Canon L-series EF 17-40mm f/4L USM 40mm
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
What Buyers Say
Canon L-series EF 17-40mm f/4L USM 40mm
The Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from users, particularly for landscape and real estate photography. Reviewers praise its sharpness, wide-angle versatility, and excellent value, especially when purchased at a discount. A few note the lack of image stabilization and the crop factor on APS-C cameras as minor drawbacks, but overall satisfaction is high.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Wide-angle versatility
- Great value for money
- Excellent for landscapes
- Good for real estate photography
Cons
- No image stabilization
- Crop factor on APS-C cameras
- Limited to f/4 maximum aperture
- Cannot use multiple filters at 17mm
- Not compatible with teleconverters
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
| Canon L-series EF 17-40mm f/4L USM 40mm | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 17 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 40 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 12 | 14 |
| Groups | 9 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Super Spectra Coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.50 kg | 0.31 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 77 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 280 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.24x★ | 0.21x |
Pros & Cons
Canon L-series EF 17-40mm f/4L USM 40mm
- Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong optical (78th percentile)
- Strong versatility (76th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd 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
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.