Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH Lens

[Havanai]

I shoot with the Panasonic/Olympus micro-4/3rds cameras and have several lens. I think Oly's M Zuiko 12-40 PRO is a great lens. However I find myself shooting at the wider focal lengths, and sometimes want to go wider. I have found that Panasonic has a wider zoom an 8-18mm lens. Are there any users of this lens out there? What do you think? Would it be of the same quality as the Olympus 12-40?

 

[Skeeterbytes]

I don't own one but it's on my "maybe" list. I like the FL range and that it takes filters, unlike the two 7-14 options. The quality seems to match the 12-40 nicely, so no concerns there. IMHO it's a great option.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[Havanai]

Thanks for highlighting that it takes filters. That's important to me, as outdoors I like to use a polarizer. Give the "double-thickness" of a polarizer, that could be a problem.

 

[Skeeterbytes]

Luckily, based on owner reports here it seems polas don't vignette, or they're at least buying "slim" versions to avoid the problem. I don't know how fiddly it is to rotate one with the hood in place. You've probably experienced that with the 12-40.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[3dwag]

I shoot with the Panasonic/Olympus micro-4/3rds cameras and have several lens. I think Oly's M Zuiko 12-40 PRO is a great lens. However I find myself shooting at the wider focal lengths, and sometimes want to go wider. I have found that Panasonic has a wider zoom an 8-18mm lens. Are there any users of this lens out there? What do you think? Would it be of the same quality as the Olympus 12-40?

 

[Havanai]

It's not possible to rotate polarizers with hoods on. I am removing them, off-and-on, off-and-on, all the time.

 

[gwydionjhr]

I love the PL 8-18mm it is one of my most used lenses.

Keep in mind, UWA and CPLs + Sky do not often mix well.

 

[Havanai]

UWA? Uhh, Ultra Wide Apertures

CPLs? Uhhh, Color Polarizing Lenses?

 

[3dwag]

UWA? Uhh, Ultra Wide Apertures

Ultra Wide Angle (lens)

CPLs? Uhhh, Color Polarizing Lenses?

Circular Polarizing Lens (filter)

 

[Havanai]

Is the issue that part of the sky is darkened by the polarizing lens, and then like a gradation, it lightens as the angle of the sunlight changes across the wide view?

I've experienced that.

 

[MickeyVee]

The PL 8-18mm + O 12-100mm f/4 are my “ideal travel lens pair” on my EM1ii.

The PL 8-18mm replaced my O 7-14mm f/2.8, it’s lighter/smaller, takes screw-in filters, and I don’t miss the 1mm on the wide end nor the extra stop as I zoom in.

The 8-18’s IQ is excellent and a good match to the 12-100, and because my most used focal length is around 16-18mm I appreciate that both lenses cover that range as it minimizes lens changes compared to the 7-14mm lens..

The zoom ring direction is opposite between Pana and Oly, but in practice I never notice it, a none-issue for me.

Have to echo these comments. Love the PL8-18 and it's a great pair with the 12-100 Pro and sillier IQ. In fact, got an EM10 III to mate with it for street shooting.

 

[jrharvey592]

Bought this lens mostly for my wife. Im pretty impressed with the sharpness personally. I was very dissapointed in its autofocus for video but oh well. Manual focus it is.

 

[Old Timer63]

I shoot with the Panasonic/Olympus micro-4/3rds cameras and have several lens. I think Oly's M Zuiko 12-40 PRO is a great lens. However I find myself shooting at the wider focal lengths, and sometimes want to go wider. I have found that Panasonic has a wider zoom an 8-18mm lens. Are there any users of this lens out there? What do you think? Would it be of the same quality as the Olympus 12-40?

The second lens I purchased for the G9 was the PL8-18, no complaints what so ever, nice and small, smooth and I haven`t noticed anything to complain about (and I`m fussy) and of course it takes a protecting filter . I carry that with my 12-60 PL when I want light travel. You won`t be unhappy with the lens.

