Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR 16mm
What Buyers Say
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
Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR 16mm
This lens is widely praised as one of Fujifilm's best, with exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and a very close focusing distance that makes it versatile for portraits, landscapes, and street photography. Users love the solid build quality and weather sealing, though some note the aperture ring is too loose and the lens is heavy and pricey. Overall, it's a must-have for serious Fuji shooters.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Close focusing capability
- Solid build quality
- Weather sealing
Cons
- Loose aperture ring
- Heavy and bulky
- Expensive
- Plastic lens hood
- Autofocus noise in video
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 | Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR 16mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 8 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 18 mm | 16 mm |
| Elements | 15 | 13 |
| Groups | 10 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | Nano-GI and HT-EBC |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 9★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Fujifilm X |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.38 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | 240-fps autofocus drive | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 230 mm | 150 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.12x | 0.21x★ |
Pros & Cons
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
Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR 16mm
- Strong social proof (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong optical (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong build (79th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR 16mm offers 1.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
