Canon 16 35 F2.8 L II

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Greg
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Im in the market for a new lens. Current line up on a 5d 2 (40D as well)

85m F1.2 L
24-105 L
50mm1.8
Sigma 10-20
Canon 70-300 (soon to be on sale)

Im looking at a wider lens (im aiming to get a 24-70 F2.8 and a 70-20 F2.8 at some time in the near future but the immediate requriement is for something on the wider side)

Im looking at the following
16-35 F2.8 L II
Zeiss 18mm 3.5 Distagon
Zeiss 21mm 2.8 Distagon

It needs to be for weddings, family portraits, and double up as a landscape lens.

Im leaning towards the 16-35.

Any views on any of these. I think its a close call between them and the reviews on the websites are favourable, but i do prefer first hand experience from peeps on this forum. Much more balanced!

Anyone used the 16-35 for weddings AND landscape work.

Im toying witht he idea of primes but i do like the flexibility of the zoom...

All thoughts / opinions welcome....

Thanks
 
thanks mark.

I think the 16 35 would be used more on a regular basis.

Although ZEISS primes are pretty amazing!

anyone have one of these and use it regularly?
 
16-35 II is a great all round lens ...it isnt perfect but I love it as much as my 24-70 Canon.

I dont know the other two you mention but if funds stretch to both the zoom and the fixed ? Then why not eh lol
 
funds are stretching to one of them.....just.....and thats if i can get a good one second hand.

I had a look on flickr at shots taken with it and thhey look good but i can never trust flickr
 
16-35mm, great lens
 
funds are stretching to one of them.....just.....and thats if i can get a good one second hand.

I had a look on flickr at shots taken with it and thhey look good but i can never trust flickr

If you trust flickr 16-35mm won't be truly sharp till f/8 towards the edges, apparently due to very curved field of focus. Zeiss 21mm is scarily sharp on the other hand, but only as long as the focus is spot on. For weddings, in my experience, anything wider than 24mm are barely needed - a shot of interior, exterior and it's done
 
interesting.

i want to use it for weddings, and landscape so sharp at F8 is fine, but would prefer sharp at 2.8.

I have read a few technical reviews etc and whilst thats great, theres no better place than on here for real world examples. Would anyone have a couple of examples of this lens used for weddings / landscape at F2.8 / F8 etc

If i get this im putting up my sigma 10 20 which i used on a 40D. Im trying to move to all full frame and L lenses....

Thanks again all
 
Having had Nikons 14-24, the 16-35 II isn't as good as it in the edges, however, it's definitely sharp in and around the centre at F2.8


Ian Taylor by GazMortonPhoto, on Flickr
 
Perfect

Thats a great example and has confirmed what i hoped really. To be honest, and thinkig about how the lens would be used, if im shooting at 2.8 the subject will be (generally) fairly central and the edges will be back ground and blurred.

I wouldnt use it for a flat composition i dont think where i would want all areas sharp.

Im thinking, for example, bride and groom with guests. B&G centre and sharp whilst guests / venue is background / blurred.

Is version 2 much better than the origial V1?

Thanks again
 
Never used the MK I myself but internet reports are that it's quite an improvement.
 
Does the lee filter system fit the 16-35 mark2

If not, does anyone recomend a 10 stop filter and / or filter kit for this?

Rgds
Greg
 
Hi

I recently got a new 16-35II from Panamoz (I know other suppliers are available !) and this lens seems noticeably sharper than the 3/4 year old version I had a short while back.

I'm a big fan of buying used lenses but wonder whether Canon have improved their game a bit on manufacturing this lens recently ? If buying again I would definitely get another new copy ofr VERY recent version.

Obviously this FL gives a fantastic walkabout FL on the OPs crop body as well !

Just a thought.

Gary
 
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Hi

I recently got a new 16-35II from Panamoz (I know other suppliers are available !) and this lens seems noticeably sharper than the 3/4 year old version I had a short while back.

I'm a big fan of buying used lenses but wonder whether Canon have improved their game a bit on manufacturing this lens recently ? If buying again I would definitely get another new copy ofr VERY recent version.

Obviously this FL gives a fantastic walkabout FL on the OPs crop body as well !

Just a thought.

Gary

probably the previous was not calibrated properly and this one is better. Maybe canon did improve their quality control, or maybe it is the same lottery
 
hi

the one im aiming to get is off someone second hand who has had it for a year and they are a pro so im expecting it to be a good copy.

Rgds
 
If the seller is a trusted colleague then I cannot fault you. Just ask to see some images taken with it...Also maybe worth taking your laptop and body with you and do some real time shots with the lens. Then take a look on the laptop. I did this with my Ipad 3 when I purchased my 16-35mm ....Dont forget your card reader. lol

I hired a MK1 from a Leeds rental emporium and wasn't eally impressed with it but I subsequently hired the MK2 twice from a Southern outlet and was very happy with it... On the third rental, they could not supply me so I went out and bought one. I contacted the seller on that well know auction site and went and purchased from their house. It was there that I carried out the test shots and viewed on the IPAD.
 
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cheers tugster, good advice.:thumbs:

I have seen some shots done with it and the current owner is not afraid of taking stuff back to the shop if its not up to standard. (he did this with a 50mm and another lens and exchanged them for other copies)

they also dont buy from the web, only stores where they can get hands on so im confident in its quality, but do agree that i will test before i buy. You can never be too carefull when shelling out that kind of cash.

rgds
 
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