Dave

 

[Paul Amyes]

I shoot with the Panasonic/Olympus micro-4/3rds cameras and have several lens. I think Oly's M Zuiko 12-40 PRO is a great lens. However I find myself shooting at the wider focal lengths, and sometimes want to go wider. I have found that Panasonic has a wider zoom an 8-18mm lens. Are there any users of this lens out there? What do you think? Would it be of the same quality as the Olympus 12-40?

To my mind this lens is one of the best in the whole m4/3 ecosystem. It is well made and delivers great optical performance. The fact that it can easily take filters is the icing on the cake. For more of my findings about the lens see this blog post I wrote about it.

https://paulamyes.com/2018/09/16/broadening-my-horizons/

 

[Wildalaskaken]

It's not possible to rotate polarizers with hoods on. I am removing them, off-and-on, off-and-on, all the time.

 

[glassoholic]

I shoot with the Panasonic/Olympus micro-4/3rds cameras and have several lens. I think Oly's M Zuiko 12-40 PRO is a great lens. However I find myself shooting at the wider focal lengths, and sometimes want to go wider. I have found that Panasonic has a wider zoom an 8-18mm lens. Are there any users of this lens out there? What do you think? Would it be of the same quality as the Olympus 12-40?

 

[brianric]

I shoot with the Panasonic/Olympus micro-4/3rds cameras and have several lens. I think Oly's M Zuiko 12-40 PRO is a great lens. However I find myself shooting at the wider focal lengths, and sometimes want to go wider. I have found that Panasonic has a wider zoom an 8-18mm lens. Are there any users of this lens out there? What do you think? Would it be of the same quality as the Olympus 12-40?

The PL 8-18mm + O 12-100mm f/4 are my “ideal travel lens pair” on my EM1ii.

The PL 8-18mm replaced my O 7-14mm f/2.8, it’s lighter/smaller, takes screw-in filters, and I don’t miss the 1mm on the wide end nor the extra stop as I zoom in.

The 8-18’s IQ is excellent and a good match to the 12-100, and because my most used focal length is around 16-18mm I appreciate that both lenses cover that range as it minimizes lens changes compared to the 7-14mm lens..

The zoom ring direction is opposite between Pana and Oly, but in practice I never notice it, a none-issue for me.

That's is my setup for walking events, 12-100/4.0 on my E-M1X and 8-18/2.8-4.0 on my E-M1 Mk II.

 

[Havanai]

Paul, in your blog-review of this lens you refer to an "inbuilt lens profile". Do you have turn this on or invoke it somehow? I would be using this lens on an Olympus M5 MkII or M5 MkIII. Will the inbuilt lens profile applied work with those Olympus cameras?

 

[Skeeterbytes]

Paul, in your blog-review of this lens you refer to an "inbuilt lens profile". Do you have turn this on or invoke it somehow? I would be using this lens on an Olympus M5 MkII or M5 MkIII. Will the inbuilt lens profile applied work with those Olympus cameras?

m4/3 lenses all carry profiles on board, with corrections automatically applied to images as they're recorded in the camera. The 8-18 doubtless has significant optical barrel distortion and adds the required distortion correction to files, regardless of which camera it's paired with, including your M5ii. This extends to certain chromatic aberration corrections, and perhaps vignetting (not sure about that last one).

This differs from what, say, Lightroom does when it uploads images from a lens that requires the software's lens profile to perform needed corrections.

NB I do not know if 3rd party lenses (other than Sigma) have in-lens corrections. Those with no electrical connections will not.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[TheDream168]

I don't have the Olympus 12-40, but the Panasonic Leica 8-18mm is now my main travel lens. Some shots from my trip to Scandinavia in the past summer:

https://microfourthirdssite.blogspot.com/2019/11/micro-four-thirds-in-scandinavia.html

--
My blogs:

The Dream's Micro Four Thirds

Micro four thirds cameras, lenses, and photos.

microfourthirdssite.blogspot.com

Micro Four Thirds Site

all about micro four thirds photography

microfourthirdssite.wordpress.com