Canon 16-35 2.8 MKII - Where is the love?

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

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Everyone and his dog it seems lately want long focal lengths, 200mm, 400mm this 500mm that, where is the love for the wide angle? So anyone here have one and what do you think of it? Would you care to show some samples? I really want to get one but i need some gentle persuasions :nuts:

I am thinking of this because i plan to go FF in 6 months and the 10-20 would be uneconomical
 
Hi,

CanonBob will be along to help you out as he has used both versions ;).

Mike.
 
mikeyb said:
Hi,

CanonBob will be along to help you out as he has used both versions ;).

Mike.
Click to expand...

Bob here.....

Not so Mike, I actually went backwards from a softish 16-35Mk1 to a 17-35...its predecessor.

The 16-35Mk2 is undoubtably the best of the three but the early 16-35's were a serious step backwards from the 17-35. One day I'll get the Mk2 but the 17-35 is enough for me for the time being....I think it appeared twice last year and hasn't left the cupboard at all this year. The 14L and 24L are flying the wide end flag at the moment.

Bob
 
I have owned all of the following at some point:

- Sigma 12-24
- Canon 17-40 F4
- Canon 17-35 F2.8
- Canon 16-35 F2.8 II

Others I have tried briefly:

- Contax N 17-35 F2.8 (EOS converted)
- Contax 21 F2.8 (EOS Adapted)
- Nikon 14-24 F2.8 (EOS adapted)
- Canon 14 F2.8 II
- Canon 24 F1.4
- Canon 16-35 F2.8

Other lenses I also own at in this range:

- Canon 35 F1.4
- Contax 28 F2.8 (EOS Adapted)
- Olympus 28 F3.5 (EOS Adapted)
- Canon 24-105 F4 IS
- Canon 28-70 F2.8

There are probably one or two I have forgotten. Tested on a 21mp FF canon body, overall sharpness in order:

1) Nikon 14-24 F2.8 (this one bends the laws of physics)
2) Contax 21 F2.8 (the original bender of the laws of physics)
3) Canon 14 F2.8 II (very good but suffers from some CA problems)
4) Canon 35 F1.4 (the best wide angle Canon makes, except for number 3)
5) Olympus 28 F3.5 (The bargin of all time)
6) Contax 28 F2.8 (if you get a good one)
7) Canon 28-70 F2.8 (pity it is so big)
8) Contax N 17-35 F2.8 (This one is heavier then number 7 it seems)
9) Canon 16-35 F2.8 II
10) The rest

Having said all that, I own a 16-35 F2.8 II right now. I took it during a month long trip, and was very happy with the performance. The bargin of the bunch? Olympus OM 28 F3.5. Including adaptor it can be had for less then £50. The suprising bargin of the lot if you going to only shoot at F8 and up? Canon 17-40 F4.

These are just my opinions in my own testing and with particular samples of lenses I have used.
 
IMHO the only decent Canon wide zoom is the 10-22mm (crop though)

I shoot mainly Nikon, but the Canon wide zooms are pretty poor - I can see why so many folks use adapters for other system's lenses tbh.
 
FranchiseJuan said:
There are probably one or two I have forgotten. Tested on a 21mp FF canon body, overall sharpness in order:

1) Nikon 14-24 F2.8 (this one bends the laws of physics)
2) Contax 21 F2.8 (the original bender of the laws of physics)
3) Canon 14 F2.8 II (very good but suffers from some CA problems)
4) Canon 35 F1.4 (the best wide angle Canon makes, except for number 3)
5) Olympus 28 F3.5 (The bargin of all time)
6) Contax 28 F2.8 (if you get a good one)
7) Canon 28-70 F2.8 (pity it is so big)
8) Contax N 17-35 F2.8 (This one is heavier then number 7 it seems)
9) Canon 16-35 F2.8 II
10) The rest

Having said all that, I own a 16-35 F2.8 II right now. I took it during a month long trip, and was very happy with the performance. The bargin of the bunch? Olympus OM 28 F3.5. Including adaptor it can be had for less then £50. The suprising bargin of the lot if you going to only shoot at F8 and up? Canon 17-40 F4.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that is some list !!!


Thou I have to say


1) Nikon 14-24 F2.8 - I own Canon...i don't own an adaptor ring, and want to retain AF
2) Contax 21 F2.8 - Ditto
3) Canon 14 F2.8 II - Prime...I need a zoom, may be one day
4) Canon 35 F1.4 Not wide enough, not on EF, nevermind on EF-S
5) Olympus 28 F3.5 - Not Canon again
6) Contax 28 F2.8 - Not Canon again
7) Canon 28-70 F2.8 - I am getting this too but it's not wide enough really on its own
8) Contax N 17-35 F2.8 - Not Canon again
9) Canon 16-35 F2.8 II

I guess its really down to the 16-35 MK1, MK2 and a 17-35. Or am I wrong?
 
Raymond Lin said:
I guess its really down to the 16-35 MK1, MK2 and a 17-35. Or am I wrong?
Click to expand...

No actually. I found my copy of the 17-35 to be about the same as my 17-40 F4. So the choice is either 17-40 F4, or 16-35 F2.8 II. If you really need 2.8 but don't have the budget, then a 17-35 F2.8 might be ok, but I would test it first.

Oh and don't forget You can get number 8 (Contax 17-35 F2.8 N) in EOS mount with full AF and functioning like a Canon lens. It even has quiet AF like Canon USM. Bonus is you get that Ziess look.
 
I am afraid that the 17-40 will not be fast enough at weddings, hence I am only looking at 2.8 lenses.
 
Canon Bob said:
Bob here.....

Not so Mike, I actually went backwards from a softish 16-35Mk1 to a 17-35...its predecessor.

The 16-35Mk2 is undoubtably the best of the three but the early 16-35's were a serious step backwards from the 17-35. One day I'll get the Mk2 but the 17-35 is enough for me for the time being....I think it appeared twice last year and hasn't left the cupboard at all this year. The 14L and 24L are flying the wide end flag at the moment.

Bob
Click to expand...

Hi Bob,

oops sorry, I thought I remembered you posting sample pics of how off square a mark 1 could be compared to the mark 2.

Mike.
 
How about a 24 1.4 ...
 
I got the 16-35L MK11 a couple of weeks ago and not really used it that much, but can say that it's super sharp at the edges and gives good contrasty images and the fast F2.8 throughout its range suits me perfectly :)

lovely piece of kit and worth every penny :D
 
i too have a 16-35 f2.8 mk2...... it's a lot better than the 17-40 imo. i'd love to have the L primes in this range, but it's not happening at the moment, so this will suffice nicely for the time being. if you need a zoom, it's the one i'd get.
 
FranchiseJuan said:
I have owned all of the following at some point:

The bargin of the bunch? Olympus OM 28 F3.5. Including adaptor it can be had for less then £50
Click to expand...

Where from, can't seem to find this anywhere on the net!

Eddie
 
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