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Questions & Answers

bessie r : what is so great about canon 16 -35 mm lens ?JERRY P : Speed, sharpness and flexibility. I shoot sports for Georgia Tech University and use this lens indoors and out. In particular using it indoors allows me to shoot at lower ISO which gives me sharper images. I also travel and use this lens for wider angle landscape photography. I used to have the Canon 24-70 f2.8 but like this lens even more. You really can't go wrong with this lens and I would highly recommend it!STEPHEN R : Canon's EF 16-35mm f/2.8L ll USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens is fast, produces sharp images, and performs well in low light. I use this lens often for up close shots of people and get good looking candids with a natural looking perspective. Because of the wide angle of this lens you do have to move in close to your subject and you have to be careful to center your subject and be aware of your shooting angle to avoid distortion. This lens can also produce stunning wide angle landscapes, especially when the sky is full of clouds. Sunsets can also be quite beautiful.JOHN T : Well, this lens has its place in your camera bag arsenal. I used it to shoot street scenes in the Greek islands in the night and capture the crowd & the hustle and bustle, for landscape scenes in the islands and to shoot the Acropolis and the nearby temples, so many opportunities in the Yellowstone Park both in winter and summer. Also a great lens for group portraits. Indispensable!
Shopper : What is the weight of the 16-35mm f2.8 II? Can't find it in the specs.TOM G : weight? Why does it matter as it is very light. If you are really that concerned maybe a mirror-less would be better for you. Sorry I cannot help any moreMICHAEL P : Amazon listing says 1.41 lbs., and Ken Rockwell review says 22.375 oz.TERRY R : I weighed it on our postal scale and it is 1 lb., 7.3 oz. TerryJAMES A : Lens with polarizing filter and front and rear lens caps weighs 26 ounces (1 lb 10 oz, 734 grams). Excellent lens!
Shopper : Looking to upgrade to a Canon 6D camera and was considering the Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8 II lens or the Canon EF 25-105 f/4 L. I want to take family and friends as well as landscape shots. Which lens would give me the best of both worlds?Jux L : It depends how wide you want your shots to be, regardless of subject. Rent. Try. Decide. Whatever you do, ignore Michael Paul J's answer. The 6D & the 5Diii have the same, full frame, sensor. 16-35 on a 6D is the equivalent of 16-35 on a 35mm camera.RICHARD W : I recommend the 24-105 for the general purpose type shooting you seem to be targeting. It marries up well with your full frame sensor. I have both lenses, and the 24-105 is the lens that I always have with me especially while traveling single lens & body. You would already know by now that you needed the 16-35 because your shooting dictates that performance of speed and focal length.MICHAEL PAUL J : If you are going to purchase a Canon 6D I would recommend getting the 16-35mm lens. The 6D does not have a full sensor so the mms will be off...ie 21mm might end up being around 16mm. Vs. a Canon 5D mk3 is a full sensor 24 is a 24mm. I hope that makes sense. I have a 7D and I use the 16-35mm all the time because it's that happy length of a wide lens and you get a F2.8. The 24-105 is a f4 and your wide end of a 24 will be around a 35mm. Hope that helps.COLLEEN M : I recently purchased a Canon 6D (previously owned a Canon 30D). What a difference a full sensor camera makes with the two lens I own: Canon EF 16-35 mm f/2.8 L II USM & Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8 L IS I like the 16-35 lens for landscape (the full wide angle is really seen!) and especially large group photos. The f/2.8 is worth the extra money. If you already have a mid to long range zoom lens, the 16-35 lens is the way to go.Morgan E : I have both lenses and find myself using the 24-105mm most of the time because it offers more "spread" that the 16-35mm. While the latter offers f2.8 the former has IS which helps make up the difference. If you are only buying one lens I would recommend the 24-105mm over the 16-35mm as being the more versatile.JOHN T : The 16-35 mm on a full-frame sensor is ideal for landscape photography; it is also heavier. The 25-105mm has a longer range, lighter, more suitable for a wide variety of tasks & cheaper. From what you say it seems that the 25-105 mm would better address your goalsDONALD M : I actually own both of these lenses and use them on a Canon 5D Mark III. Personally, I find the EF 24-105mm f/4 L to be a more versatile lens than the 16-35mm. I tend to use the wider 16-35mm as a specialty lens. The 24-105mm provides for a nice range of different compositions. I also tend to use a tripod for landscape photos, so the slower aperature is not an issue. If you do more handheld photos, the faster f/2.8 really helps to kee the images sharp. Since you also mentioned wanting to take pictures of family and friends, I would further consider the 24-105mm. Being able to frame faces or pull back for a full body or group view is a convenient plus.MICHAEL R : 24-105 will be FAR superior for taking photos of family and friends. Not all landscape shots require ultra wide angle and the 24mm on the 24-105 is respectably wide.

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2017-05-10T11:56:28

Rated 5 out of 5

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 II USM

This 16-35mm zoom lens is a high-quality glass that allows you to capture a wide angle and give you a hint of a wrap around look of a room at the 16mm and a sharp 35mm capture all in one lens. One of my favorite lens to carry in my bag, as an event photographer.

