Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm
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
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm
The Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF Lens is a compact, lightweight manual lens that delivers surprising value at its price point. Most users praise its portability and build quality, though they note it requires patience, a tripod, and good light to get sharp results. The donut bokeh and fixed aperture are seen as creative trade-offs rather than dealbreakers. A common sentiment is that it's a 'fun' specialty lens for nature, moon, or zoo photography, but not a substitute for high-end telephoto glass.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design
- Good build quality (metal construction)
- Smooth focus ring
- Excellent value for the price
- Fun creative donut bokeh effect
Cons
- Manual focus only with no autofocus
- Fixed f/8 aperture limits low-light use
- Soft image quality and muted contrast
- Donut bokeh may not suit all tastes
- Lens hood does not reverse for storage
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | super-telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 400 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 400 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 6 |
| Groups | 10 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 3★ | — |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Multicoating and Antioxidant Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/8 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | f/8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | 5 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon Z |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.35 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm★ | 1.15 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 1:2.5★ |
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
Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF 400mm
- Strong build (67th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average optical (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.
