Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM vs Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM — Which Is Better?

The Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM and the Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM are both L-series zooms for Canon EOS full-frame bodies, so either fits the same EF-mount cameras. The 2014 16-35mm covers ultra-wide angles for architecture and landscapes, while the 2012 24-70mm spans the standard range from group shots to portraits.

The 16-35mm is the lighter carry at 615 g, against 805 g for the 24-70mm, a 190 g saving that matters on long hikes or all-day travel. Their length is effectively the same, at 112.8 mm versus 113 mm.

The 16-35mm takes 77 mm filters and the 24-70mm takes 82 mm, so a polariser or ND filter that fits one will not fit the other directly. The 24-70mm is also slightly wider at 89 mm against 82.6 mm.

The 16-35mm is the one for ultra-wide work, going as wide as 16 mm for interiors, architecture and sweeping landscapes, while the 24-70mm reaches 70 mm for portraits and tighter framing at events. The 24-70mm then holds f/2.8 across its whole range, brighter than the 16-35mm's constant f/4, which helps blur portrait backgrounds and keep shutter speeds up in dim light.

The 16-35mm also focuses closer, at 28 cm against 38 cm, for filling the frame with foreground detail, and its maximum magnification of 0.23x just edges the 24-70mm's 0.21x. Its zoom is internal, so the barrel stays the same length while zooming.

The 16-35mm is the better handheld pick for dim interiors and dusk cityscapes, offering image stabilisation rated at 4 stops. The 24-70mm II has no stabilisation, so handheld low-light work there leans on its f/2.8 aperture or a higher ISO.

The 24-70mm answers with a zoom lock that keeps the barrel from creeping when carried pointed down, which the 16-35mm does not offer. Both are weather sealed for shooting outdoors, and both front elements have a fluorine coating that makes dust and smudges easier to wipe away.

The 16-35mm builds its wide view around three aspherical elements, which help correct distortion, and it uses internal focusing so the barrel never extends while focusing. The 24-70mm carries one aspherical element for its own range.

For colour fringing, the 16-35mm uses two low-dispersion elements in its 16-element, 12-group construction, while the 24-70mm's 18 elements in 13 groups include one low-dispersion element and one super-low-dispersion element.