The Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mmm F2.8-4.0 ASPH. Power O.I.S. ($999.99) is a compact zoom lens with a decently long range of coverage and an even longer name. Optics live up to the Leica name, and build quality is excellent—the lens is housed in a metal barrel and is protected from dust and moisture. It's an excellent performer, but not quite an Editors' Choice. We give preference to the larger Olympus 12-100mm for its longer zoom range, and the Olympus 12-40mm for photogrpahers who want a straight f/2.8 zoom. But if your needs are more in the middle, the 12-60mm might just be the perfect compromise, especially if you like to pack light.

Design

The 12-60mm covers a 5x range—24-120mm in full-frame terms. Despite the range, and the wide aperture design, it measures just 3.4 by 2.7 inches (HD), weighs 11.3 ounces, and supports 62mm front filters. There's some extension when zooming; the height just about doubles at the 60mm position.

The outer barrel is metal and a reversible lens hood, also metal, is included. Internal seals prevent dust and splashes from getting inside, so you can use it in inclement weather along with a sealed body like the Panasonic GH5 or Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II.

Image stabilization is built in. If you're using the lens with an older body without in-body stabilization you'll benefit from its effects—crisper handheld images and steadier video. If you use a Panasonic camera with in-body stabilization the two systems will work together. If you want to disable the IS you can do so using a toggle switch on the barrel; a second switch changes between manual and autofocus operations.

Both the zoom and focus ring are bare metal, with a knurled finish to improve your grip. Zoom is marked at the 12, 18, 25, 40, and 60mm positions. Manual focus is electronic, but responsive. The focus ring offers some resistance, so you can turn it slowly for minute, precise adjustment, or turn it quickly for a larger change in the focal plane.

The 12-60mm doesn't have a macro designation, perhaps because its name is long enough already. It focuses to 7.9 inches, even when zoomed in all the way. At its longest length and shortest focus it magnifies subjects at 1:3 life-size. It matches the Olympus 12-40mm and 12-100mm in that capability.

Image Quality

I tested the 12-60mm along with the 20MP Panasonic GH5. At 12mm f/2.8 it records 2,206 lines per picture height on our standard sharpness test, a very good, but not outstanding number. We use Imatest to evaluate image quality across the frame, and for a 20MP sensor we look for scores that are at least 1,800 lines to be considered acceptable. The lens manages that quality from edge to edge, although the edges (1,901 lines) do lag behind the center (2,469 lines) in fidelity.

The average score improves to 2,400 lines at f/4, with outstanding results at the center (2,726 lines), and stronger results (1,948 lines) at the edges than at f/2.8. You don't gain any resolution by narrowing the aperture further. You'll get 2,394 lines at f/5.6 and 2,260 lines at f/8, but we don't recommend stopping down further than that. Diffraction cuts into clarity at f/11 (2,011 lines), f/16 (1,639 lines), and f/22 (1,166 lines). That's true throughout the range, so we won't dwell on narrower aperture results.

The aperture narrows as you zoom, but it does so fairly linearly. At 18mm the lens tops out at f/3.2, and delivers strong results (2,229 lines) throughout most of the frame. Edge are noticeably soft, just 1,630 lines. Results are about the same at f/4 (2,325 lines), but we see a drop in edge performance (1,446 lines). You'll want to shoot at f/5.6 to get photos that are sharp across the frame; the average score is an excellent 2,415 lines and edges show 2,133 lines. You get very similar results at f/8, with a just a slight drop in the average score (2,341 lines).

At 25mm the aperture tops out at f/3.6, and image quality is strong from edge to edge—an average score of 2,322 lines with edges that show 1,945 lines. Image quality is just as good at f/5.6 (2,360 lines), f/8 (2,452 lines), and f/11 (2,279 lines), with edges that hover around 2,200 lines.

The maximum aperture is f/3.9 at 40mm. The lens shows 2,223 lines here, with very even performance from edge to edge. At f/5.6 the lens shows 2,341 lines, and image quality holds up at f/8 (2,193 lines) and f/11 (2,109 lines).

See How We Test Digital Cameras

At 60mm f/4 you get 2,264 lines on average, but we do see a drop in edge resolution (1,895 lines) versus what we saw at 40mm. There's an improvement at the edges at f/5.6 (2,086 lines) and overall as well, with the average score climbing to 2,424 lines. Image quality is similar at f/8 and f/11.

There is some visible distortion at 12mm. The lens shows 2.3 percent there, enough where you'll notice that straight lines are drawn with an outward curve. It's gone at 18mm and beyond. We also see dim corners at 12mm, but only at the f/2.8 setting. They lag behind the center by about 1.7 stops (-1.7EV). Both distortion and corner illumination are correctable using software; Lightroom includes a profile for the lens that remedies the issues with a single click. But if you prefer to shoot JPGs, and don't want to deal with processing software, keep this in mind.

Conclusions

The Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mmm F2.8-4.0 ASPH. Power O.I.S. is a compact, premium zoom lens. It delivers strong build and image quality, with just a few caveats for the latter. These include some modest distortion and corner dimness at its widest angle, and some inconsistent resolution at the edges of the frame. Those are minor quibbles in the grand scheme of things, even for a $1,000 zoom. If you want a compact design, and you're happy with a 5x range, it's a very solid addition to your kit. But for a premium zoom, we give preference to two other options from Olympus—the longer-zooming 12-100mm F4, and the shorter, but fixed f/2.8, 12-40mm. Both are part of its Pro series and feature top quality optics and build, including mechanical manual focus.

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