Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO or the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M?

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO opens to f/2.8, against f/2.8 - 4 on the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M.

Which is lighter, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO or the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M?

The Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M weighs 318 g, 64 g less than the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO (382 g).

Which focuses closer, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO or the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M?

The Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M focuses down to 0.11 m, against 0.2 m for the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO.

Do the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO and the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M have image stabilization?

No, neither lens has optical image stabilization; rely on in-body stabilization if your camera has it.

Is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO or the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M better for landscape photography?

For landscape photography, the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M has the edge: it is 64 g lighter to carry.

Is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO or the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M better for architecture?

For architecture, the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M has the edge: it is 64 g lighter to carry.

§ 03 Head to head

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO vs Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M

Olympus 12–40mm f/2.8 has a brighter maximum aperture. Yongnuo 12–35mm f/2.8 - 4 is 64 g lighter.

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 Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M is a 12–35mm f/2.8 - 4 zoom. On paper the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M comes out ahead, 4 advantages to 3, 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

Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M

f/2.8 - 4 · 12–35mm · 318 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO better than the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M?

Brighter maximum aperture (f/2.8 vs f/2.8 - 4)
Longer reach (40mm vs 35mm)
Smaller filter thread (62 mm vs 67 mm)

Why is the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M better than the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO?

64 g lighter (318 g vs 382 g)
12 mm shorter (72 mm vs 84 mm long)
Focuses 9 cm closer (0.11 m vs 0.2 m)
Newer design (2023 vs 2022)

Which should you buy?

By use

landscape For landscape photography, the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M has the edge: it is 64 g lighter to carry.
architecture For architecture, the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M has the edge: it is 64 g lighter to carry.

Specification

17 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO	Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M
Focal length	12–40mm	12–35mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8 ◆	f/2.8 - 4
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Lens type	Standard zoom lens	Zoom lens
Format	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds
Weight	382 g (13.5 oz)	318 g ◆
Dimensions	69.9 mm (diameter) x 84 mm (length)	94 x 72 mm
Minimum focusing distance	0.2 m (7.87 inches)	0.11 m ◆
Maximum magnification	0.3x (0.6x 35mm equivalent)	—
Image stabilization	No	No
Weather sealing	Dust, splash, and freeze-resistant	—
Aperture ring	No	No
Aperture blades	7 (circular)	7
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 / 11 groups
Filter size	62 mm ◆	67 mm
Lens mount	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds
Released	2022	2023

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Olympus
B · Yongnuo

84 × 69.9 mm
72 × 94 mm

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO is 12 mm longer and 64 g heavier than the Yongnuo YN 12-35 mm f/2.8-4 M.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens