Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Reviews

Average Customer Rating - 4.6 out of 5 stars

14 customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a lens to play with and then impress near, December 9, 2006
Buy it. I know, it is more money than many of the other L series lenses. I know, you usually only shoot portraits or individuals, you don't need a wide angle. I know, it is reported to be cumbersome. I know, I know, I know. And some people say Santa Claus doesn't exist. I freshly received my new lenses, having the 70-200 L lens previously. I took the huge angle when dropping off my daughter at a birthday party and it did both for me. Captured the individuality of their barn property and took pictures at the birthday party. Most not needing a item, just cropping, if that. I shoot with a 20D so unsurprisingly I want the 5D. If photography is your passion and your fun, especially if it is your living, get this lens. Youthful play will be restored as you tale in the leaves to get the correct shot of the tree house. Buy filters, as it only comes next to a lens hood. My daughter jumped on my bed. my camera plumenting to the floor, and with a cracked filter and it man jammed, I just knew. Wrong, camera and lens fine. The $15.00 filter took the hit, Also, for you accumulation to your lenses. If you are considering the Canon backback, it is wonderful, and not so wonderful. To me the camera body is not padded ample and of course it has a huge Canon sticky label on the outside. This has cost me to have my coup¨¦ windows broken into, the Canon name. So I put a sign over it, saying Sarah's school stuff. Much smaller number likely to get stolen! Have fun, play, and remember to throw up the leaves as you fabrication there. Stay a kid with this lens!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great cup!, June 23, 2003
What can I say? Yes, it's a bit expensive. And yes, it weighs around a ton. But the quality of this lens is absolutely great. If you own a DSLR resembling the D30, D60 or 10D this lense effectively becomes a 25.6-56 mm zoom. Which is great since there aren't that frequent high quality moderate wide-angle lenses available for these DSLR's. If used on a 1Ds or a motion picture SLR then the 16-35 suddenly becomes the stuff that dreams are made of. This is one hell of a lens! If you are planning to buy a wide-angle zoom lens for your EOS camera and are considering the purchase of a non-Canon lens, don't do it! I used a few of those in the past buying the 16-35 f/2.8L USM and regretted it almost from day one. Yes, they are cheaper, but if you're serious about photography contained by the long run you'll end up buying the real item anyway. So better wait and save up a litlle longer.

5.0 out of 5 stars It doesn't come rotten my camera much., July 9, 2006
**UPDATE**
Canon has released a II version of this lens specifically also available on Amazon. It is about $300 more than this lens and is advertized to truly solve some very minor problems that the pros really effort about. The new altered copy has an 82mm front openning vs the 77mm of this lens...what that translates into is that if you have a 70-200mm "L" resembling I do, you can exchange filters between the lenses but not between the new 16-35II which have a larger front openning. For me, I haven't noticed any of the small items they were trying to address next to the II version as I'm not a Pro's Pro and a) will keep this lens and b) own noticed that value have been retained on this lens even after the release of a more expensive update to the lens. Both are professional lenses in my mind basically depends on your degree of sophistication. Hope it helps.

**ORIGINAL REVIEW**
I get this lens because I didn't really own anything close to this range except for the kit lens (good but not great and not f/2.8). I do own a 15mm Canon Fisheye but it does distort reasonably a bit even on the 20D and I don't like to have to correct contained by Photoshop each time and I wanted a broad lens. I wanted something wider, that could capture lots of neutral (I do allot of ambient and low light photowork) and I wanted something multi-use (on a 20D this is really a 24mm to 56mm --- great working range).

Pros:
1) With the 1.6x crop factor of my 20D this is really a 24 to 56mm lens. This makes it quite a bit smaller number of a wide angle and more of a midrange lens. Consequently, it stays on my camera all the time and covers most of my on a daily basis needs. I bought this lens fully expecting it to be 24 to 56 as I wanted it to be multi purpose and at 24mm its still pretty yawning.

2) I try to avoid flash as much as possible given the type of photography I do and at f/2.8 I can take some great ambient light pictures that I would not be capable of do otherwise

3) At f/2.8, I can also blow the backgrounds and foregrounds out of focus. The out of focus areas are gorgeously buttery and the blokeh is very nice given the 7 blades of the shutter.

4) The color saturation is resembling nothing I've ever seen previously except with my 70-200mm Canon "L". I was literally floored at some little one pictures I took where the colors were contained by two words "mind blowing". I knew the color would be great but "WOW!" With Photoshop CS2 I can "fake" saturation but its just not comparatively the same as the color that came out of this lens straight out of the box. Zero photoshop touchup needed.

5) Its sharp! This lens take some amazingly sharp pictures into what I would classify as amazing. I've received numerous positive comments on the sharpness of this lens. I've tried looking at the edges to see if there's any CA or less sharpness and couldn't really find any. Maybe on a full size sensor you can tell more but I couldn't really on a 20D. I do see that the plane of focus at f/2.8 is narrow (which is good) and I have to take home sure that everything I want in focus is. The blokeh is very buttery at f/2.8. I similar to it quite a bit.

