Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 Asph Review

Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 Asph Performance

The resolution tests make for some impressive reading. At 8mm, centrally the lens shows outstanding sharpness from f/2.8 to f/4. It is excellent at f/5.6 and f/8, very good at f/11 and, as diffraction really starts to kick in, still good at f/16. Results are soft at f/22. The bokeh sample shots show this quite clearly. The edges are excellent at f/2.8 and f/4, very good from f/5.6 through to f/11, good at f/16 but again becoming soft at f/22. It is sensible design to limit that smallest aperture to f/22.

At 10mm, the centre shows outstanding sharpness from f/3.2 to f/5.6 and excellent results at f/8. It is very good at f/11, good at f/16 but soft at f/22. The edges are very good from f/3.2 to f/4, rising to excellent at f/5.6 and f/8, very good at f/11. f/16 is good and f/22 soft.

14mm gives excellent central sharpness at f/3.6 and f/4, outstanding at f/5.6, again excellent at f/8 and f/11. f/16 is very good and f/22 soft. The edges are very good from f/3.6 to f/5.6, excellent at f/8, very good at f/11, good at f/16 and soft at f/22.

Sharpness holds well even at 18mm, where some zooms can become relatively weak in performance. The centre is excellent at f/4, outstanding at f/5.6, excellent at f/8, very good at f/11, good at f/16 and soft at f/22. The edges are very good at f/4 and f/5.6, excellent at f/8, very good at f/11, good at f/16 and again soft at f/22.

The high contrast of the lens also helps the overall crispness of the image and pictures show a real zing about them.

It can be difficult to be sure that the output from MFT lenses is not being tweaked by software right from the start, regardless of what we switch off in camera, but in any event we find that CA (Chromatic Aberration) has been closely brought to heel. The results are very impressive. At 8mm there is really very little evidence of CA, nor is there at 10mm. By 14mm control is not quite so perfect, but still, the figures are very low. Likewise at 18mm. Whatever residual CA exists is unlikely to be much of a problem, but could be corrected in software anyway.

Complex lenses can be more susceptible to flare and when shooting against the light there is some loss of contrast. Artefacts are quite difficult to observe, just creeping in as the light reflects internally in the lens. It is not a major issue, but when shooting straight into the light a little care is warranted.

Distortion is extremely well corrected, especially for a zoom lens. At 8mm we have -1.4% barrel distortion. By 10mm we find near-perfect drawing, with just +0.01% pincushion distortion. The Pincushion distortion gradually increases as we zoom, measuring +0.06% at 14mm and +0.54% at 18mm. Further software correction can be made, but for most purposes, this won't be necessary.

Bokeh is not perhaps the primary consideration with wide angle lenses, as so much is in focus anyway with the large amount of depth of field. Together with the smaller format, which also results in more depth of field, out of focus backgrounds are not much in evidence. However, such as they are, there is no raggedness and the rounded diaphragm blades would appear to be doing the job well.

Focus is fast and silent, internal in operation so there is no change in lens extension. The AF system locks on every time.

Value For Money

The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 Asph Lens is priced at £1049, making it the most expensive of the close options available.

The alternatives could be the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO (£999), the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 (£479) or the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 7-14mm f/4 (£759).

The new lens does offer a faster aperture than most of these, and more zoom range as well. It also offers a very high standard, so there are a few things to weigh up when considering value for money. It remains a very tempting option, at a price that may initially seem high but may well be justified.

Have a look at more options in our Top 33 Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses, or have a look at the Top 15 Wide-angle Landscape Lenses.

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