Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Pentax DA* 21750 60-250mm
What Buyers Say
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
Pentax DA* 21750 60-250mm
The Pentax DA* 60-250mm f/4 lens is highly regarded for its excellent sharpness across the zoom range and solid build quality with weather sealing. Users praise its versatility, silent autofocus, and good value for the price, though some note concerns about weight, occasional focus or SDM reliability issues, and a tendency for the lens to creep. Overall, it is considered a superb telephoto zoom for Pentax APS-C cameras.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness across zoom range
- Weather sealed construction
- Silent and fast autofocus (SDM)
- Versatile 60-250mm focal length
- Good value for the price
Cons
- Heavy weight (over 1 kg)
- No zoom lock (barrel may creep)
- SDM reliability concerns
- Occasional softness at certain focal lengths
- Lens cap lacks tether
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Pentax DA* 21750 60-250mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 60 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 250 mm |
| Elements | 14 | — |
| Groups | 9 | — |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Super Protect (SP) coating, smc |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 1.04 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | — |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | SDM |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 250 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x★ | — |
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
Pentax DA* 21750 60-250mm
- Strong versatility (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Strong macro (75th percentile)
- Strong user sentiment (75th percentile)
- Below average build (13th percentile)13th %ile
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 22 specs.