Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
What Buyers Say
Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Users overwhelmingly praise this lens for its excellent build quality, sharpness, and versatile focal range. It is highly recommended for landscape, architectural, and real estate photography, with many noting its silent autofocus and smooth zoom. The included filter bundle is a welcome bonus, and the lens pairs well with both Olympus and Panasonic bodies.
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Sharp image quality
- Versatile focal range
- Silent autofocus
- Smooth zoom
Cons
- No significant cons mentioned
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens is widely praised for its sharpness, versatile zoom range, constant aperture, and effective stabilization, making it an excellent all-around lens for APS-C cameras. Users appreciate its solid build quality and value for money, though many note it is noticeably heavier and larger than typical kit lenses, which can feel unbalanced on smaller camera bodies. A few reviewers mention minor issues like chromatic aberration at the longer end and noise from the aperture blades at certain settings, but overall sentiment is very positive.
Pros
- sharp image quality across zoom range
- constant f/2.8 aperture
- effective image stabilization
- fast and quiet autofocus
- versatile 17-70mm focal range
Cons
- heavy and large for APS-C body
- chromatic aberration at 50-70mm
- aperture blade noise above f/5.6
- short zoom throw initially stiff
- no aperture ring on Fuji version
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 17 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 70 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 16 |
| Groups | 10 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 3 |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.32 kg★ | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | RXD |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 1:4.8★ |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
- Strong optical (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong bokeh (84th percentile)84th %ile
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
- Strong optical (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong versatility (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong bokeh (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
Pricing
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD offers 2.1x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.
