The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS and the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 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 Leica 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS is the longer of the two lenses at 103mm. The Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 OIS with a length of 93mm, is 10mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS also has a larger diameter of 79mm compared to the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 OIS's 75mm 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 Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 OIS weighs 434g, 11% (56g) lighter than the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS's weight of 490g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Four Thirds Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Four Thirds Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 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 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 OIS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS and the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 OIS has the same Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Four Thirds lenses are Olympus E-5, Olympus E-600 and Olympus E-620.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
14-50mm but while Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS has the fastest aperture of
F2.8 - F3.5, the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 OIS's widest aperture value is
F3.8 - F5.6.
