Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED 105mm
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
Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED 105mm
The Nikon 105mm f/1.4E ED is widely praised as one of the best portrait lenses available, delivering stunning sharpness, creamy bokeh, and beautiful color rendition even wide open. Many users consider it a significant upgrade over the 85mm f/1.4 and 70-200mm f/2.8, though they note it is large, heavy, and expensive. A few reviewers report autofocus speed issues, front-focus problems, or softness at minimum focus distance, but the overwhelming majority find the optical performance magical and worth the investment.
Pros
- Stunning sharpness wide open
- Creamy bokeh and background separation
- Beautiful color rendition and contrast
- Excellent low-light performance
- Solid build quality with weather sealing
Cons
- Very expensive
- Heavy and bulky
- Autofocus can be slow in some situations
- Front-focus issues reported on some copies
- Softness at minimum focus distance wide open
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED 105mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 105 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 105 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 14 |
| Groups | 10 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 0 |
| ED Elements | 3 | 3 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Nano Crystal Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon F |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.98 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 82 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm★ | 1.00 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 1:7.7★ |
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
Nikon NIKKOR AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED 105mm
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong optical (76th percentile)
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average build (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
