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LUMIX S 16-35mm F4

Panasonic

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4

Leica L Mount

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4 — 16–35mm f/4 for Leica L, a popular choice in the panasonic lineup.

$1,299

Launch price

Released Jan 2023

vs

Sony

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

Sony E Mount

Exquisite resolution and dreamy bokeh combine in a masterful f/1.2 prime.

$1,999

Launch price

Released Mar 2021

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4 is 1.8 years newer.

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Wins

5categories

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4

Landscape

Wins

2categories

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

PortraitSports & Action

1 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4 wins 3 categories·FE 50mm F1.2 GM wins 2 categories
  • BFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/4)
  • BFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/4)
  • ALUMIX S 16-35mm F4 has lower Min focus distance (25 cm vs 40 cm)
  • ALUMIX S 16-35mm F4 has lower Weight (493 g vs 778 g)
  • ALUMIX S 16-35mm F4 has higher Max magnification (0.25 × vs 0.17 ×)

Key specs at a glance

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Focal Length16-35 mm50 mm
Max Aperturef/4f/1.2
MountLeica LSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight493 g778 g
Min Focus25 cm40 cm
Filter Size77 mm72 mm

Size and weight, to scale

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4 shown to scale

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4

74 × 105 mm

493 g (1.09 lb / 17.39 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

87 × 108 mm

778 g (1.72 lb / 27.44 oz)

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4 is 3mm shorter and 13mm narrower than FE 50mm F1.2 GM.

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4 is 285 g lighter than FE 50mm F1.2 GM.

Diameter (⌀) is the maximum barrel width; length is measured from the mount to the front of the lens.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseLUMIX S 16-35mm F4FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Portrait
2.5Limited
9.0Excellent
Sports & Action
5.5Fair
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
5.0Fair
4.5Fair
Landscape
9.0Excellent
3.0Limited
Travel
5.0Fair
2.0Limited
Wildlife
3.0Limited
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
3.5Limited
0.0Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the LUMIX S 16-35mm F4

  • Special elements

    Adds 2 Aspherical, 1 ED

  • Min focus distance

    25 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better

  • Weight

    493 g vs 778 g — lower is better

  • Diameter

    73.6 mm vs 87 mm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.25 × vs 0.17 × — higher is better

  • Length

    105.4 mm vs 108 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the FE 50mm F1.2 GM

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 XA (extreme aspherical)

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/4 — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Custom function button

Both support custom function button

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
  • Native Leica L mount compatibility

Cons

  • Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance
  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

Pros

  • Outstanding sharpness wide open at f/1.2
  • Stunningly smooth, circular bokeh with 11 aperture blades
  • Extremely quiet and fast autofocus tracking
  • Manageable size and weight for an f/1.2 lens

Cons

  • Expensive investment for a single focal length
  • Heavy compared to standard f/1.8 options
  • Some visible vignetting wide open

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the LUMIX S 16-35mm F4 and FE 50mm F1.2 GM at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

LUMIX S 16-35mm F4
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Focal length (Min)
16 mm
50 mm
Focal length (Max)
35 mm
50 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/4
f/1.2+3.5 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/4
f/1.2+3.5 stops wider
Elements
12
14
Groups
9
10
Special elements
2 Aspherical, 1 ED
3 XA (extreme aspherical)
LUMIX S 16-35mm F4
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Min focus distance
25 cm−15 cm less
40 cm
Max magnification
0.25 ×+47%
0.17 ×
Autofocus motor
Linear motor
XD Linear Motors
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
LUMIX S 16-35mm F4
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
LUMIX S 16-35mm F4
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Weight
493 g−285 g less
778 g
Length
105.4 mm−3 mm less
108 mm
Diameter
73.6 mm−13 mm less
87 mm
Filter thread size
77 mm
72 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
LUMIX S 16-35mm F4
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Lens mount
Leica L
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.