PANASONIC LUMIX Professional 8-18mm Camera Lens, G LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT, F2.8-4.0 ASPH, Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds, H-E08018 (Black)

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1. Background, Im very familiar with the Olympus m43 line and some of the Panasonic lens line (i.e. I have the Olympus 12-40mm, 12-100mm, 40-150mm, Panasonic 12-35mm, 35-100mm etc... and I have some other stuff, but you get the point). I also forgot to mention that Ive tested the Olympus 7-14mm and the Panasonic version as well. 2. On a tangent, I wasnt impressed with the recent Panasonic / Leica 12-60mm as well as their super telephoto (100-400mm) and thus I was dubious about the quality of this lens. I readily admit I was wrong about my reservations about this lens; again, Im not a Panasonic lens expert but of the various ones Ive owned / tested, this is their most impressive lens. 3. Several Impressions: -- Well built; I would say that the Olympus Pro lens feel more robust, but thats not to mean this isnt well built. -- Perfect size: this may relate to the above impression that it doesnt feel as robust compared to the Olympus Pro Line but for me, at least in this instance, thats a good or ok thing. Simply because the size is fairly compact, it is relatively light; really nice for a m4/3 camera. As an example, I would say that the Olympus 12-100mm is on the border of too large / heavy for a m43 camera and I use the EM1 v2. --Feel / action: very good and smooth --Quality: I havent done scientific experiments but in comparing this to my other lens (at similar focal lengths, when possible) and shooting on a tripod etc... etc... Yes, this lens is excellent. Obviously most folks are going to wonder how sharp this lens is at 8mm; its really good. Im going to tick off people, but from my recollection and in reviewing my prior test shots (because I dont have the Olympus 7-14mm at home), this Panasonic is definitely sharper. Of course the Olympus is wider by 1mm, but the Panasonic has the overt advantage of size (i.e. lighter), image quality (yes, Im opinion) and ability to utilize filters. Highly recommended

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This lens is a must have for Panasonic GH5 users. Its size is slightly larger than the kit Panasonic-Leica 12-60mm, but this lens is just as useful. This is my go-to lens for all gimbal work. The front element does not extend when zooming which means I dont have to adjust the balance of the gimbal whether Im at 8mm or 18mm. An added plus for videographers and landscape photographers is the non-protruding front which allows for use of 67mm filters -- THIS IS HUGE! The lens itself is well built with smooth zoom rings, and its par-focal to boot! Panasonic definitely took their time getting it right, and out-doing their own 7-14mm. So what are the downsides? In my mind there are two. The aperture is not a constant 2.8, but the loss of the light is smoothly transitioned as one zooms, instead of in jarring 1/3 stop clicks. The second is that when using with IBIS on Panasonic bodies (Ive used on the G85 and GH5) you can occasionally get warped distortion (or "Jello" appearance) of the outer corners of the image. This has apparently been rectified in the most recent firmware release for the GH5, but I have yet to confirm whether its actually an improvement or not. But this is nitpicking for negatives. On the whole this lens is excellent, with a great build and sharp image renderings. I highly recommend this lens.

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0:00 0:00 This video is not intended for all audiences. What date were you born? January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 Submit Adobe Flash Player is required to watch this video. Install Flash Player Awesome real estate photography lens. There has been no color correction made to this video. Its pretty much as raw as you can get, minus the compression of course and the text. I am filming on a GH5 with a Rode Videomic. Hope this helps! I didnt see a lot of reviews with actual video of this lens in use.

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Great lens- The same size as the stock kit G85 12-60mm Lumix lens. You have to experiment to see the conditions under which the super wide settings look best with minimum stretching and distortion of subjects, since although it keeps all lines straight, it WILL stretch subjects on far sides of frame. Super wide (under 12mm) best for landscapes or wide interiors-- OR when you are close to subject. IF you need even wider, the Rokinon 7.5mm is fantastic, and will fill the frame without vignetting on a m43 camera, albeit it will curve the sides of straight objects. I have both.

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Super-wide angle to 36mm equiv. (18mm) makes everything so much easier. I used to shoot solely on fast primes so I was leaning towards the 12mm f/1.4 panaleica, but this baby came out and I pulled the trigger on this purchase. Not regretting a single moment. Aside from the heavier, bulkier build, which is easy to get used to, this lens provides varied perspectives with enough lighting and the image quality provided by the Leica design and Japanese engineering. Definitely try out this lens, and you might fall for it, too. Videographers, this lens is butter, the zoom is parfocal so you dont need to worry about autofocus, etc. Though the autofocus drive in this lens is very fast (240fps auto focus drive). 4K and on... puffintreesco.com

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Much lighter than the Olympus version, and you can use filters with the Pany version. Oly version was too big, too heavy, defeats the purpose of having a micro 4/3s kit. Image quality is comparable in my opinion.

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Fantastic ultra wide angle lens. Build quality is superb, weather sealed and no purple flaring. Zoom range full frame equivalent of 16-36mm is nice to have and unlike other micro four third ultra wide angle lenses you have the ability to mount filters directly to this lens. Great for landscape and architecture photography.

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After agonizing for several months, I bit the bullet and bought one to replace a 4/3 9-18. It is overall a better product than the old 4/3 UWA. Build and AF are two immediate improvements. In terms of IQ, there is little difference between the two in the center. However, edge performance is much better with this PL 8-18. CA is another improvement even though the old 4/3 is supposed to be good. I passed Oly 7-14 because it is too big, expensive and does not take filter. I also did not consider the m4/3 9-18 because it is too expensive relative to this PL 8-18.

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This is a great lens that’s a perfect weight to balance to gimbals. It’s sharp at all focal lengths in true Leica style. However, what kills it for me is the variable aperture. The Olympus 7-14, while lacking as much reach in the far end zoom, maintains a constant f/2.8 aperture. This is mostly a weakness for low light shooting, which I do regularly, so I ended up returning this lens to another solution. Additionally the lens flare from pinpoint light sources on screen, especially with LED DJ/concert lights isn’t particularly pleasing. It looks a bit dirty for some reason.

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Lens is deadly sharp, and suffers from very minimal vignetting and distortion. Sharpness becomes evident when looking at 6938×9280 px images made by Olympus high res mode.

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