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

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

Panasonic
96 Overall Score
vs
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm

7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm

7Artisans
44 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

7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm

72 out of 100 low confidence 8 reviews

This 7artisans 18mm f/6.3 lens is a tiny, all-metal pancake that delivers a filmic, character-rich look rather than clinical sharpness. Users love its compact size and hyperfocal ease for street photography, but note soft focus, strong vignetting, low contrast, and compatibility quirks with IBIS systems. A few report severe quality control issues making the lens unusable, while most see it as a fun, creative tool for the price.

Pros
  • Extremely compact and lightweight
  • Solid all-metal construction
  • Filmic, character-rich image quality
  • Hyperfocal ease for street photography
  • Great value for the price
Cons
  • Soft focus at all distances
  • Strong vignetting
  • Low contrast
  • Compatibility issues with IBIS
  • Severe quality control problems
👍 Build quality 5
🤔 Image quality 7
👍 Size and portability 5
👍 Value for money 5
👎 Focus performance 6
👎 Compatibility 4

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
98
7Artisans
38
Landscape
Panasonic
95
7Artisans
30
Professional
Panasonic
92
7Artisans
40
Portrait
Panasonic
89
7Artisans
44
Travel
Panasonic
86
7Artisans
48
Budget
Panasonic
86
7Artisans
43
Street
Panasonic
84
7Artisans
44
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
7Artisans
30
Macro
Panasonic
76
7Artisans
41

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min12 mm18 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm18 mm
Elements146
Groups95
Aspherical Elements4★—
ED Elements1★—
CoatingNano Surface Coating—
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/6.3
Min Aperturef/2.8f/6.3
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades7★—
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsNikon Z
Formatmicro-four-thirdsAPS-C★
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.31 kg0.06 kg★
Filter Thread58 mm—
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusmanual focus only
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops5 stops★—
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★300 mm
Max Magnification0.21x★—

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

7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm

  • Strong build (100th percentile)100th %ile
  • Strong macro (69th percentile)
  • Strong social proof (66th percentile)
  • Below average optical (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
  • Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (17th percentile)17th %ile
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)

Pricing

7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm is $848 cheaper (17.9x less).

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm0.107score per dollar
vs
7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm0.867score per dollar

7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm offers 8.1x better value for money

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

7Artisans 18mm f/6.3 Mark II 18mm

Verdict

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

Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.

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

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

Also Consider