Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Panasonic
95 Overall Score
vs
Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED 35mm

Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED 35mm

Nikon
64 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

92 out of 100 medium confidence 22 reviews

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
👍 Optical performance 7
👍 Build quality 6
👍 Autofocus speed 5
👍 Versatility 4
👍 Video features 3
👎 Depth of field 2

Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED 35mm

82 out of 100 high confidence 433 reviews

The Nikon 35mm f/1.8 lens is widely praised for its sharpness, fast autofocus, and excellent low-light performance, making it a favorite for street, portrait, and everyday photography. Many users highlight its lightweight build and value for money, though some note that it is not as sharp as the 50mm S lens and can suffer from vignetting and corner softness wide open. A few reviewers also mention quality control issues and a plastic feel, but overall it is considered a solid, versatile prime lens.

Pros
  • Sharp images edge-to-edge
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Excellent low-light performance
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • Great value for the price
Cons
  • Vignetting and corner softness wide open
  • Not as sharp as 50mm S lens
  • Plastic build feels cheap
  • Quality control issues reported
  • Overpriced compared to alternatives
👍 Image quality 28
👍 Autofocus performance 15
👍 Low light performance 12
🤔 Build quality 10
👍 Value for money 14
👎 Vignetting and corner sharpness 6

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
100
Nikon
65
Professional
Panasonic
92
Nikon
64
Landscape
Panasonic
91
Nikon
58
Budget
Panasonic
90
Nikon
63
Portrait
Panasonic
88
Nikon
51
Travel
Panasonic
83
Nikon
58
Street
Panasonic
82
Nikon
56
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Nikon
59
Macro
Panasonic
75
Nikon
56

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mmNikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED 35mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min12 mm35 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm35 mm
Elements148
Groups98
Aspherical Elements4★1
ED Elements11
CoatingNano Surface CoatingSuper Integrated Coating (SIC)
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/16
Min Aperturef/2.8f/1.8
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsNikon F
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg0.31 kg
Filter Thread58 mm58 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusSilent Wave Motor
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops5 stops
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★250 mm
Max Magnification0.21x0.24x★

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile

Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED 35mm

  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
  • Below average versatility (34th percentile)

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm

Scores 95 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 2 of 22 specs.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 35mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports