Product Description

The Canon EF 16-35mm ultra wide angle zoom offers an amazingly broad view, fast aperture, and close focusing down to 11 inches. The first EF wide angle zoom to combine three aspherical elements and Canon's UD glass, the lens provides superior image quality across its range, from within an almost impossibly compact form factor. Constructed to pro standards, the lens is highly resistant to dust and moisture.

Specifications: Zoom System - Rotating Type Filter Size - 77mm Dimensions 3.3W x 4.1L Weight - 1.3 pounds

Product Details

• Brand: Canon
• Model: EF 16-35mm f/2.8L
• Dimensions: 5.40" h x 5.50" w x 7.20" l, 1.31 pounds

Features

• EF mount; ultra-wide zoom lens
• Super Ultra-low Dispersion glass; inner focusing; aspherical lens; full-time manual focus
• 16-35mm focal length
• f/2.8 constant maximum aperture
• Micro UltraSonic Motor (USM)

From the Manufacturer
To meet the growing demand of digital SLR owners, this ultra-wide-angle zoom offers a broader view, fast aperture, and closer focusing down to 11 in. (.28m). The first EF wide-angle zoom to combine three Aspherical elements and Canon’s UD glass, the lens remains compact while providing superior image quality across its range. Constructed to pro standards, it’s also highly resistant to dust and moisture.

A superb lens that covers nearly every professional wide-angle task. Outstanding optical performance comes from three Aspherical lens elements, and (for the first time ever in an EF wide-angle zoom lens) two Ultra-low Dispersion UD elements. Weather resistant construction, a rear gel filter holder, close-focusing to 11 inches (0.28m), and a circular diaphragm are among its many highlights.

Customer Reviews

I use it to take pictures of buildings for work
Let me start out by saying I'm a hobbyist and photography is not how I make my living...

I work for a company that supplies structural steel to the commercial GC's all over Texas. I use this lens to take great pictures of buildings! I can get up close to the building and take a great picture with a lot of crisp detail in the foreground and bokeh in the background. Without it, I was using a 50 or 85mm and I would have to stand too far away and would loose the detail up close.

Limitation: One thing to note is that on a 10D, the lens is so big that the integrated camera flash will cast a shadow in your pictures. This is not a problem with my 30D (or with a speedlite), but it is a problem when my father uses it on his 10D and didn't want to take a speedlite.

Overall, I really like using this lens and use it a lot... in fact, it stays on my camera 85% of the time.

Excellent Lens
Although I am very new to the SLR world I made the jump right to this L series lens and I love it. Super sharp images, great color, very fast focus, and having 16mm to play with at the wide end is a lot of fun. There is definitely some light fall off at the corners with the aperture wide open, but stopped down it isn't really an issue. There is slight distortion at the widest angles but I kind of like that effect to I'm not bothered by it. I shoot a lot in overcast and dark conditions so the f/2.8 is great. The only thing I have been struggling with is flare in bright conditions. Pointed near the sun at 16mm even with the hood on you still have to be careful. Like I said, I don't have a lot of experience yet so I can't say if this is normal or not. The flaring isn't anything so damaging that it cannot be corrected in Photoshop. I'm extremely pleased with this lens!

Looks like this lens just became a dinosaur!
On Feb 22, 2007, Canon announced a "II" version of this lens that will correct the optical performance problems this lens has. The new lens has been completely redesigned, and will require MASSIVE 82mm filters. Yikes! I do not own this lens, as I am now waiting to see if the II version will be more expensive, or if this version will drop below $1000. As mentioned, the new version will require 82mm filters, which will be even more expensive than the filters the I version uses.

The II version has now been listed on Amazon. It looks like the II will be about $300 more, rather than this version dropping in price (so far).