The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM and the Panasonic Leica 35-100mm f2.8 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 35-100mm f2.8 is the longer of the two lenses at 100mm. The Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM with a length of 85mm, is 15mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM has a larger diameter of 72mm compared to the Panasonic Leica 35-100mm f2.8's 67mm 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. Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM weighs 305g, which means it is 55g (15%) lighter than the Panasonic Leica 35-100mm f2.8 which has a weight of 360g.
Filter Threads
The Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM has a filter size of 55mm whereas the Panasonic Leica 35-100mm f2.8 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 55mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic Leica 35-100mm f2.8:
Lens Mounts
The Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM has the Sony Alpha lens mount whereas the Panasonic Leica 35-100mm f2.8 has the Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58 for the Sony Alpha Mount and OM System OM-3 Astro, OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3 for the Micro Four Thirds Mount.
Focal Range
Sony DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM has a focal range of 55-200mm and
3.6X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
82.5-300mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Panasonic Leica 35-100mm f2.8 has a focal range of 35-100mm and 2.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 70-200mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
