Photo: Charles Lanteigne (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Quick answer
The second iteration of Canon's wide-angle f/2.8 L zoom, weather-sealed and popular for landscape and architecture work.
Pros
- Constant f/2.8
- Weather-sealed
- 82mm filter thread
Cons
- Edges soft at wide apertures
- Heavy
- No stabilization
Verdict
A capable f/2.8 wide zoom; the III improved corner sharpness.
About this lens
A 16-35mm f/2.8 fast wide-angle zoom lens, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM is designed for Canon EF mount bodies, from the Canon L series with ultrasonic-motor autofocus. An L-series wide-angle zoom aimed at landscape, architecture and interior photography.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 16-35mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/16.0
- Lens type
- Wide Zoom
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 2007
- Optical construction
- 16 elements in 12 groups
- Aperture blades
- 7
- Autofocus motor
- USM
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.28 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.22x
- Filter thread
- 82 mm
- Weight
- 640 g
- Length
- 111.6 mm
- Diameter
- 88.5 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM?
- Landscape
- Architecture
- Photojournalism
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 16–35mm | 54.4–96.7° | 63.4–107° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 26–56mm | 35.6–70.2° | 42.2–80.4° |
Frequently asked questions
What filter size does the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II use?
It takes 82mm filters, the same as the third-generation lens, while the first-generation 16-35 used 77mm.
Is the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II sharp at the corners?
Corners are weaker at wide apertures, particularly at 16mm, and improve when stopped down. The III improved this.
Is it worth upgrading from the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II to the III?
The III has noticeably better corner sharpness at wide apertures. If you mostly stop down for landscapes, the II may be good enough.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
Tokina
AF 16-28mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro SD FX
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AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD (Model A16)
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SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical (IF)
17-35mm · f/17.0 · Canon EF
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SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF)
17-50mm · f/17.0 · Canon EF
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