The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH and the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
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 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH weighs 315g, which means it is 260g (45%) lighter than the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM which has a weight of 575g.
Filter Threads
The Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH has the Micro Four Thirds lens mount whereas the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM has the Canon EF-S lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are OM System OM-3 Astro, OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3 for the Micro Four Thirds Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount.
Focal Range
Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH has a focal range of 8-18mm and
2.3X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
16-36mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM has a focal range of 15-85mm and 5.7X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-136mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
