1/3/13
Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 lens review.
The first lens review of the new year is a high performing zoom—only from the mind of Panasonic!! This time we check out the X Vario 12-35mm that sports a relatively fast constant F/2.8 aperture, and a zoom range with the equivalent of 24-70mm in 135 film format. At the wide end, this lens is superb at F/2.8, (much like this prime lens) but gets slightly better along the sides at F/4!! No need to stop down additionally unless DOF is an issue. As you zoom out, the Panasonic keeps the centers and mid-sections very sharp, but the sides are a bit soft, and stay that way. The Sony CZ 16-80mm and 16-50mm (see comp at bottom) work just the opposite, which I’ll show in another post.
I bought this lens specifically for using it in low light, at (or near) the wide end, with the added versatility of a zoom. It’s far better in this capacity than anything from Sony. In fact, this is what I had in mind when Sony came out with the NEX system. Unfortunately, Sony seems more interested in developing new cameras instead of useful new lenses for those cameras. Hopefully Sigma and other aftermarket suppliers of lenses may come to the rescue.
The Panasonic 12-35mm would make a great hand-held walk around zoom; the image quality is as good as a prime lens near the wide end. Click the pic for the review!
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