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 Panasonic 12-35mm 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 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH is the longer of the two lenses at 88mm. The Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 OIS with a length of 74mm, is 14mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH also has a larger diameter of 73mm compared to the Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 OIS's 68mm diameter.
Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH and Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 OIS to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
Comparison image of the Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH and the Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 OIS Size and Weight 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 12-35mm F2.8 OIS weighs 305g, 3% (10g) lighter than the Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH's weight of 315g.
Filter Threads
The Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Panasonic 12-35mm 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 OIS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Panasonic 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH and the Panasonic 12-35mm 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-3 Astro , OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3 .
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 Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 OIS has a focal range of 12-35mm and 2.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-70mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