ABRAHANNY R.

2017-04-01T05:42:42

Rated 5 out of 5

Must have lens.

I do a lot of sports photography, but I also work in real estate. My 24-105mm f4.0L just could not cover the need for wide shots. I am also loving the results of videos at low light with this lens. The 2.8 f stop is exactly what I needed. Not exactly a fish eye, and great for group shots.

William L.

2017-03-10T09:29:17

Rated 5 out of 5

Very nice lens

Great for the C100. Perfect all around lens for C100 tight shots and wide shots. Use it for 5D close up food photos too!

MELINA B.

2017-02-28T11:26:34

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Lens

Bought this for underwater photography but also for some nice wide angle shots. Very good lens, bright and crisp. Delivery was fast and had no issues whatsoever with the ordering process. Would definitely recommend the lens and Adorama as well.

CHRIS D.

2017-01-23T15:54:07

Rated 5 out of 5

Love my lens

First and foremost, I LOVE Adorama. They are a great company to purchase products. I have purchased numerous products and have been completely satisfied on how wonderful they keep me in the loop on my item, from shipping to delivery. I even had a delay with a product and they informed me right away. NOW about the lens, its exactly as it states, a great lens, i take a lot of landscape photography pics and this lens is perfect. Its great in low light situations as well. if you can spend a little more money on a lens and do quite a bit of landscape photography, this lens is the way to go!

CELICE L.

2017-01-18T13:50:09

Rated 5 out of 5

16-35mm f2.8L II

Much sharper than I expected. Has all I could ask for in a super wide lens. Looking forward to shooting the milky way with it once it reappears.

dan m.

2017-01-02T13:33:59

Rated 5 out of 5

Versatile!

Versatile lens that I wanted for group shots and landscapes. Just got it so will be using the heck out of it to see what else I'm surprised it can do. I consider it a must have in my group of lenses.

CATHERINE A.

2016-12-20T08:47:19

Rated 5 out of 5

Better than ever

I was torn between this version and the just-released and significantly more expensive 35 F2.8L III. It appeared the major difference was the addition of image stabilization which, on a wide-angle lens, seems less useful to me than on longer lenses. I am highly satisfied with his version; edge to edge sharpness and illumination are better than on the older version, and as long as one keeps the lens perpendicular to the subject, edge to edge flatness is quite good. Obviously there is distortion if the lens is not perpendicular consistent with the wide angle. Focus is smooth, auto focus response time quite good. Recommended for wide angle needs.

Robert W.

2016-09-06T11:31:08

Rated 5 out of 5

Everyone needs this lens.

I never leave home without this lens. It doesn't matter if I'm shooting long exposure night shots or run and gun filming - this lens never disappoints. I shoot with a Sony A7RII and this lens looks stunning in 4k video. Would definitely recommend.

CAMERON M.

2016-05-19T00:25:43

Rated 4 out of 5

Hobby

Yes I really like it.

JAMES M.

2016-05-01T21:59:35

Rated 5 out of 5

Has a place

I am the wacko that owns both the 16-35mm f/4L and 2.8/L. They're totally different lenses though - the f/2.8L is obviously fast and has a nice-ish bokeh for a lens so wide. I use it as an event lens generally and it's terrific even if it's a little silly-looking. If I were better at what I do we would call it "journalistic-grade" for both its speed and "center-centeric" focus (ever think you would see see that in print?). The 16-35mm f/4L version is sharper everywhere and has far less distortion in my post-processing experience, so it's lovely for architecture and interiors. My copy is happiest between f/8 and f/11 so there's no reason to pay twice the price unless you have action to stop. If you have an event to shoot and it's "2.8 and Go," this is a great addition. You're paying the price to say "No!" to ISO - a cheaper (but crummier) way to buy a stop. I salute you.

Matt S.

2016-04-18T08:56:12

Rated 5 out of 5

Awesome lens

My previous lens had fallen and I needed a replacement and this was it. So versatile as well as clear and crisp with images. Awesome.

STEVE R.

2016-04-13T10:30:16

Rated 5 out of 5

Great lens!

Definitely recommend this lens for landscape shooting.

ALEXANDER C.

2016-03-26T13:50:28

Rated 5 out of 5

Great for night

I mostly use this lens to shoot at night. It's just an added tool to my night-time arsenal.

ARMAND S.

2016-02-22T08:41:19

Rated 5 out of 5

Absolutely amazing.

Incredible lens. Perfect for small areas and landscapes. Also does beautiful sun flares.

JERRY G.

2015-09-08T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent Lens

Very sharp throughout the zoom range. Well built, solid lens

Rog P.

2015-08-07T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

16-35mm 2.8 canon lens

Very nice what you expect from Canon's top of the line lenses. This is definitely a strong contender for anyone who can only afford a single lens. I use it for editorial and fine art. On a 5d markiii it's great the if you shoot subjects that are within 10 to twelve feet the thirty five is perfect. Think of this lens as a photojournalist lens.

Mike

2015-05-03T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Love this lens

Suprisingly low distortion and chroma shifts for such a wide lens. Great for astro photography. It's a bit on the large size but that can be expected, fast af, profiles available with adobe and its quite sharp for something that is so wide.

