The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Panasonic 35-100mm F4.0-5.6 and the Panasonic 35-100mm F2.8 OIS for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Panasonic 35-100mm F2.8 OIS is the longer of the two lenses at 100mm. The Panasonic 35-100mm F4.0-5.6 with a length of 50mm, is 50mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Panasonic 35-100mm F2.8 OIS also has a larger diameter of 67mm compared to the Panasonic 35-100mm F4.0-5.6's 56mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Panasonic 35-100mm F4.0-5.6 weighs 135g, which means it is 225g (62%) lighter than the Panasonic 35-100mm F2.8 OIS which has a weight of 360g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Micro Four Thirds Mount for size comparison purposes.
Telephoto Lenses in Micro Four Thirds Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Panasonic 35-100mm F4.0-5.6 has a filter size of 46mm whereas the Panasonic 35-100mm F2.8 OIS has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 46mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Panasonic 35-100mm F4.0-5.6:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic 35-100mm F2.8 OIS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Panasonic 35-100mm F4.0-5.6 and the Panasonic 35-100mm F2.8 OIS has the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Micro Four Thirds lenses are OM System OM-1 II, Panasonic G9 II and OM System OM-5.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
35-100mm but while Panasonic 35-100mm F4.0-5.6 has the fastest aperture of
F4.0 - F5.6, the Panasonic 35-100mm F2.8 OIS's widest aperture value is
F2.8.