Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Olympus Zuiko 261059 25mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
This Panasonic Leica 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, solid build, and constant aperture, making it a versatile workhorse for both photo and video on Micro Four Thirds cameras. Users highlight its impressive image quality that rivals larger formats, fast and reliable autofocus, and effective image stabilization, especially when paired with compatible bodies. A few note the lens is somewhat heavy and that depth of field at f/2.8 is limited on MFT, but overall it is considered a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-quality standard zoom.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Constant f/2.8 aperture
- Solid build quality
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Effective image stabilization
Cons
- Somewhat heavy
- Limited depth of field at f/2.8 on MFT
- Image stabilization barely noticeable at wide angles
- Not as sharp as prime lenses
- Plastic lens hood
Olympus Zuiko 261059 25mm
This Olympus 25mm f/2.8 pancake lens is praised for its tiny size, light weight, and ability to make Micro Four Thirds bodies even more portable. Users love the bright f/2.8 aperture and sharpness, though some report severe chromatic aberration and a few received defective units. The screw-on metal lens cap divides opinion, but its compact form factor is the primary draw.
Pros
- extremely small and lightweight
- bright f/2.8 aperture for low light
- sharp image quality
- affordable price for a fast prime
- makes camera very portable
Cons
- severe chromatic aberration on some copies
- no lens hood included
- screw-on metal lens cap is inconvenient
- defective units reported (focus issues)
- some distortion
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Olympus Zuiko 261059 25mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 25 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 25 mm |
| Elements | 14 | — |
| Groups | 9 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1★ | — |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Four Thirds |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.31 kg | 0.10 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | — |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | — |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm | 25 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong optical (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (85th percentile)85th %ile
Olympus Zuiko 261059 25mm
- Strong macro (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong build (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong aperture (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Strong bokeh (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Below average user sentiment (4th percentile)4th %ile
- Below average optical (20th percentile)20th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.