Review 2 of 2
Price Paid:
$2000.00
from Calumet Photographic Summary: The new incarnation of the superb 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM is a beautiful piece of engineering. It's been completely re-designed with hi-resolution digital SLR's sensors and ETTL II flash guns in mind.
It now has three ultra low dispersion lens elements added has been treated with Canon's new Super Spectra coatings to minimise internal reflections and ghosting that can be an issue in DSLR's due to the reflective nature of CMOS or CCD sensors.
However as the 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM was arguably Canon's flagship wide angle zoom already what do you get for the upgrade? How does it look in it's 'Mark II' incarnation when compared to it's siblings the MK I or even the 17-40mm L USM?
Like the 17-40mm and the 16-35mm MK I the minimum focus remains 0.28m the MK II also retains the six blade circular aperture of the MK I giving a pleasing background blur at f/2.8. However it jumps up to a massive 16 lens elements in 12 groups compared to the 17-40mm's 12 elements in 9 groups.
The lens differs again in that it uses new ring USM motors to focus. Now the original 16-35 or 17-40 where no slouches in this department but these focus motors are very rapid and totally silent. The focus also seems unerringly accurate and doesn't hunt. Another new addition is that the lens now also relays distance information to the camera body. This is used by ETTL II to provide extra information to better expose when using flash. I found this to give noticeable benefit to flash exposures using this lens.
What can't be shown by MTF graphs and pictures of lens test charts is the amazing quality of the images from this lens. They have that certain something you can't quite put your finger on. A beautiful rich colour and contrast coupled with a sharpness that just oozes the 'L' factor. I found myself Oooing and Ahhing over the test prints which is not something I make a habit of I can assure you.
Another immediately apparent benefit of this lens is it's distortion control. When the original 16-35mm was compared with a 17-40mm by myself way back I noted that the control of distortion such as converging verticals when tilting the lens.
I also found that this lens is near impossible to make it flare. It's amazing in this regard. I did manage to make it happen by putting it at 4 degrees to mid day sun but even then it was only part of the image that flared.
All in all I can't fault this lens on anything at all except the price.I feel this is very very high when compared to the superb 17-40mm F/4 L. For the difference in price you do get 1 stop extra aperture, better image quality and faster focus. However the focus on a 17-40mm is fast enough and the image quality while not as good is still superb. If you have an existing 16-35mm MK I I'd not consider an upgrade worth it though I do think if moving up from a 17-40mm you will notice the extra quality. If you have any other wide angle I have tried it just blows them out the water... Strengths: Superb contrast.
Superb colour.
Superb Sharpness.
Excellent distortion control.
Sends ETTL II distance information for very accurate flash exposure.
Weather sealed.
Solid build quality (Like a tank in fact!)
Blisteringly fast and silent ring USM focus motors. Weaknesses: 82mm Filter sizes not common to other L lenses and VERY expensive.
The price is very high compared to the 17-40mm L USM which is also excellent. Similar Products Used: 15-30mm f/3.5 Sigma EX DG
10-20mm f/4.5 Sigma EX DC (Nikon Mount)
Canon 17-40mm f/4 L USM
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM MK I
Canon 35mm f/1.4 L USM
Sigma 28mm f/1.8 (OM Mount)
Customer Service: Not had to use in last Six years
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