Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
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 HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
The Pentax DA 16-85mm lens is widely praised for its sharpness, weather sealing, and versatile zoom range, making it a favorite walk-around lens for outdoor and travel photography. Users appreciate the solid build and consistent image quality, though some note slower autofocus in low light and a variable aperture as minor drawbacks. A few isolated reports of inconsistent quality exist, but overall sentiment is very positive.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Weather sealing
- Versatile zoom range (16-85mm)
- Solid build quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Variable aperture (f/3.5-5.6)
- Slow autofocus in low light
- No distance scale on focus ring
- Relatively expensive
- Inconsistent quality control in some units
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 85 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 16 |
| Groups | 10 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 3 |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | HD Coating, SP (Super Protect) Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | 22-38★ |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax K |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.49 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 72 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | DC |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm★ | 350 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 0.26x★ |
Pros & Cons
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
Pentax HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
- Strong versatility (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong optical (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong build (71st percentile)
- Strong social proof (68th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd 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 HD Pentax-DA 21387 16-85mm
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
