Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
What Buyers Say
Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS
The Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS lens is widely praised for its sharpness, compact size, good image stabilization, and versatile zoom range. Many users highlight its excellent build quality, fast autofocus, and balanced handling on full-frame and APS-C bodies. However, drawbacks include a lack of a tripod collar, occasional autofocus hunting in low light, and some reports of sample variation or softness at certain focal lengths. Several reviewers note it feels heavy, especially on smaller cameras, and some find the variable aperture limiting in dim conditions.
Pros
- Sharp images across zoom range
- Compact and lightweight design
- Effective Optical SteadyShot stabilization
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Lacks tripod collar
- Autofocus hunts in low light
- Variable aperture limits low-light performance
- Heavy for smaller camera bodies
- Sample variation (decentered/soft copies)
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
| Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS | Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 70 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 300 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 15 |
| Groups | 13 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4 | 4 |
| ED Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| Coating | Nano AR Coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/29 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | 4.5-5.6 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.85 kg | 0.31 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 72 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Linear Autofocus Motor | 240-fps autofocus drive |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 900 mm | 230 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.31x★ | 0.12x |
Pros & Cons
Sony G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS
- Strong optical (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Below average aperture (7th percentile)7th %ile
- Below average bokeh (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
- Below average macro (31st 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
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 offers 2.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
