In 2012, I bought the Panasonic GH3 and the Lumix X 35-100mm f/2.8 in order to get started with micro Four-Thirds. It was a rough start.
The GH3 EVF had the wrong color and the 35-100mm f/2.8 was subject to horrible flare with the lens hood in place and the sun out of the frame. The OIS also had terrible stutter during video recording, even after a specific firmware update.
Besides that, it just didn't measure up to the US$1400 price or my Olympus ZD SHG 35-100mm f/2.0. $1400 vs $2499 makes it seem as though the Panasonic lens was priced too high. It took time to come to terms with micro Four-Thirds but I was using the system most days in 2015 and 2016.
Today, January 15, 2026, I received a used Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 Mk II. I spent about US$500 on it. The Panasonic G97 isn't as big as the GH4 that I was using daily but it has similar capabilities and IBIS (in-body image stabilization) that the GH4 did not have. With most Panasonic lenses using OIS (optical image stabilization), they will be combined in what Panasonic calls Dual I.S.
The second photo was taken with the sun out of frame, similar to the first, but look, there is no ugly flare. Hopefully, it's not just that it was later in the day.
I took the lens for walk of about 5 miles. It feels like the earlier lens and it also felt surprisingly like a brand new lens. Considering that it was used and coming from a rental company, I feel that my choice was good.
Color cast is non-existant. I'll see if I can do a video test because I've been told that the OIS stutter still exists, even in the Leica-branded lens. I hope it's been eliminated.
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