Panasonic unviels Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS

With the Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS, Panasonic has introduced a new, high-speed, wide-angle zoom lens for the Lumix G series, which corresponds to the Micro Four Thirds standard (MFT). It is reminiscent of the Lumix G camera models from Panasonic as well as Olympus cameras and other camera models with MFT mount. The 12-35mm focal length in Four Thirds format corresponds to a 24-70mm in 35mm.

The Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm F2.8 covers many shooting situations and is a typical professional standard zoom with its consistently high light intensity of 1:2.8 and versatile focal length range. This lens is a redesigned replacement for the Lumix GX Vario 12-35mm F2.8 II ASPH.

To obtain high optical performance, the optical design consists of fourteen lens elements in nine groups, including four aspherical lenses, one UED lens (Ultra Extra-Low Dispersion), and one UHR lens (Ultra High Refractive Index). The glass material of the UHR lens element has been upgraded to higher transmittance for even more natural color reproduction.

Panasonic’s unique nano surface coating provides an effective anti-reflective coating that ensures clear viewing. By applying a thin coating with a nanometer-scale microstructure that has a low dispersion ratio, the reflection of the entire wavelength of 380-780mm including the visible light range is reduced.

The new lens can work smoothly and silently with the camera’s fast, high-precision contrast AF system with the sensor drive at a maximum of 240 fps. It also boasts excellent video recording performance with a mechanism that suppresses focus ventilation (slight change in focal length with different focus settings), which has been a major problem with all interchangeable lenses designed for still photography. The mechanism and micro-stepping aperture control for smooth exposure changes enable professional-quality video recording. In combination with the Body IS and the lens OIS, Dual IS 2 enables effective correction of hand shake.

The exterior design has been refined to live up to the Leica name. Thanks to its compact size and low weight of around 306g, the Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm F2.8 has breathtaking mobility, for which the Micro Four Thirds system is also known. The robust dust and splash-proof design withstand use in harsh conditions at 10 degrees below zero. The filter diameter is 58mm, with a 7-blade circular aperture.

Price and availability

The fast standard zoom Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm F2.8 is available to pre-order on Amazon.com and Bhphotovideo.com for $899.99 and will be released on February 24, 2023.

Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS specifications

• Focal Length: 12 to 35mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 24 to 70mm)
• Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds
• Lens Format Coverage: Micro Four Thirds
• Angle of View: 84° to 34°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 5.9″ / 15 cm
• Maximum Magnification: 0.21x
• Optical Design: 14 Elements in 9 Groups
• Diaphragm Blades: 7, Rounded
• Focus Type: Autofocus
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Front Filter Size: 58 mm
• Dimensions (ø x L): 67.6 x 73.8 mm
• Weight: 10.8 oz / 306 g

Viltrox recently introduced three cinema lenses: Viltrox 23mm T1.5, 33mm T1.5, and 56mm T1.5 for Micro Four Thirds cameras. All lenses, as they should be for a set of cinema optics, have the same outer diameter, length, and arrangement of the focus and aperture rings.