Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH. Lens

As you might expect, the Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH is a very decent performer in its category. The image center is very sharp and the borders and corners are pretty good as well - technically at least.

This new ultra wide to wide standard 8-18mm lens has a useful “35mm equivalent” of 16-36mm. Designed for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) format cameras, it is reviewed here using the 20mp Panasonic Lumix GX8 camera body.

The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8–18 mm f/2.8–4 ASPH. is one of the most interesting ultra wide-angle lenses available on the market. It is a solid device, with good aperture fastness, physically small and handy, allowing you to use filters with a normal diameter.

• +

  Solid, metal casing,, Excellent image quality in the frame centre at all focal lengths,, Imperceptible longitudinal chromatic aberration,, Slight lateral chromatic aberration,, Lack of problems with spherical aberration,, Properly corrected coma,, Lower vignetting than in the case of the majority of...

• -

  Very high distortion level for RAW files,, Image on the edge of the frame at longer focal lengths could have been better.

Covering the same angles of view as a 16-36mm lens on a 35mm camera, the DG 8-18mm f/2.8-4 is the fourth ultra-wide zoom lens to be released for the M4/3 mount by Panasonic and Olympus.

The Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4.0 ASPH ultra-wide-angle zoom offers a classic focal range of 16-36mm in a small and lightweight package, backed-up by outstanding image quality throughout the focal range and impressively fast and silent autofocusing.

For a lens of that price, I expect technical excellence. The lens is overall decent, sharp at the centre, good build, creates nice enough images. But the corners are a complete mess.The corners are a blurred/smeared dark mess of vignetting and corrected distortion at most of the zoom range.

Bought this lens to get a slightly wider view than my 12-60mm lens. Very pleased as it can be used as a slightly wide normal lens, making it very versatile. May have some slight edge softness, but nothing major. Highly recommended.

• +

  Very sharp Good contrast and colors Excellent build Can accept screw on filters

• -

  Expensive

Petit objectif compact pour se faire plaisir, un grand angle sublime, conforme aux tests que j'ai pu lire... Je ne regrette pas d'avoir sauté le pas. Un vrai plus pour mon GH5.

there's just a little edge softness, even when stopped down. it's so mild that i didn't even notice it until it was pointed out to me. i still highly recommend this lens.

• +

  very sharp in the center great contrast great color no hot spots when used on a fullspectrum camera for infrared photography takes standard 67mm filter solid build smooth dampened focus and zoom

• -

  edge softness very expensive

This is an amazing lens. Super wide angle, beautiful images can be captured. I previously owned the Olympus 7-14mm Pro, but this lens is much more useful with the filter ring on front - I can add ND filters for very bright exteriors. All metal construction and still lighter than the Olympus.

I use the 8-18 on a Pen F. The ergonomics of that lens/camera combo are pleasing. This lens delivers excellent micro contrast, vivid color and amazing sharpness. ... However, at 8mm, pictures are sometimes slightly soft in the far lower left frame. My Oly 7-14 Pro exhibited a similar issue.

I bought the 8-18 to replace my Panasonic 7-14. The 7-14 is quite sharp and the appropriate size & weight for a m43 camera. But as others have pointed out, the 7-14 will sometimes show blue fringing which, on an Olympus body is not automatically removed and no, it is not easy to fix with Photoshop...