Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO or the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S.?

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO opens to f/2.8, against f/2.8-4.0 on the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S..

Which is lighter, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO or the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S.?

The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S. weighs 320 g, 62 g less than the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO (382 g).

Is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO or the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S. better for architecture?

For architecture, the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S. has the edge: it is 62 g lighter to carry.

§ 03 Head to head

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO vs Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S.

Olympus 12–40mm f/2.8 has a brighter maximum aperture. Panasonic 12–60mm f/2.8-4.0 has a longer reach.

Both lenses are made for the Micro Four Thirds mount: the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO is a 12–40mm f/2.8 zoom, and the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S. is a 12–60mm f/2.8-4.0 zoom. On paper the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S. comes out ahead, 4 advantages to 2, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO

f/2.8 · 12–40mm · 382 g

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S.

f/2.8-4.0 · 12–60mm · 320 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO better than the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S.?

Brighter maximum aperture (f/2.8 vs f/2.8-4.0)
Newer design (2022 vs 2017)

Why is the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S. better than the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO?

Longer reach (60mm vs 40mm)
62 g lighter (320 g vs 382 g)
Has optical image stabilization
More aperture blades (9 vs 7)

Which should you buy?

By use

landscape For landscape photography, the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S. has the edge: it is 62 g lighter to carry.
architecture For architecture, the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S. has the edge: it is 62 g lighter to carry.

Specification

17 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO	Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S.
Focal length	12–40mm	12–60mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8 ◆	f/2.8-4.0
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Lens type	Standard zoom lens	Standard zoom lens
Format	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds
Weight	382 g (13.5 oz)	320 g (11.29 oz) ◆
Dimensions	69.9 mm (diameter) x 84 mm (length)	68.4 mm (diameter) x 86 mm (length)
Minimum focusing distance	0.2 m (7.87 inches)	0.20 m (7.87 in)
Maximum magnification	0.3x (0.6x 35mm equivalent)	0.30x
Image stabilization	No	Yes (Power O.I.S.) ◆
Weather sealing	Dust, splash, and freeze-resistant	Yes (splash, dust, and freeze-resistant)
Aperture ring	No	No
Aperture blades	7 (circular)	9 (rounded) ◆
Optical construction	14 elements in 9 groups (including 1 aspherical element, 1 dual-sided aspherical element, 2 ED glass elements, 2 HR glass elements, 1 EDA glass element, and 1 HD glass element)	14 elements in 12 groups (includes 4 aspherical lenses and 2 ED lenses)
Filter size	62 mm	62 mm
Lens mount	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds
Released	2022	2017

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Olympus
B · Panasonic

84 × 69.9 mm
86 × 68.4 mm

The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power O.I.S. is 2 mm longer and 62 g lighter than the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens