Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
What Buyers Say
Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm
The Brightin Star 35mm f/0.95 manual lens is praised for its exceptional sharpness, fast aperture, and build quality, especially given its budget-friendly price. However, some users note it's a specialty lens requiring practice for manual focus, and at least one reviewer reported compatibility issues with certain Canon EOS R7 firmware. The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II lens receives high marks for sharpness and fast autofocus, but several Q&A posts raise concerns about internal movement when the camera is off. Overall, sentiment is very positive for both lenses, with a few isolated negatives.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Fast f/0.95 aperture
- Affordable price
- Solid build quality
- Beautiful bokeh
Cons
- Manual focus requires practice
- No autofocus
- Potential compatibility issues with Canon R7 firmware
- Specialty lens not for beginners
- Heavy all-metal construction
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
The Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 lens is highly praised for its excellent image quality, sharpness, and build. Users appreciate its compact size, light weight, and the ability to use screw-on filters, which is a key advantage over some competitors. While a few users noted it is pricey and one had sharpness issues on an Olympus body, the overwhelming majority recommend it for landscapes, interiors, and travel photography.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Sharp and crisp
- Compact and lightweight
- Accepts screw-on filters
- Weather-sealed
Cons
- Pricey
- Variable aperture
- No OIS
- Sharpness issues on some Olympus bodies
- Slight distortion at 8mm
Scores
Specifications
| Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm | Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 12 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 15 |
| Groups | 11 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 2 | 3★ |
| Coating | Multicoated | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 5 | 7★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon RF | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.55 kg | 0.31 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 34 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | 240-fps autofocus drive |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 240 mm | 230 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 2:1★ | 0.12x |
Pros & Cons
Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong macro (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong optical (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong build (66th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (9th percentile)9th %ile
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
- Strong optical (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile
Pricing
Brightin Star AF 12mm f/2.8 12mm offers 3.1x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