DARRAGH S.

2014-06-30T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Superb product for photo enthusiasts

This lens is fast and offers a wide range for landscape as well as indoor photography. With this lens, I now have 3 Canon lenses to cover full range of circumstances.

ROBERT T.

2014-06-16T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Best Wide Angle

I bought this lens for the Canon 5DM3 with the purpose of capturing wedding parties. This wide angle is great and you can capture a very wide patch even standing close to the target.

STEVE C.

2014-06-09T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

This thing is well worth the money spent.

I just received this product and its built for work. Getting used to it for now. Shooting landscape, experimenting with close-ups. This thing is well worth the money spent.

RON B.

2014-05-26T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

great lens

I left off one star only because it is not an IS lens, tho the next generation will be. Great lens, bright, sharp and responsive.

DW

2014-01-14T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Worth It

I bought this for architectural photography and it has been absolutely worth it. I debated a less expensive off brand and am very glad I went with this. It's solidly built but not extremely heavy and very dependable.

Daniel S.

2014-01-02T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Just Buy It.

I had the EF-S 10-22 with my T2i but had to sell it when I upgraded to a 6D. I didn't realize how much I missed having a wide angle lens until it was gone. I got this and took it to Boston for a weekend and put it through the paces. The lens is tack sharp and image quality through the aperture range is great. If you are considering the f/4 vs the f/2.8 do yourself a favor and spring for the f/2.8, you won't regret it. The low light capability is worth it. Great service by Adorama, I traded in some old equipment, pricing was fair and service was great.

Anthony D.

2013-12-16T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Lens

L Lens are Tops

VIRGIL L.

2013-12-03T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent!

I accidentally dropped my first one and I purchased the same one again and I cannot imagine being without it.

Fotografia M.

2013-10-21T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Beautiful Pictures

This lens takes beautiful pictures. If you need a wide angle lens for up close pics this is the way to go.

DANIELE L.

2013-09-23T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Very Pleased

Used primarily for architecture, landscapes. Choose this lens as the widest I could find that would allow use of standard filters (would have liked the 14mm prime but the fact that its design precludes use of protective and other filters on the front of the glass made this lens the logical choice to buy).

ROBERT L.

2013-09-02T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Very nice lens

Very good image quality. The lightness surprised me since I mainly use the 70-200 2.8 and 100-400.

DEBBY T.

2013-07-22T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

A great wide-angle zoom lens!

I was never happy with my 17-40L. The corners were mushy and they are never on good levels even with small aperture. The 16-35 II however is a totally different beast! The corners are already sharp at f/2.8! Price is a bit steep though... twice of 17-40L.

ALBERT W.

About Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

FEATURED REVIEWS

Phenomenal!

By Right2Roam

I saw tons of reviews and did my research on this one. As a hobbyist I was having a hard time justifying the cost, but I'm glad I made the purchase. The quality of images I brought back from my latest trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons was something I've never been able to achieve before.

IT IS THE BEST ULTRA WIDE ANGLE

By JOSEPH O.

5 STAR LENS. I have Canon 24-70 f2.8, Canon 70-200 f2.8, Canon 27-105 f2.8 and this 16-35 f2.8. You need all these lenses if you are a pro. This 16-35 gave me perfect wedding photos and landscape shots. If you buy this lens, you will be so glad you have one. My next one is Canon 50mm F1.2 for my studio fixed shots.

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens is the highest-quality ultra wide-angle zoom lens Canon makes. Designed to meet the exacting demands of professional photographers, the lens offers fast autofocus, rugged construction, and best-in-class optical performance. Canon has added three high-precision aspherical elements to improve edge-to-edge image quality, upgraded its autofocus motor and AF algorithms for faster and quieter focus, and rounded the aperture ring for pleasing bokeh.

Why buy the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II?
1. Outstanding glass: The lens consists of three high-precision aspherical glass elements, each of which is made differently (ground, replica and GMO) to improve different aspects of image quality.
2. Precise autofocus: A ring-type Ultrasonic motor (USM) works quickly and quietly, and works with the predictive tracking feature. Full-time manual focus override is possible even when shooting in AF mode.
3. Brilliant Bokeh: The circular aperture diaphragm produces natural specular highlights and pleasing, creamy out-of-focus areas.
4. It's great for low light photography. Thanks to its maximum aperture of f/2.8, which remains the same throughout the zoom range, the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II is a great low-light lens.
5. Included hood: A petal-type lens hood blocks side lighting to reduce flare and glare.

Key Features

  • Focal Length & Maximum Aperture is 16-35mm & f/28
  • Lens Construction is 16 elements in 12 groups
  • Diagonal Angle of View is a Wide 108deg10' - 63deg
  • Focus Adjustment is AF with full time manual
  • Closest Focusing Distance is 092 ft / 028m
  • Filter Size is 82mm, Pitch = 075mm / 1 filter

What's in the box:

  • Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
  • Front 82mm Lens Cap
  • Rear Lens Cap E
  • Lens Hood EW88
  • Lens Case LP1319
  • Canon 1 Year Warranty