Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

I’ve had a chance to shoot this extensively now, and I agree with the reviews: the Mark II is a significant improvement over the original 16-35—but only if you’re on a full-frame camera. The lens is markedly sharper at the edges and corners and more flare resistant. There’s not a big difference in center frame sharpness (which wasn’t a problem with the original version). For this reason, we don’t think those of you shooting T1i or 50D cameras are going to find this a worthwhile upgrade from the original.

For 5DMkII and 1DsMkIII shooters, this lens addresses those issues that had some of us (myself included) using manual-focus, exotic wide-angle lenses to get good edge and corner sharpness. There is still a little distortion at extreme wide angle shots, but nothing that isn’t easily corrected in post processing. Summary: this is the best wide angle zoom Canon has ever made. The others aren’t even close.

Roger’s Take: This is a very good wide angle zoom, and improved over the Mark I in the edges and corners. Its the wide zoom of choice for f2.8 on a full frame camera. My hesitation with this lens has nothing to do with quality, it is very good. But if you’re doing landscape work and shooting at f5.6 or higher the Canon 17-40 will provide every bit as good an image at a lower cost. If you’re shooting on a crop sensor camera (T1i, 50D), the 17-55 f2.8 IS offers nearly as good an image quality plus the added benefit of image stabilization. If you need to go as wide as you can get, the 14 f2.8 is wider and at least as good in image quality with probably less distortion. If you’re shooting wide in dim conditions, the 24mm or 35mm f1.4 lenses are more than twice the aperture.

All of this sounds very negative and it isn’t meant to be: the 16-35 MkII travels with me everywhere because I need the convenience of a zoom, sometimes I need f2.8 and I shoot full-frame. In my mind it is to the wide end what the 100-400 IS is on the long end: a very good do-it-all lens in this focal range: there are specific lenses better for specific tasks, but the 16-35 is good at everything.

PLEASE NOTE: This lens requires 82mm front filters.