Canon EF 16-35mm lens
£1,158.00
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A super-fast wide-angle zoom that's perfect for landscape photography but at £1158 it’s not cheap...
Photo answers review
Photo answers rating
This super-fast wide-angle zoom could be a real boon for landscapers looking for pin-sharp results in low light. At £1158 it’s not cheap – but if you’re serious about your photography, this lens will not disappoint.
With its maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range, the viewfinder remains bright and easy to use. The lens is quick and quiet in operation thanks to its built-in ultrasonic motor (USM). As an upgrade to the previous (excellent) Mark I lens, the Mark II can relay additional distance information to the Canon E-TTL II metering systems, helping provide more accurate exposures. With the close focus setting of 28cm you can really get up close for funky, distorted macro shots.
Focal length varies according to your EOS sensor format. For EOS-1D users, the 1.3x crop factor effectively makes this a 21-46mm zoom – a wider-than-standard zoom.
Canon’s pro-spec L series lenses offer build-quality of the highest order and handling that’s hard to fault. The zoom and focusing rings offer smooth yet solid action. Results are comparable to a good prime lens, which is a particularly impressive feat. Being really picky, we did notice minor chromatic aberration in certain outdoor lighting conditions, mostly grouped around the corners of the image, noticeable only if you zoom right into the details on computer screen. However, this is more to do with the design of digital sensors: it’s still an excellent performer.
The lens comes supplied with a massive lens hood to protect images from lens flare – but perhaps this one is a little too large? The diameter of the lens is fairly small at 89mm, while the lens hood comes in at a whopping 121mm. You may struggle to fit it into your camera bag.
For users with expensive EOS cameras – the EOS 5D or EOS-1D – this lens will be worth its weight in gold. The cheaper option would be the Canon 17-40mm f/4 lens, which retails around the £500-mark. For users of the pro-spec Canons who have the cash, this is the wide-angle lens to have – you really won’t be disappointed. For the rest of us, it simply has to go on the wish-list.
Specification:
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Close focus: 28cm
Digital focal length: (1.3x) 21-46mm
Digital focal length: (1.6x) 26-56mm
Mounts: Canon EF
Weight: 635g
Dimensions (L): 112mm
Contact: www.canon.co.uk
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This lens has stayed on my camera 95% of the time over the past year. I find it an excellent lens. I don't find it heavy at all (you should lug around the 28-300 L IS USM for a while if you want to see what a heavy lens is).
The magazine review is correct about some chromatic aberration but I find this only in certain circumstances and I correct in Photoshop if it is a problem. It is quite discreet too being a black L series lens, only the red ring on the end gives it away. Quite compact and a great performer!!
(Written by: Horrgakx)
03 March 2009 09:19
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OK, so this is not the featured version and yes I bought it second hand and worst sin of all, I am using it on a 400D. Blows the kit lens out of the water, but heavy, it is so HEAVY! Using this lens is like removing a smear of grease off the 400D sensor. Now I'm saving up for a 5D MkII.
(Written by: amachaBrett)
28 October 2008 08:17
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This is a superb piece of kit, it is extremely well built with nice smooth operation of both the zoom and focusing rings, it is extremely fast vand quiet in operation and produces the kind of image quality you would expect of a pro lens. All I can say is if you buy this lens you will not be dissapointed.
(Written by: Dave Parry)
17 October 2008 04:23