Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Pentax Limited Series 23010 40mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
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
Pentax Limited Series 23010 40mm
The Pentax HD DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR lens is highly praised for its superb build quality, sharpness, and beautiful color rendition. Users love it as a versatile walk-around lens for street photography and landscapes, especially on APS-C bodies like the K-3. The main drawbacks are its variable aperture and a price that many feel is too high for the performance gain over kit lenses.
Pros
- Superb build quality
- Excellent sharpness
- Beautiful color rendition
- Weather resistant
- Versatile focal range for street and landscape
Cons
- Variable aperture (f/2.8-4)
- High price for performance gain
- Limited zoom range
- Not as wide as some kit lenses
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Pentax Limited Series 23010 40mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 20 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 40 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 9 |
| Groups | 9 | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 1 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | HD coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax K |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg | 0.28 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | DC |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 280 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x | 1:5★ |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile
Pentax Limited Series 23010 40mm
- Strong build (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong bokeh (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong macro (74th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.