Tischer's Review of the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L

(still being reviewed)


This is the perfect walk around lens. On the 1dmk2 (1.25 crop)it gives an equivalent 20mm - 44mm. I've found I rarely use the lens at f/2.8 due to such a shallow depth of field. f/3.5 is about as far open I can go when taking shots of 3-4 people. I'd probably opt for the 17-40 f/4L if I were to shop for a lens in this range again. f/2.8 does buy you a nice bright view finder, and helps with auto-focus accuracy. From my testing, the 17-40 and 16-35 have identical optical performance at identical apertures.


enlarge

Taken on a Canon 1dmk2, with Canon 16-35 f/2.8L at 16mm, f/4.5, 1/125", ISO 800



Sharpeness tests comparing the Canon 16-35L to the Sigma 12-24 @16mm,
Sigma 20mm f/1.8, and Tamron 28-75 @ 35mm on a 1dmk2

 I should note that lenses usually perform best in the middle of their zoom range, in this test the Canon is tested against two top rated lenses which are zoomed midway, while the Canon is tested at its zoom extremes.

To summarize the test results:
@16mm the Canon beats out the Sigma in every instance until f/16 where the Sigma is clearly sharper. The corners on the Canon are excellent wide open, they may look soft to some, but f/2.8 at 16mm is asking alot. Soft corners wide open isn't such an issue because low light situations rarely require sharp corners. The lens is as sharp at f/4 as it is at f/16. Chromatic Aberation is the Canons weak point, but fortuantly with Photoshop CS this is easily fixed.

Lens test @ 16mm Corner Crops

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L @ 16mm Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 16mm

Canon @ 16mm f/5.6
Sigma @ 16mm f/5.6

Canon @ 16mm f/16 click here to see the CA corrected crop
Sigma @ 16mm f/16


@20mm based soley on corner sharpeness, the Canon has a 2 stop advantage over the Sigma 20mm f/1.8. To say it another way, the Canon at f/4 is as sharp as the Sigma at f/8. This pretty much holds true across the entire range of apatures on the Canon, again talking only about the corners.

Lens test @ 20mm Corner Crops

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L @ 20mm Sigma 20mm f/1.8 @ 20mm

Canon @ 20mm f/2.8
Sigma @ 20mm f/2.8

Canon @ 20mm f/8
Sigma @ 20mm f/8


@35mm the Canon wins at f/2.8, all other apatures are too close to distinguish.

I also tested the 16-35L against the Canon 17-40L. Performace at similar apatures is virtutally identical, at least in the 17mm range which is where I tested.




More reviews


Russian made ZENITAR 2.8 16mm MF for Canon EOS

Sigma 12-24mm

Canon 70-200mm F4L

Sigma 28mm f/1.8

Canon 50mm f/1.8

Canon 28mm f/1.8

Tamron 28-75 f/2.8

Sigma 20mm f/1.8

Macro
See who's visiting this page. View Page Stats
See who's visiting this page.