Canon 16-35mm f2.8L III USM

amazon Canon 16-35mm f2.8L III USM reviews

Canon EF 16-35mm f / 2.8L III USM is the third ultra-wide angle zoom lens, also the latest in Canon’s 16-35mm focal range until now. This is a red L-series lens designed for professional users with the widest corners and the biggest opening, completely new design including both exterior and interior technologies.

This new lens is designed with a higher standard than the II lens and it is aimed at those with professional needs.

In contrast to history, we have the first 16-35mm f / 2.8L first generation 1 was born in 2001 and 7 years later it was replaced with 16-35mm f / 2.8L II USM 2nd generation, in 2014, Canon will launch the 16-35 f / 2.8, but they will not do that, instead they have launched 16 -35mm f / 4L IS USM with significant changes, more technology and image quality than the two older ones. By the time of this year, Canon has released a new 16-35mm f / 2.8L III USM lenses that coincide with the launch of Canon 5D Mark IV.

Design:

This 16-35mm f / 2.8L III USM lenses have had a one-time trial period and have a truly marvelous experience of exceptional quality and design appeal.

First look at the exterior of this Lens gen 3, as well as other Canon L lenses, this 16-35 is painted with a very good quality glossy black gloss, beautiful and sharp, durable, hard to scratch. About the design of the lens, the 16-35 model 3 still looks like the design of the previous two generations, is solid, heavy, with the lens nearly seamless design, but not divided into three parts. As seen on the life of 1.2 and also as the 4 was born two years ago, if you look outside then you can mistake it with Canon’s 24-70mm f / 2.8L is still available but it is still long than the 24-70 a little. The feel of the handset is solid, comfortable and the overall design is almost continuous for the feeling of not fingerprints to embrace the lens in action.

The 16.5mm f / 2.8L III USM lens is a new, more technologically-advanced lens than its predecessor, the 1/2, but with the f / 4 it’s gone. The IS shake correction function is also useful when shooting under low light conditions.

The focus ring is located near the bottom of the lens, like the new L lens recently, rotating the focus very smoothly with good speed and smooth rotation. The focus is very smooth thanks to the motor focus in the USM (Ultrasonic Motor), only hear the sound when the focus is very small if the environment is very quiet, the next person will not hear anything, AF_FTM (Full Time Manual) and AF Microadjustment (front) for fine-tuning the focus while AF. The focus is very accurate, has been almost perfect, not as much deviation as 16-35 f / 2.8 II, when the focus has to focus multiple times, especially in low light environment.

where can you get a Canon 16-35mm f2.8L III USM online

Canon 16-35mm f2.8L III USM: Buy it now

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens (0573C002) with Sandisk Extreme PRO SDXC 128GB UHS-1 Memory Card, Up to 95/90MB/s Read/Write Speed: Buy it now

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Zoom Lens with 3 UV/CPL/ND8 Filters + Flash Diffusers + Sling Strap + Kit: Buy it now

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Zoom Lens with 3 UV/CPL/ND8 Filters + Pistol Grip Tripod + Kit: Buy it now

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens 0573C002 + 82mm 3 Piece Filter Kit + 82mm Macro Close Up Kit + Deluxe Cleaning Kit + Lens Pen Cleaner + Fibercloth + Lens Capkeeper Bundle: Buy it now

In terms of optical composition, the 16-35mm f / 2.8L III USM is designed with 16 lenses gathered in 11 glass groups which include a large glass-molded molded front lens with a dielectric component double sided and one aspheric lens at the bottom; There are 9 rounded octaves, more than 2 leaves compared to the second one with only seven leaves giving the image with nice smooth bokeh when opening large and giving 18 beautiful beams and even when taken directly to strong light sources. like the sun or light bulb, the sharpest beam as the aperture closes.

There is also an equally important technology on this lens, which is equipped with three new Fluorine coatings, SWC (Sub-Wavelength) and Air-Sphere coatings (ASC), in which the Fluorine coating On the front and back of the lens, it reduces fingerprints, dirt and water, easier to clean if it is sticky, Air Sphere and Subwavelenth coatings reduce flare and ghosting image. With a structure like this, 16-35 gives the ability to produce high-quality images that edge out to the edge of the image in much higher detail and sharpness, with newer coatings better for Allows the image to capture more, limiting the phenomenon of flare and ghost phenomenon, but certainly will not be able to eliminate it completely.

With ultra-wide focal lengths of 16mm to 35mm, this focal spot is suitable for a wide variety of photography such as wedding, landscape, event, especially with a large aperture of f / 2.8. More sensors, which help to catch most of the cases when the light is too low and the speed is pushed down while it also helps to clear the background with a nice smooth bokeh, especially when moving the focus towards the direction 35mm.

In short, this is a pipe worth investing to replace the gen 2 or gen 1 was born from 2007, while many are still wondering between 16-35mm f / 2.8L III USM and 16 -35mm f / 4L IS USM, you can choose to have aperture f / 2.8 with aperture greater than 2 f / 4 compared to a f / 4 while the price is about two times higher: The lack of brightness and high speed with a maximum aperture of f2.8, will see this lens worth.

