Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 35-100mm f/2.8 Lens

After getting back into photography in 2024, I was using a flagship camera body from another maker, and I realized that I had accumulated several Lumix lens in my kit (due to their performance and value). I decided to do a side by side, relatively controlled test, to determine which camera body and overall “system” I would ultimately adopt. I purchased the G9M2 and the LUMIX G Series LEICA 35-100mm F2.8 Lens H-ES35100 so that I had lenses from both makers that would overlap for my tests. In semi-controlled testing (tripod and remote shutter), the H-ES35100 lens easily matched or exceeded the performance, with straight out of the camera jpgs. I moved lenses back and forth between bodies and improvements followed the lenses more than the bodies. I also spent some time in the yard with the dogs playing and had similarly good results. I thus convinced myself, that there was no downside to moving all my lenses to Lumix and upside with the Lumix body. Out in the field, I took only the H-ES35100 on a photo trip to the local zoo which resulted in a puzzling result of only about 25% keepers. It seemed like the camera / lens / or my technique was often causing the focus to be about 15% forward of where it should be. I’m not having this with any other lens. I tried a second outing to a botanical garden and had similar results. Maybe the physical characteristics on the lens is changing my grip or stance, I really can’t explain it? Overall, I find that the H-ES35100 I captures excellent images if I am very slow, very careful, and very purposeful in my shooting. All of these are great attributes for a photographer to have and practice. I am not there yet, and I need my gear to be more forgiving. As I am discovering my “style” I am gravitating more to primes than zooms. I like the brighter and more forgiving nature of primes. As time moved on, I found the H-ES35100 sitting on the shelf as I wanted either wider, longer, or brighter lenses for that particular outing. Again, this is a “ME” issue not a lens issue. In short, I never bonded with this lens, and I eventually sold it to invest in more Lumix Primes. If you like zooms, this is a great zoom at F2.8 across the range 35-100. If we assume that my technique is the main issue, then this should be a great lens in the right hands. The lens is well constructed overall it is a very good value.