6) Its built like a cistern. Black metal shell. Metal EF mount. Smooth manual focusing. Sturdy recessed switches. The red stripe catches the eye of photographers who know....uncomplicated to strike up conversations and learn.

7) It was surprisingly smaller and lighter than I thought it would be. About partly the size of my 70-200mm Canon "L". I was expecting it to be bigger and am much happier that it wasn't. Its on my camera all the time and not a chore to transport around at all. Unless you're a very petite individual.

8) Internal focusing. So the lens size doesn't change in size or turn when focusing. This is especially useful when you put filters on or when you're focusing contained by close.

9) USM Motor. Its whisper quiet and it focuses super hasty. Faster than my 70-200mm....something I'd expect but wow its fast and silent.

10) It focuses pretty close 12 inches or so. You can get close to your subject. Its not a macro lens but you can bring back some dramatic wide angle shots with its close focusing.

11) Its TTL2 so works really nice with my 580EX flash.

12) EF mount will grow with you. If you upgrade your camera body to a full frame camera next to an EF mount, this lens will fit your new camera and you can continue to delight in your lens investment.


Cons:

1) On a 1.6x frame size, it doesn't get into "amazing" wide category but that's not the failure of the lens. I'm marking this down as a Con but you can take it several ways. If you want to capture ultra-wide on a small frame camera, you won't with this lens (although 24mm is pretty darn wide) and about your singular Canon options are the 15mm fisheye which I own and think is a great specialty lens, the 10-22mm EFS Canon, and the 14mm L. The 10-22 I hear is exceptionally good but its EFS (and won't fit the full frame cameras - less upgradable I think) and its not an L lens although for a non-L the 10-22 I hear is exceptional. The 14mm EF L will run you almost as much as this 16-35mm zoom. The 15mm EF Fisheye is wonderful but it is designed to distort and the distortion is marked on the 20D and even more so on full frame cameras and you need Photoshop to fix. On this 16-35mm L, if you want the f/2.8 and are ok with something approaching 24-56, then you won't find better for small-sensor cameras. I'm very glad I get it and, if you already have a full frame camera or upgrade at some point, you can enjoy 16mm "WOW" far-reaching. I can only imagine the coverage I'd go and get on a full frame camera.

2) The hood is massive...wide but not very gaping...so its a shallow hood (It has to be with the general angle I guess). I never take it off -- it keep stray light out and is a secondary protection for the lens. I own had zero problems beside lens flare.

3) The front lens element does sink in and out inside the tube (exposed but the lens luggage doesn't change in size). There is no protective filter to protect that front feature. I bought a UV/Haze filter ($26 from Amazon) and I highly recommend you do as well to protect your investment. With the UV/Haze filter, the lens is terribly self contained.

4) Oh the cost....my oh my. Expensive as heck. Cost as much as my camera body --- worth every penny. If its any consolation, these lenses are very hard to cause and they keep their value. Your camera body might drop surrounded by value as new technology arrives but this lens will hold its advantage if you take care of it.


Differences, Notes, Things I've hear:

1) I have no experience with non canon lenses so I can't compare but this 16-35 is amazing.

2) Compared to other "L" lenses, it holds up and the level is amazing when it comes to color, performance, lens construction.

3) I hear there is some Chromatic Aberation at the edges of these widespread lenses (well more than the 70-200mm) but that's to be expected when you're gathering light from such all-embracing angles and focusing it....that's got to be hard. Wide angles exhibit more CA than long telephotos. On my 16-35mm it wasn't perceptible to me. I imagine a Pro's pro might notice support. Anybody with less stringent requirements than a Pro's pro or extremely saavy being, couldn't even notice or care. Besides, CA on this lens is directives of magnitude less than almost any other lens.

4) I bought directly from Amazon. Ordered on a Monday get the lens the next day on Tuesday. Amazing service. Great store.

5.0 out of 5 stars An "L" of a lens..., January 1, 2005
Having received some Christmas lolly, I put it to good use with the purchase of this lens. It works great near my Digital Rebel and certainly is a fine choice for any of the EOS Canons. Sure, it is pricey and a little lashing, but if you want a fast, wide-angle zoom lens, there is little else i.e. equivalent. The zoom range takes you from cavernous scenics to excellent indoor flash shots at 35mm (with a Canon Speedlite EX accessory). The USM focusing motor is quiet and very fast. Comes with a Canon lens hood. Don't forget to add a 77mm UV filter to protect the optics full time!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Lens, March 8, 2007
Although I am really new to the SLR world I made the jump right to this L series lens and I love it. Super sharp descriptions, great color, very fast focus, and have 16mm to play with at the wide winding up is a lot of fun. There is definitely some hurricane lantern fall off at the corners beside the aperture wide open, but stopped down it isn't really an issue. There is slight distortion at the widest angles but I variety of like that effect to I'm not bothered by it. I shoot a lot surrounded by overcast and dark conditions so the f/2.8 is great. The only piece I have been struggling near is flare in bright conditions. Pointed near the sun at 16mm even beside the hood on you still have to be careful. Like I said, I don't enjoy a lot of experience yet so I can't voice if this is normal or not. The flaring isn't anything so damaging that it cannot be corrected contained by Photoshop. I'm extremely pleased with this lens!

