Pentax HD Pentax-D FA Macro 20320 100mm
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
What Buyers Say
Pentax HD Pentax-D FA Macro 20320 100mm
This Pentax D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 lens receives outstanding reviews for its sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and compact weather-resistant build. Users appreciate the improved autofocus with focus limiting on newer camera bodies, as well as its versatility for macro, portrait, and copy work. A few mention the autofocus is somewhat noisy, but overall it is considered an excellent upgrade over older macro lenses.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Compact and lightweight
- Weather-resistant build
- Improved autofocus with focus limiting
Cons
- Autofocus can be noisy
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
| Pentax HD Pentax-D FA Macro 20320 100mm | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | macro | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 100 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 100 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 10 | 14 |
| Groups | 8 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | HD coating, Pentax SP (Super Protect) coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/32 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.35 kg | 0.31 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 130 mm★ | 150 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:1★ | 0.21x |
Pros & Cons
Pentax HD Pentax-D FA Macro 20320 100mm
- Strong user sentiment (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong macro (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong build (80th percentile)80th %ile
- 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 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
Pricing
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm offers 1.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
