Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
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 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
Scores
Specifications
| Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm | Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | macro | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 50 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 8 | 15 |
| Groups | 7 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 0 | 3★ |
| Coating | smc | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/32 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 2.8-4 |
| 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 | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | 240-fps autofocus drive |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 230 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:1★ | 0.12x |
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 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
Pricing
Pentax smc P-D FA smc DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro 50mm offers 1.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
