Quick Take: Canon EF 16-35 F/4
INTRODUCTION
Here is a quick look at the Canon 16-35 f/4. I just got a new lens this summer and finally got around to writing up a bit of a review. My use is not what I would call extensive, but I got a good sense of it. I do not do the "scientific" test charts or consult all the technical data, as that is boring. So this is not an in depth review, but rather a few thoughts I have on it.
BUILD QUALITY
The new Canon 16-35 f/4 is really nicely built with a strong build. The lens is not metal, but it does have a decent amount of heft to it. The rubber rings are nicely dampened and the focusing ring is nice and large. The amount of rotation on the focusing ring is not long, but does not seem to hinder the ability to focus. This is not like a long focus throw from a manual focus Zeiss (I have the Zeiss EF mount 35 1.8), but it is not too short that it makes you have to turn the focus in small increments.
The lens hood is also nice. The hood includes a lock to keep the hood in place. Do not expect the lens hood to really protect the lens, since this is a wide-angle lens. It does do a nice job of cutting the flare down a bit, but it is not a miracle worker.
IMAGE QUALITY
The image quality from this lens is quite nice. The lens is not the sharpest of sharp lens, it is a zoom lens. The image quality is really nice, considering the fact that it is a zoom and quite inexpensive for this focal range.
This is shot at 16mm at f/4 on a Canon 5D Mark III
Also shot at 16 mm on a tripod from a Canon 5D Mark III.
The constant aperture at f/4 is also really nice to have when walking around. I do not have to worry about the aperture changing at different focal lengths. This is not f/2.8, but f/4 is still pretty big. If you are shooting landscapes, you should be using a tripod, so the aperture at f/4 is not going to negatively impact you.
OVERALL USABILITY
This lens is one of the best in this focal length. The lens is not small, but the weight and size nicely balance the camera. The IS on this lens is a bit unnecessary since this is a wide-angle, but if you really need the slow shutter speed, it does help out. I myself do not use this lens much handheld, so I cannot speak to the impact of the IS that much. However, it is nice that it is included.
FINAL WORD
This is the best Canon brand lens in this focal range for the price. The 17-40 is good, but this is sharper with IS, if you want that.
