Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
What Buyers Say
Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm
The Pentax 50mm f/2.8 macro lens is widely praised for its sharpness, color reproduction, and value for money. Users find it excellent for macro work, general photography, and digitizing documents or artwork. Common criticisms include autofocus hunting in live view and a focus ring that rotates continuously, which some find unusual. Overall, it is considered a compact, high-quality lens that performs well above its price point.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Great color reproduction
- Excellent value for money
- Compact and lightweight
- Versatile for macro and general use
Cons
- Autofocus hunts in live view
- Focus ring rotates continuously
- Plastic barrel instead of metal
- Narrow depth of field at wide aperture
- Learning curve for close-up focusing
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
Scores
Specifications
| Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | macro | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 50 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 8 | 14 |
| Groups | 7 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 0 | 1★ |
| Coating | smc | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/32 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.26 kg★ | 0.31 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm | 150 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:1★ | 0.21x |
Pros & Cons
Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm
- Strong macro (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (78th percentile)
- Strong social proof (75th percentile)
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average bokeh (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
Pricing
Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
