Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic
96 Overall Score
vs
Sigma Art 270101 70mm

Sigma Art 270101 70mm

Sigma
72 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

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

Sigma Art 270101 70mm

85 out of 100 high confidence 34 reviews

The Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Art macro lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional sharpness, image quality, and value. Users praise its compact, lightweight design and versatility for macro, portrait, and product photography. While autofocus speed is a common criticism, especially at macro distances, most reviewers find it acceptable given the lens's price and optical performance. Some minor issues include focus hunting, lack of image stabilization, and a firmware bug affecting focus retention.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness
  • Great value for money
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Versatile for macro and portraits
  • Beautiful bokeh
Cons
  • Slow autofocus
  • Focus hunting at macro distances
  • No image stabilization
  • Lens extends when focusing
  • Firmware bug with focus retention
👍 Image quality 20
👎 Autofocus speed 15
👍 Value for money 12
👍 Build quality 8
👍 Versatility 7
👎 Focus hunting 5

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
98
Sigma
71
Landscape
Panasonic
95
Sigma
49
Professional
Panasonic
92
Sigma
70
Portrait
Panasonic
89
Sigma
83
Travel
Panasonic
86
Sigma
40
Budget
Panasonic
86
Sigma
62
Street
Panasonic
84
Sigma
69
Macro
Panasonic
76
Sigma
83
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Sigma
52

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mmSigma Art 270101 70mm
Optics
Typezoommacro
Focal Length Min12 mm70 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm70 mm
Elements1413
Groups910
Aspherical Elements4★2
ED Elements13★
CoatingNano Surface CoatingSuper multi-layer lens coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Min Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsL-Mount
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓★✗
Weight0.31 kg★0.53 kg
Filter Thread58 mm49 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusCoreless DC motor★
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★258 mm
Max Magnification0.21x1:1★

Pros & Cons

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

Sigma Art 270101 70mm

  • Strong bokeh (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong optical (84th percentile)84th %ile
  • Strong af (78th percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Scores 96 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm Better at:

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Sigma Art 270101 70mm Better at:

Macro