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 Panasonic 45-150mm F4-5.6 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 45-150mm F4-5.6 OIS is the longer of the two lenses at 73mm. The Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 with a length of 71mm, is 2mm shorter. On the other hand, the Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 has a larger diameter of 66mm compared to the Panasonic 45-150mm F4-5.6 OIS's 62mm 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 45-150mm F4-5.6 OIS weighs 200g, 4% (10g) lighter than the Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6's weight of 210g.
Filter Threads
The Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Panasonic 45-150mm F4-5.6 OIS has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic 45-150mm F4-5.6 OIS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 and the Panasonic 45-150mm F4-5.6 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-1 II, Panasonic G9 II and OM System OM-5.
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 Panasonic 45-150mm F4-5.6 OIS has a focal range of 45-150mm and 3.3X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 90-300mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.