Canon EF 16-35mm F/2.8L II USM vs Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM — Which Is Better?
Side by side43 specifications |
Canon · f/2.8 · Canon EF mount
Canon EF 16-35mm F/2.8L II USM
83
WINNER
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Canon · f/4 · Canon EF mount
Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM
76
SCORE
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| General | ||
Read the General ComparisonGeneralThe Canon EF 16-35mm F/2.8L II USM and the Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM are both Canon EOS L-series full-frame zoom lenses covering the same 16-35mm range for wide-angle landscape, architecture and reportage work. The F/2.8L II arrived in 2007, while the F/4L IS followed in 2014 with a slower maximum aperture but a different feature set. | ||
| Release Year | 2007 | 2014 |
Production Status ⓘCurrent status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued). |
 Discontinued |  In Production |
Version ⓘThe iteration or release number of a particular lens model. |
II | N/A |
Pro Branding ⓘSpecific branding codes used for professional-tier lenses. |
L | L |
Lens Mount ⓘThe lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras. |
Canon EF | Canon EF |
System ⓘIndicates which camera system the lens is designed to attach to. |
Canon EOS | Canon EOS |
Maximum Format ⓘLargest sensor size compatible with the lens. |
 Full Frame | Full Frame |
| Physical | 100/100 | 100/100 |
Read the Physical ComparisonPhysicalBoth lenses share the Canon EF mount and accept front filters, so either fits the same EOS bodies. The filter sizes differ, so the F/2.8L II takes 82mm filters while the F/4L IS takes the smaller 77mm size, meaning each needs its own directly fitting polarisers and ND filters. The F/4L IS is the lighter and slimmer lens for a travel kit, at 615 g against 635 g and 82.6 mm across against 89 mm. Length is nearly identical at 112.8 mm versus 112 mm. | ||
| Lens Weight | 635 g | 615 g |
Lens Diameter ⓘWidth of the lens at its widest point |
89 mm | 82.6 mm |
Lens Length ⓘHow long the lens is from front to back. |
112 mm | 112.8 mm |
Front Filter Compatible ⓘSome lenses are compatible with front filters, some are compatible with back filters and some are compatible with both. Front filters are usually more convenient to add and remove. |
 Yes | Yes |
Front Filter Size ⓘDiameter of attachable filters. |
82 mm | 77 mm |
| Optics | 77/100 | 71/100 |
Read the Optics ComparisonOpticsThe F/2.8L II is the stronger choice for dim interiors and wedding receptions, because its f/2.8 maximum aperture holds across the zoom range. The F/4L IS tops out at f/4 throughout, which favours tripod-based landscape shooting over handheld low-light work. The zoom range and close focus match, at 16-35mm with a 0.9 ft minimum distance, so both serve tight interior frames and foreground-detail compositions. The F/4L IS offers fractionally higher maximum magnification, 0.23x against 0.22x, and its diaphragm uses 9 blades against 7. | ||
Focal Range ⓘShortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end ) |
16–35 mm | 16–35 mm |
Aperture Range ⓘLargest aperture at the lens's shortest focal length to longest focal length (aperture range start - end) |
2.8 | 4 |
| Focal Length Angle of View | 107.03°–63.44° | 107.03°–63.44° |
Flange Focal Distance ⓘDistance from lens mount to sensor. |
44 mm | 44 mm |
Diaphragm Type ⓘStructure and design of the aperture |
 Automatic | Automatic |
Blades ⓘNumber of diaphragm blades in aperture |
7020 | 9020 |
Zoom Lens ⓘZoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups |
 Yes | Yes |
Zoom Mechanism ⓘSystem enabling zoom function |
 Manual | Manual |
Zoom Ring ⓘIf zooming is adjusted using a zoom ring |
 Yes | Yes |
Zoom Type ⓘThe design or approach to zooming |
 Rotary | Rotary |
Closest Focusing Distance ⓘMinimum distance for a subject to be in focus. |
28 cm01500 | 28 cm01500 |
Maximum Magnification ⓘLargest size a subject can be reproduced |
0.22x | 0.23x |
| Autofocus Mode |  Yes | Yes |
| Manual Mode |  Yes | Yes |
| Manual Focusing Ring |  Yes | Yes |
| Features | 32/100 | 73/100 |
Read the Features ComparisonFeaturesImage stabilisation is the headline difference for handheld shooters, because the F/4L IS offers a 4-stop stabilisation system while the F/2.8L II has none. For static subjects such as dusk cityscapes or church interiors, that stabilisation steadies handheld shots that would otherwise need a tripod. Both lenses carry weather sealing and skip a zoom lock and teleconverter support. The F/4L IS adds a fluorine coating on the front element, which repels water and oil and makes the glass easier to wipe clean after shoots in rain or sea spray. | ||
Weather Sealing ⓘWeather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions. |
 Yes | Yes |
Fluorine Coating ⓘCoating to repel water and oil from lens elements. |
No |  Yes |
| Built In Lens Hood | ✗ | ✗ |
| Lens Hood Type |  Petal | Petal |
Zoom Lock ⓘZoom lock allows the zoom ring to be locked at the desired focal length |
✗ | ✗ |
Teleconverter ⓘA teleconverter (extender) is an extra piece of equipment that fits between the lens and the camera body to enhance magnification |
✗ | ✗ |
| Image Stabilization | ✗ | ✓ |
IS Efficiency ⓘIS efficiency refers to the effectiveness of the image stabilization system in compensating for the blurring effects of camera shake, quantified by the number of stops of stabilization it provides. |
N/A | 4 stops |
| Construction | 31/100 | 54/100 |
Read the Construction ComparisonConstructionThe F/4L IS has the more elaborate optical design for aberration control, using 3 aspherical elements and 2 low-dispersion elements against 1 and 1 in the F/2.8L II. Both use 16 elements in 12 groups. The F/4L IS also uses internal focusing, so the lens barrel does not extend while focusing. The F/2.8L II does not, and neither lens uses a floating element system. | ||
Elements ⓘLens elements refer to individual pieces of glass within the lens. |
16 | 16 |
| Groups | 12 | 12 |
Aspherical Elements ⓘThe number of aspherical lens elements which can help correct aberrations such as spherical aberration. |
1 | 3 |
Bi Aspherical Elements ⓘElements with two non-spherical surfaces |
0 | 0 |
Low Dispersion ⓘElements that reduce chromatic aberration |
1 | 2 |
Super Low Dispersion ⓘAdvanced elements further reducing chromatic aberration |
0 | 0 |
CA Reduction ⓘBuilt-in features to reduce chromatic aberration |
0 | 0 |
Internal Focusing ⓘInternal Focusing means that the lens does not change in size during focusing, and the front element does not rotate. |
No |  Yes |
Read: Verdict
Verdict
Choose the Canon EF 16-35mm F/2.8L II USM for low-light wide-angle work such as event coverage in dim rooms, where its constant f/2.8 aperture gathers more light than the F/4 version.
For landscape, travel and architecture photographers, the Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM is the better pick for handheld work. Its 4-stop stabilisation, fluorine-coated front element and more elaborate aspherical and low-dispersion construction make it the more practical choice. If you need the f/2.8 aperture for light gathering, take the F/2.8L II instead.