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Olympus 12-40 vs Panasonic 12-35 price.
- Thread starter Arteesvn
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Stevejac
Leading Member
I had the 12-35 for my em-5 and sold it for the 12-40. I did it for the water proofing. I've read a suggestion that the 12-35 is water proof as well, but couldn't document it.
My impression is that they're both stellar lenses. The extra 5mm is nice and the 12-40 is a better looking lens. I like the auto/manual focus system. I haven't looked at prices recently but I'm sure the Oly is still more expensive. Is it worth the difference? ONly you can answer that.
Buy one and don't look back.
My impression is that they're both stellar lenses. The extra 5mm is nice and the 12-40 is a better looking lens. I like the auto/manual focus system. I haven't looked at prices recently but I'm sure the Oly is still more expensive. Is it worth the difference? ONly you can answer that.
Buy one and don't look back.
Bobo Hodls
Forum Pro
You won't be unhappy with the cheaper option, not at all. One has OIS, one focuses closer than the other, they have different build types, all that being nuanced differences. Optically both are very good. Pick the one that ticks all your check boxes.
--
...Bob, NYC
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Chief Dan George, Little Big Man
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honeyiscool
Senior Member
SenicPhoto
Forum Enthusiast
You can't make a mistake here ... both lenses are great performers. If you have an Olympus body, I would go with Oly 12-40mm ... that's just me.
dougjgreen1
Senior Member
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If your camera body has ineffective 2-axis IBIS, or no in-body stabilization at all, that would be the main, and perhaps only good reason to get the Panasonic lens, because it has OIS. The Olympus lens is newer, somewhat sharper at the wide end, and extends to a more useful tele length - but no optical stabilization.
LMAO, that's a good one doug. Ineffective the panasonic IBIS is not, it is just LESS effective than the 3 or 5 axis systems used in Olympus bodies. Numerous tests have proven that the IBIS in the GX7 is worth 2 stops, 3 if you really try.
Yes, a very unbiased opinion.
One might also add that the 12-35 is smaller, lighter, and is slightly sharper at the long end.
Glen Barrington
Forum Pro
I've never seen it. If the Oly truly IS sharper, even a tiny bit, in my opinion it is worth an extra $60, or so
They're close enough in resolution as to not be worth worrying about. The Olympus seems to have better bokeh.
The Panasonic is stabilized, the Olympus isn't. Mostly irrelevant on your E-M5.
The Olympus takes bigger, and therefore more expensive filters. 58mm for the Panasonic, though, is one of the most ubiquitous sizes there is.
The Panasonic is a little bit smaller and lighter, and has internal zoom.
The Panasonic might have an edge in run-and-gun videography: silent, smooth-step aperture, and I believe the OIS of the Panasonic might play nicer than IBIS with the kind of physical stabilization a run-and-gun videographer might use.
The Olympus, on the other hand, has more amenities for still shooters (namely the manual focus clutch); and the manual focus clutch actually might make the Oly lens even better for follow focus cinematography. Also the Olympus sports an on-lens Fn button which can be configured to your heart's content just like every other Fn button on your camera.
Both are weather resistant.
The Panasonic is traditionally the more expensive lens (completely new in box at B&H, neither split from a camera kit or anything, the Panasonic is $300 more)
At the price you mention, it's a tough choice. I'd personally be going for the Olympus, but it's very tough to say for sure without knowing how you're going to use it.
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The Panasonic is stabilized, the Olympus isn't. Mostly irrelevant on your E-M5.
The Olympus takes bigger, and therefore more expensive filters. 58mm for the Panasonic, though, is one of the most ubiquitous sizes there is.
The Panasonic is a little bit smaller and lighter, and has internal zoom.
The Panasonic might have an edge in run-and-gun videography: silent, smooth-step aperture, and I believe the OIS of the Panasonic might play nicer than IBIS with the kind of physical stabilization a run-and-gun videographer might use.
The Olympus, on the other hand, has more amenities for still shooters (namely the manual focus clutch); and the manual focus clutch actually might make the Oly lens even better for follow focus cinematography. Also the Olympus sports an on-lens Fn button which can be configured to your heart's content just like every other Fn button on your camera.
