Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
What Buyers Say
Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
The Samyang 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC manual focus lens is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and outstanding performance in astrophotography. Users note that it requires patience and practice to master manual focusing, especially at f/2, but the image quality rivals much more expensive lenses. The build is solid but heavy, and it lacks weather sealing and electronic communication with the camera. Despite these drawbacks, it is considered a fantastic value for photographers who can work with manual focus.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Solid build quality
- Great value for money
Cons
- Heavy weight
- No autofocus
- No weather sealing
- No electronic communication with camera
- Stiff focus ring initially
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
| Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm | Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 135 mm | 8 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 135 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 11 | 15 |
| Groups | 7 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| Coating | Ultra Multi-Coating | Nano Surface Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2 | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | full-frame★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.82 kg | 0.31 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 77 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | 240-fps autofocus drive |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 800 mm | 230 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 0.12x★ |
Pros & Cons
Samyang ED UMC 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC 135mm
- Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong user sentiment (66th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average build (21st percentile)
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (25th 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
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.
