Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-35mm F/2.8 ASPH. POWER O.I.S Announced

Lens News

by Jeff LochDecember 14^th, 2022

Panasonic has just announced a new version of its famous Micro Four Thirds 12-35mm F/2.8 II ASPH. zoom lens: the LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-35mm F/2.8 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. This revamped version has a closer minimum focusing distance of only 15cm, a new lens design, and a mechanism to suppress focus breathing. The good news is the price remains the same at €999.

The Panasonic Lumix GX Vario 12-35mm F/2.8 II ASPH Power O.I.S. was released in 2017. This versatile 24-70mm Full-Frame equivalent zoom lens was my go-to lens when I used to shoot with Micro Four Thirds cameras. Indeed, it has a handy zoom range, a relatively fast F/2.8 aperture, a compact and lightweight form factor, a robust built-quality, and built-in image stabilization. What else could you ask for?

After the recent LEICA 9mm F/1.7 MFT that we reviewed, Panasonic partnered up with LEICA again to launch a new version of this popular trans standard zoom lens: the Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-35mm F/2.8 ASPH. POWER O.I.S.

Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-35mm F/2.8 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. features

This revamped version of the 12-35mm F/2.8 II ASPH. POWER O.I.S. has a lot in common with the previous generation, including:

• a constant F/2.8 aperture
• built-in O.I.S. anti-shake technology
• a compact and lightweight design: only 306g
• the lens is dust, splash, and freeze-resistant up to -10°C
• the same fly-by-wire focusing system

So, what’s new? There are not many changes from the exterior, as most of the new features are on the inside. However, there is a new mechanism on the inside to suppress focus breathing, which is relevant to filmmakers. Another nice addition is a new micro-step aperture control for smooth exposure changes during recording.

Lens design

The lens design of this new 12-35mm F/2.8 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. consists of fourteen elements in nine groups. These include four aspherical lenses, one U.E.D. (Ultra Extra-Low Dispersion) lens, and one U.H.R. (Ultra High Refractive Index) lens.

The lens also features Panasonic’s Nano Surface Coating, reducing reflections, and working in tandem with a new light-shielding component, minimizing ghosting and flare.

The aperture diaphragm has seven rounded aperture blades that should provide a smooth and natural-looking bokeh. Furthermore, the front filter thread remains unchanged at only 58mm. Lastly, the minimum focusing distance is now shorter at 15cm at a 12-17mm focal length.

Price and availability

The Panasonic LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-35mm F/2.8 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. will be available in February 2023 and is priced at €999.

For more information, please visit Panasonic’s website here.

What do you think about this new version of the 12-35mm F/2.8 ASPH. Power O.I.S.? Are you considering upgrading to this revamped version? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments down below!