Both are weather resistant.
The Panasonic is traditionally the more expensive lens (completely new in box at B&H, neither split from a camera kit or anything, the Panasonic is $300 more)
At the price you mention, it's a tough choice. I'd personally be going for the Olympus, but it's very tough to say for sure without knowing how you're going to use it.
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jennajenna
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2 axis is not ineffective.
Read and learn:
http://tysonrobichaudphotography.wo...ttle-for-my-affection-round-1-ibis-evfs-lcds/
"Okay, now here’s the kicker. Contrary to my assumption prior to testing this out,I’ve found the Panasonic IBIS to be BETTER than the Olympus 5 axis IBIS for handheld still shots at very slow shutter speeds, at least in more than one scenario with the EM5 yet to trump the GX7 in the tests I’ve done."
joergzielosko
Forum Enthusiast
If you mean that it doesn't extend when zooming: wrong (sadly). The 35-100 doesn't extend, but the 12-35 does.
All other points are very well written.
I have the 12-35 as my standard zoom, and I really like it. For that purpose, I appreciate the weight and size advantage though I would really like the Fn button and manual clutch mechanism. The filter size similar to many other m43 lenses is a big bonus.
Too close on price for this to be a deciding factor IMO. I have sold my 12-35 as I wasn't overly impressed with it's edge and corner definition at wide settings and long focusing distances which has variously been observed in various tests and denied by various users. Strangely I thought it's central definition was too much as it moire'd like hell on my GH3. OL lenses in general seem to have a more even performance across the field than Panny lenses which go all out for center sharpness ( maybe a gross generalisation but it's been observed on a lot of my Panny glass)
I'd get the 12-40 if you have an OL body.
I'd get the 12-40 if you have an OL body.
Phil
Senior Member
I had the 12-35 and it was excellent, even on my EM5. When I bought the EM1, they offered the 12-40 for $200 rebate, $800. I sold the 12-35 for $800 and got a free upgrade to the 12-40. Is it an upgrade? Not much, but several people have commented on the advantages. However on a Panasonic body without IBIS, go with the 12-35.
Ron Evers
Senior Member
Nobody mentioned purple fringing with Pany lenses on Oly bodies.
HeyItsJoel
Senior Member
Your camera body dictates which lens you should buy. Especially when the price difference between the two is negligable.
Olympus lens for Olympus cameras. Panasonic lens for Panasonic cameras.
As for the 5mm difference between the two, use your feet to zoom in closer.
Thanks for pointing out many useful aspects. I am using as general purpose, and taking macro pics sometimes. I think close distance focus could help. Shooting macro with Olympus is much better than with Pana?
How about durability? I did some searches and found out Olympus has some problems with plastic construction, zooming noise after shooting in wet condition? Apparently, Olympus has more refurbished 12-40 lenses than I could find with Panasonic. Any ideas?
Gregm61
Forum Pro
Real world, it's not very obvious which is sharper, if you can even say that consistently about either one. I own 'em both and don't plan to sell either.
Size-wise, there's not enough of a difference that I even think about it.
I owned the 12-35 Panasonic first and bought the Olympus when it first became available. The Olympus bodies handle fringing better with the 12-40 M. Zuiko. Even used on a body that supposedly makes the corrections like the E-M1, I still see fringing using the 12-35 Panasonic, primarily in the corners with high contrast subjects, but it's nothing the CA tool in Adobe Camera raw cannot handle. I definitely wouldn't let that sway my decision. Both are highly, highly well made. The biggest adjustment I have to making moving between the two is the different direction you have to zoom going from wide to tele. Having used more Olympus zooms, I find myself turning the zoom ring in the wrong direction all the time.
Gregm61
Forum Pro
In use, I never notice either any noise using the zoom or from the IS system. The IS system works a little differently depending on the lens in use. When using the 12-40 M. Zuiko, the Olympus in-camera IS turns off instantly when you stop half-pressing the shutter release. The Mega OIS in the Panasonic 12-35 activates on the half press and will continue to work when you take your finger off the release for a short period of time before it turns itself off.
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