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Canon's 3 best zooms, December 15, 2006
I do fine art photography and by and large use L primes but have kept and use only three of Canon's zoom. This is one of those three. Lovely color, fast to focus and uses all the 5D's full frame and DR. If you are going to enjoy a Canon wide zoom for 35mm and under this is it.


4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected..., April 15, 2006
I shoot next to a Canon 20D and have used the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens as my wide angle preference. When preparing for an extended stay in Budapest, I decided it be time to invest in a faster, better quality broad angle lens. I reviewed the lens lineup at the Canon website and decided on the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L. As an L lens owner, I was confident this lens would be a great supplement to my lens lineup.

Being an L lens, this lens is meant for serious photographers. The sturdy construction consists of three aspherical elements and Canon's UD glass which largely wipe out the secondary spectrum. Weather-resistant construction at lens mount, zoom & focus rings and switch panel helps protect the lens from the elements. This lens is not compatible near the 1.4x II and 2x II extenders. The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L lens weighs in at something like 1.3 lbs/600g, and accepts 77mm filters or holds gel filter. Be sure to get a good talent UV haze filter to protect the front lens element. Not with the sole purpose do I see this as a good practice, Canon recommends doing so on their site as in good health.

The focus type is the standard twist zoom, and permits for auto or instruction manual focus depending on how the switch is set. In addition, the lens has a USM drive instrument for optimum AF performance.

Included with this lens are the front and flipside lens caps, lens hood, soft storage case, and a US one year warranty. The overnight case is a pull string soft case (LZ1319) that can also be purchased separately. The EW83E Lens Hood is used to cut back on lens flare and can protect the front element in in no doubt situations.

I have to admit I be disappointed by this lens while in Budapest. I found that for wide angle scene with the focused subject at a distance, the images be soft. This is precisely the type of images I wanted to use this lens for. Just because this is a hasty lens, it doesn't mean I shoot everything at f/2.8 either as some may claim. I own a good understanding of exposure and know how to use the aperture setting to my help. It didn't matter what aperture I used, distant subjects were soft surrounded by my eyes.

I wondered if the lens needed adjusting or calibrating after audible range all the great things people right to be heard. I lent the lens to a friend who loved the quality and sharpness while taking close up shots. I then begin to wonder if I was doing something wrong. After testing the lens, I've concluded that this is not the lens for distant cavernous angle shots like suggested on the Canon website. When the subject matter is much closer, close to the other side of a room or several feet away, this is an awesomely sharp lens.

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L lens is too different to compare to the Canon EF 28-135mm. The clarity and sharpness is incredible on close-up shots, and the auto-focus is quiet and rapid. Even though this lens didn't fit my original purpose, it has found a place contained by my lens collection. I don't foresee this lens being one of my most used option though. The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L comes at a price, but it is worth every penny when used for its strengths.

PROS:
Incredible clarity and sharpness on close-up shots
Quiet and quick auto-focus

CONS:
Heavy and bulky (This should be expected with these types of lenses)
Distant subjects come out soft.

5.0 out of 5 stars I use it to transport pictures of buildings for work, September 17, 2007
Let me start out by saying I'm a hobbyist and photography is not how I make my living...

I work for a company that supplies structural steel to the commercial GC's adjectives over Texas. I use this lens to take great pictures of buildings! I can get up close to the building and bring a great picture with a lot of crisp detail contained by the foreground and bokeh in the background. Without it, I be using a 50 or 85mm and I would have to stand too far away and would loose the detail up close.

Limitation: One thing to entry is that on a 10D, the lens is so big that the integrated camera flash will cast a shadow in your pictures. This is not a problem next to my 30D (or with a speedlite), but it is a problem when my father uses it on his 10D and didn't want to take a speedlite.

Overall, I really approaching using this lens and use it a lot... in reality, it stays on my camera 85% of the time.

4.0 out of 5 stars Potentially the best lens ever, October 24, 2006
I got this lens to go wider on a 20D. I looked-for to go wider so I got a 5D. Started shooting events next to this lens and I learned that the 580ex couldn't give me plenty light in the dim. Used the lens during the day. Terrible problems with lensflare. The hood showed up on the edges of pictures (wide). Went subsidise to the 24-70L as my primary lens. When this lens works and circumstances are right, the results are stunning. I'm trying to use two flashes to get the power to use it at night, again unacceptable flare problems. Whenever it matters I have to turn back to the 24-70L. I just don't hold all these problems with it.

The problems next to the 16-35 lens appear at the wide end. At 35 the lens operate well but that's not what I bought the lens for.

I love the lens but it's the lens that gives me the most frustration and verbs. Wish it had cost less but what can you do?


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