Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS 400mm
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
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS 400mm
The Sony 400-800mm lens is praised for its sharpness and fast autofocus, often outperforming the 200-600mm. However, it is heavy, front-heavy, and requires fast shutter speeds and good light due to the F8 aperture. A significant concern is a reported crack in the fluorine coating not covered by warranty, leading to frustration.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Fast autofocus
- Outperforms 200-600mm
- Internal focusing
- Great for wildlife photography
Cons
- Heavy and front-heavy
- F8 aperture limits low-light use
- Requires fast shutter speeds
- Warranty does not cover coating cracks
- Expensive extended warranty needed
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS 400mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | super-telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 400 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 800 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 27 |
| Groups | 9 | 19 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | — |
| ED Elements | 1 | 6★ |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Fluorine coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/6.3 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 6.3-8 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 11★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 2.48 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 105 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | Linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 1.70 m |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x | 1:4.34★ |
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 FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS 400mm
- Strong optical (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong stabilization (79th percentile)
- Strong versatility (72nd percentile)
- Below average build (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
Pricing
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm offers 4.1x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
