagon 21mm, with excellent close focusing and minimal distortion. Some note that its magic is best at f/2.4, with vignetting adding character, and that it pairs well with other Pentax Limited lenses.
Pros
- Unique image look at f/2.4
- Excellent sharpness
- Great close focusing ability
- Minimal distortion and chromatic aberrations
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Severe vignetting at f/2.4
- Loses magic at f/5.6
- Images may be overexposed with Pentax K-1
- High cost
- Not as good as 31mm Limited for contrast/saturation
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Pentax Limited 28050 21mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 21 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 21 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 11 |
| Groups | 10 | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 3 | 4★ |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | High-Grade Multi-Layer HD Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | f/2.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 8★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax K |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.42 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm | 180 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 0.26x★ |
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
Pentax Limited 28050 21mm
- Strong build (76th percentile)
- Strong optical (76th percentile)
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (19th percentile)19th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
No current pricing available
Pentax Limited 28050 21mm
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
