Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic
96 Overall Score
vs
Sony G SELP28135G.SYX 28-135mm

Sony G SELP28135G.SYX 28-135mm

Sony
89 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

92 out of 100 medium confidence 22 reviews

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
👍 Optical performance 7
👍 Build quality 6
👍 Autofocus speed 5
👍 Versatility 4
👍 Video features 3
👎 Depth of field 2

Sony G SELP28135G.SYX 28-135mm

85 out of 100 medium confidence 27 reviews

The Sony FE PZ 28-135mm F4 G OSS lens is highly praised for its image quality, versatility, and robust build, making it a favorite for both video and still photography. Users appreciate the smooth power zoom, silent operation, and useful aperture ring, though some note the zoom speed is too fast for cinematic work and the lens is quite heavy. The included lens cap is widely criticized as cheap, but overall sentiment is very positive, with many calling it a great value for the price.

Pros
  • Excellent image quality
  • Versatile for video and stills
  • Smooth power zoom
  • Silent operation
  • Useful aperture ring
Cons
  • Zoom speed too fast for cinematic use
  • Heavy and bulky
  • Cheap plastic lens cap
  • Non-mechanical zoom prevents snap zooms
  • No macro function
👍 Image quality 12
👍 Build quality 8
👎 Zoom speed 4
👎 Weight 5
👎 Lens cap 4
👍 Versatility 7

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
98
Sony
100
Landscape
Panasonic
95
Sony
87
Professional
Panasonic
92
Sony
93
Portrait
Panasonic
89
Sony
86
Travel
Panasonic
86
Sony
88
Budget
Panasonic
86
Sony
86
Street
Panasonic
84
Sony
86
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Sony
85
Macro
Panasonic
76
Sony
66

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mmSony G SELP28135G.SYX 28-135mm
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min12 mm28 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm135 mm
Elements1418
Groups912
Aspherical Elements4★1
ED Elements12★
CoatingNano Surface CoatingNano AR Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/4
Min Aperturef/2.8f/4
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades79★
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsSony E
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg★0.42 kg
Filter Thread58 mm95 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusSSM
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5 stops★4 stops
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★400 mm
Max Magnification0.21x★0.15x

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

  • Strong stabilization (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile

Sony G SELP28135G.SYX 28-135mm

  • Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong versatility (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong stabilization (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong optical (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Below average macro (32nd percentile)

Pricing

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm is $2,000 cheaper (3.2x less).

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm0.107score per dollar
vs
Sony G SELP28135G.SYX 28-135mm0.031score per dollar

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm offers 3.5x better value for money

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Sony G SELP28135G.SYX 28-135mm

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Scores 96 overall, wins 3 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm Better at:

MacroPortraitLandscape

Sony G SELP28135G.SYX 28-135mm Better at:

StreetWildlife Sports

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