Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 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
Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm
The Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 lens is widely praised as an exceptional value, delivering sharp images, good color rendition, and solid autofocus at a fraction of the cost of Sony alternatives. Users highlight its lightweight, compact design, making it ideal for travel and everyday carry. While some note it lacks weather sealing and the maximum aperture is f/2.5 rather than f/2, most find the optical quality and performance far exceed expectations for the price. A few mention it may require some post-processing, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Sharp image quality
- Lightweight and compact
- Good autofocus performance
- Pleasant color rendition
Cons
- No weather sealing
- Maximum aperture f/2.5 (not f/2)
- Plastic build (except mount)
- May require post-processing
- Manual focus not linear
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm | Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 40 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 40 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 10 |
| Groups | 9 | 6 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | high-definition nano multi-layer coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.5 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg | 0.17 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 52 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | STM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 340 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x | 0.34m-∞★ |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile
Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong aperture (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong build (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm
No current pricing available
Viltrox 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm
Verdict
Scores 95 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
