Anyone shot with the new Canon 16-35?

Dave

Broadcaster, formerly "ashergrey"
.
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
1,725
I wrote this lens off when it was first released but have to admit I find myself more and more interested in it.

I currently own (and enjoy) the Canon 16-35 f2.8L II. But the edge-to-edge sharpness results in reviews for the 16-35 f4 L IS have me tempted to put the 2.8 up for sale. I'm interested to hear from any regular landscape shooters on their impressions of the new lens.
 
Wow. I hadn't looked into this, but a little reading up and I'm also very curious. Looks like Amazon will buy my 2.8 back for half price! Haha!

upload_2014-8-12_0-30-30.png

Has anyone seen a sun burst out of the f4?
 
Looks like Amazon will buy my 2.8 back for half price!

Has anyone seen a sun burst out of the f4?

Yeah, that dog won't hunt, Amazon. I'll only trade out if it's at least a straight swap, cash-wise.
 
I really like the f4's sunstar. Though I'll miss the spikes of the 2.8, I'd prefer better corner sharpness. I'm hoping my local camera shop will start renting this one in time for my fall Southwest trip.
 
f2.8 is SOLD and I got my new 16-35 f4 today. I'm working all weekend but then I'm headed out on a long trip next week to give it a solid testing. I'll post some results.
 
Two quick observations: It is a 77mm filter ring, not the 82mm on the 2.8. That is awesome! Anyone need an 8w2mm ND filter? And the hood with this one (EW-82) is tiny compared to the one that came with the 2.8. I'm not complaining, it's just odd.
 
Two quick observations: It is a 77mm filter ring, not the 82mm on the 2.8. That is awesome! Anyone need an 8w2mm ND filter? And the hood with this one (EW-82) is tiny compared to the one that came with the 2.8. I'm not complaining, it's just odd.

All factors that caught my attention. If the hood is small enough to keep on without reversing, that's a plus.

How does the plastic barrel/filter ring feel?
 
It feels good. Definitely a little lighter, which I'm totally okay with. I kind of wish I could hold them side by side but the f2.8 is long gone now.

I finally took it out today and did some work. I shot an an IHC Instacare facility and did my 119th trail guide (1 MORE TO GO!!). My initial impression that this is the sharpest lens I own. Those corners look beautifully. The hype is well deserved.
 
The sunstars don't look as iconic as the 2.8 ones, but it definitely looks sharper right up to the corners. Canon is finally making wide angle lenses that I can get excited about.
 
I'm still quite happy with the sun stars on the new one. I don't have a full comparison because the only shots I tried it with were with a full sun with nothing to pinch off the bulk of the light. I find the best sunstars are when the sun is mostly behind an object except for one tiny bit. But for full, direct shots into the sun, I was very impressed. Here are a couple samples from the trip I just went on.

canon-16-35-f4L-sun-burst-1.jpg

A bit of flare, but that's what you get for pointing it straight into the sun, right?
canon-16-35-f4L-sun-burst-2.jpg
 
That's very minimal flare for a straight-on shot. I take it that was without any other glass like a UV filter?
 
The sunstars don't look as iconic as the 2.8 ones, but it definitely looks sharper right up to the corners. Canon is finally making wide angle lenses that I can get excited about.

I own the Canon 17-40L, the 17mm TS-E (sharp) and the 24mm TS-E (sharper). The 17-40mm, at 20mm and above (stopped down a bit) is impressively sharp, corner to corner, and cheaper than the 16-35. I had the 16-35 for a short time, but prefer the focal length of the 17-40mm more. All of the Canon wide angle lenses are superb IMO.
I get quite excited when I use them. :)
 
I had the 17-40 for about 5 years, I must have had a bad copy because even stopped down the corners were pretty mushy. True the 24mm TSE is just ridiculously good, but it's out of my price range. The 11-22 Canon makes for the EOS-M is super good as well, probably the best wide angle Canon lens I have used. This new 16-35 looks like it really takes it up a notch though.

I would be tempted to keep an old copy just for the sunburst though. That flare from the 16-35 is so iconic, I would keep it in my bag just for shooting sunrises or sunsets, even if it's not as sharp.
 
Finally sold my f/2.8 tonight and ordered the f/4 from B&H. I realized that even in a year of using the 2.8, the instances in which I shot at anything other than f/8-f/22 were extremely limited. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the new lens can do.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
P Has anyone had a knee replaced, and still backpacks? General Discussion 10
J Anyone in the Thorofare in the past couple of weeks? Trip Planning 0
Rockskipper @Bob or anyone know why they closed down part of the forest near W. Yellowstone? General Discussion 6
Parma Has Anyone Here Done Alta Via 1? Trip Planning 25
Rockskipper Lunar eclipse shots anyone? Post 'em here. Photography 10
Rockskipper Anyone feel this? 4.2 near Silver Gate General Discussion 4
OwenM Anyone here familiar with North Cascades NP? Trip Planning 9
marquiri Anyone Submit Their Application for Glacier Yesterday? Trip Planning 3
fossana Anyone know what happened to the USGS topo map API? General Discussion 12
Chuck the Mauler Anyone know General Discussion 7
Parma Pssst, don't tell anyone but Canyonlands is opening up General Discussion 3
Perry Anyone Have any Experience with Sierra Designs Nitro 800 0-degree Sleeping Bag Gear 11
Ross Anyone want to do East Fork Fat Man's Misery-Barracks-Labyrinth Falls Oct 15 (tues) Trip Planning 0
NorthwestWanderer Anyone here accidentally stumble upon illegal grow operations? General Discussion 17
ADubs Looking for info from anyone who has done the Egypt loop and exited via 25mile wash (Escalante). Trip Planning 3
DrNed Has Anyone Used The Bivystick? Gear 11
Perry Anyone Have Experience with a Gregory Optic 48? Gear 3
ScienceMom Hello from Vegas! And anyone have advice for helping reluctant-hikers enjoy backpacking more? Noobs: Introduce yourself! 25
SKLund Anyone Done Under the Rim? Trip Planning 12
kimbur96 Back again, anyone using a teardrop? General Discussion 11
Ross Anyone for Lake Powell canyons (Iceberg,Davis,Willow/Cape Solitude/Canaan Mtn Trip Planning 0
Ross Anyone know if Sleepy Hollow campground, Caineville, exists? Trip Planning 5
Darkstardirewolf Anyone hiked Moran Canyon? General Discussion 0
Perry Backpacking Rain Poncho - Anyone Use One? Gear 14
Rockskipper Has anyone driven the Denali road to Wonder Lake in their own vehicle? General Discussion 11
Perry MSR Trailshot - Anyone Tried One Yet? Gear 11
Kris Hehl Anyone selling their Havasu Lodge/permit/campsite 2017? General Discussion 1
balzaccom Anyone else take this in your FAK? Trip Planning 5
Dave Firewatch, anyone? General Discussion 3
Nanda Anyone going out this weekend? Trip Planning 12
uintahiker Hiawaitha Bike Trail- anyone done it? Trip Planning 0
JoshuaDyal Anyone use foot powder Gear 3
D Anyone been to Tatahatso Point, Navajo Nation Trip Planning 1
A Anyone been to Death hollow/ escalante recently? Trip Planning 2
McGimpkins The only backpack anyone should ever buy General Discussion 4
balzaccom Andes Anyone? Backpacking 8
M Anyone Been on the HITR Road lately? Any Springs flowing? Trip Planning 1
Bob Anyone a Runner? General Discussion 0
mike54704 Anyone know how the trail to Conundrum Hot Springs in CO would be the first week of March? Trip Planning 5
J Anyone have experience camping/hiking with young kids? General Discussion 7
Kullaberg63 Anyone know where this petroglyph is located? General Discussion 5
M Anyone been down around Cedar Mesa lately? Trip Planning 5
Dave Anyone in Kanab? Trip Planning 2
Laura Anyone know if the rockfall on HWY 89 out of Page has been cleared yet? General Discussion 6
standfast85 Can anyone identify this pack? Gear 0
SirDonB Anyone From the Northeastern NY area Meet Up (Members Only) 0
TrektheWorld Anyone from the Denver area Colorado who would want to meet up this summer for a CO or UT jaunt? Meet Up (Members Only) 1
J Anyone ever seen black widow spiders in Utah? General Discussion 49
J Anyone been through Death Hollow recently? Trip Planning 25
J Anyone done the drive from Vegas to Escalante Utah? Trip Planning 3

Similar threads

Back
Top