The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 and the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS 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 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 is the longer of the two lenses at 71mm. The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS with a length of 70mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS has a larger diameter of 69mm compared to the Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6's 66mm 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. Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS weighs 200g, 4% (10g) lighter than the Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6's weight of 210g.
Filter Threads
Both the Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 and the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS have the same Filter thread size of 58mm.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 has the Micro Four Thirds lens mount whereas the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS has the Canon EF-S lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are OM System OM-1 II, Panasonic G9 II and OM System OM-5 for the Micro Four Thirds Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount.
Focal Range
Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 has a focal range of 12-60mm and
5.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-120mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS has a focal range of 18-55mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 28.8-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.