Olympus Zuiko OPTM5020M43O 50mm
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
What Buyers Say
Olympus Zuiko OPTM5020M43O 50mm
The Olympus Zuiko Digital 50mm f/2 Macro lens is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, bright aperture, and solid build quality, making it a favorite for macro and portrait photography. Users note its compact size and splash-proof design, but many find the autofocus slow and prone to hunting, often treating it as a manual-focus lens. While it delivers stunning image quality with minimal chromatic aberration, its 1:2 magnification ratio and telephoto equivalence on 4/3 cameras limit its versatility for group shots or walk-around use.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Bright f/2 aperture
- Solid build quality
- Compact size
- Splash and dust proof
Cons
- Slow autofocus
- AF hunts frequently
- Not true 1:1 macro
- Lens hood blocks manual focus when reversed
- Telephoto equivalence limits group shots
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
This Panasonic Leica 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, solid build, and constant aperture, making it a versatile workhorse for both photo and video on Micro Four Thirds cameras. Users highlight its impressive image quality that rivals larger formats, fast and reliable autofocus, and effective image stabilization, especially when paired with compatible bodies. A few note the lens is somewhat heavy and that depth of field at f/2.8 is limited on MFT, but overall it is considered a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-quality standard zoom.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Constant f/2.8 aperture
- Solid build quality
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Effective image stabilization
Cons
- Somewhat heavy
- Limited depth of field at f/2.8 on MFT
- Image stabilization barely noticeable at wide angles
- Not as sharp as prime lenses
- Plastic lens hood
Scores
Specifications
| Olympus Zuiko OPTM5020M43O 50mm | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 50 mm | 12 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 6 | 14 |
| Groups | 5 | 9 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | HD Anti-Reflection | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.19 kg★ | 0.31 kg |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 5 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 648 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.52x★ | 0.21x |
Pros & Cons
Olympus Zuiko OPTM5020M43O 50mm
- Strong build (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong bokeh (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong aperture (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong social proof (74th percentile)
- Below average af (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong optical (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (85th percentile)85th %ile
Pricing
Verdict
Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.
