Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
What Buyers Say
Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm
The Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 lens is widely praised as an exceptional value, delivering sharp images, good color rendition, and solid autofocus at a fraction of the cost of Sony alternatives. Users highlight its lightweight, compact design, making it ideal for travel and everyday carry. While some note it lacks weather sealing and the maximum aperture is f/2.5 rather than f/2, most find the optical quality and performance far exceed expectations for the price. A few mention it may require some post-processing, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Sharp image quality
- Lightweight and compact
- Good autofocus performance
- Pleasant color rendition
Cons
- No weather sealing
- Maximum aperture f/2.5 (not f/2)
- Plastic build (except mount)
- May require post-processing
- Manual focus not linear
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
| Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm | Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 40 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 40 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 10 | 15 |
| Groups | 6 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| Coating | high-definition nano multi-layer coating, front lens waterproof and anti-fouling coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.5 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.18 kg★ | 0.31 kg |
| Filter Thread | 52 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | 240-fps autofocus drive |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 340 mm | 230 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:7.14★ | 0.12x |
Pros & Cons
Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm
- Strong build (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- 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
Viltrox AF 40mm f/2.5 FE 40mm offers 6.1x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
