The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the OM System 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II and the Panasonic Leica 42.5mm F1.2 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. OM System 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II is the longer of the two lenses at 84mm. The Panasonic Leica 42.5mm F1.2 OIS with a length of 77mm, is 7mm shorter. On the other hand, the Panasonic Leica 42.5mm F1.2 OIS has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to the OM System 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II's 70mm 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. OM System 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II weighs 382g, which means it is 43g (10%) lighter than the Panasonic Leica 42.5mm F1.2 OIS which has a weight of 425g.
Filter Threads
The OM System 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Panasonic Leica 42.5mm F1.2 OIS has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the OM System 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic Leica 42.5mm F1.2 OIS:
Lens Mounts
Both the OM System 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II and the Panasonic Leica 42.5mm F1.2 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-3 Astro, OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3.
Focal Range
OM System 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II has a focal range of 12-40mm and
3.3X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-80mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Panasonic Leica 42.5mm F1.2 OIS is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 43mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 86mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