Key Features

Wide Aperture

The lens’s constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is one of its most notable features. This wide aperture provides several benefits:

• Low-Light Performance: The f/2.8 aperture allows for better performance in low-light conditions by letting in more light. This is particularly useful for indoor photography or during twilight hours.
• Depth of Field Control: The wide aperture enables creative control over depth of field, allowing photographers to achieve a shallow depth of field and isolate subjects from the background.
• Consistent Aperture: Unlike some zoom lenses with variable apertures, the f/2.8 aperture remains constant throughout the zoom range, ensuring consistent exposure and depth of field control at any focal length.

Ultra-Wide Focal Length

The 16-35mm focal length range provides a versatile wide-angle perspective. This makes the lens suitable for a variety of photography styles:

• Landscape Photography: The wide-angle coverage allows for capturing expansive landscapes and sweeping vistas.
• Architecture Photography: The lens is ideal for photographing buildings and interiors, where wide angles are necessary to capture large spaces.
• Interior Photography: The wide focal length helps to capture the full scope of interior spaces, making it a valuable tool for real estate and interior design photography.

Optical Design

The Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM features an advanced optical design with 16 elements in 11 groups. This design includes several high-quality lens elements to ensure superior image quality:

• Aspherical Elements: The lens incorporates aspherical elements that help to correct various types of optical aberrations, including spherical aberration and distortion. This results in sharper images with reduced aberrations.
• UD Elements: Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) elements are used to minimize chromatic aberration and color fringing, ensuring better color accuracy and contrast.
• Super Spectra Coating: The lens is coated with Canon’s Super Spectra Coating, which helps to reduce lens flare and ghosting while enhancing color contrast and clarity.

Autofocus System

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM features an Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for autofocus. The USM system provides fast, accurate, and virtually silent focusing. The lens also includes a full-time manual focus override, allowing photographers to make fine adjustments to focus even while the lens is in autofocus mode.

Image Stabilization

Unlike some other wide-angle lenses, the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM does not include image stabilization (IS). While image stabilization is often useful for telephoto lenses or low-light shooting, the wide-angle nature of this lens reduces the need for IS. Additionally, many photographers using wide-angle lenses often shoot at faster shutter speeds, which further mitigates the need for IS.

Performance

Image Quality

The Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is renowned for its excellent image quality. The lens delivers sharp, detailed images with impressive clarity. The advanced optical design effectively reduces various types of optical aberrations, ensuring high-quality results across the zoom range.

• Sharpness: The lens is sharp across the frame, with minimal softness at the edges. The image quality remains consistently high even when shooting wide open at f/2.8.
• Distortion and Chromatic Aberration: The lens exhibits minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. The aspherical and UD elements effectively correct these issues, providing accurate and true-to-life color reproduction.
• Flare and Ghosting: The Super Spectra Coating reduces lens flare and ghosting, contributing to better contrast and color accuracy. This is especially beneficial when shooting in challenging lighting conditions, such as backlit scenes.

Autofocus Performance

The USM autofocus system in the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM provides fast and accurate focusing. The lens’s autofocus performance is reliable in various shooting scenarios, including low-light environments and fast-moving subjects.

• Speed: The lens focuses quickly and efficiently, making it suitable for capturing dynamic scenes and spontaneous moments.
• Accuracy: The autofocus system is precise, ensuring that subjects are in sharp focus. The full-time manual focus override allows for fine-tuning adjustments when needed.

Bokeh Quality

While the primary focus of the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is wide-angle photography, the lens’s aperture design also affects bokeh quality. The lens’s nine-blade circular aperture helps to produce a pleasing bokeh effect, with smooth and rounded out-of-focus areas. This can be advantageous when isolating subjects in wide-angle compositions or achieving creative effects.

Build and Handling

The Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is designed with professional photographers in mind. The lens’s build quality is solid and well-engineered, providing a comfortable and reliable shooting experience.

• Handling: The lens is well-balanced and comfortable to use, even during extended shooting sessions. The focus and zoom rings are smooth and responsive, contributing to precise control over composition and focus.
• Size and Weight: While the lens is not excessively heavy, it is larger than some other wide-angle zoom lenses. However, its build quality and performance justify the size and weight, making it a valuable tool for serious photographers.

Real-World Applications and Examples

Landscape Photography

The Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is a fantastic choice for landscape photography due to its wide focal length and sharpness across the frame. The lens’s wide field of view allows photographers to capture sweeping vistas and dramatic landscapes with minimal distortion. The lens’s sharpness and high-quality optics ensure that even the smallest details in the scene are rendered clearly.

Example: A panoramic shot of a mountain range, where the wide-angle perspective captures the grandeur of the landscape. The lens’s sharpness helps in rendering fine details like the textures of the rocks and the delicate hues of the sky.

Architecture and Interior Photography

In architecture and interior photography, the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM excels by providing a broad view of large structures and indoor spaces. The lens’s wide-angle perspective is essential for capturing the full scope of buildings and interiors, while its advanced optical design ensures minimal distortion and high image quality.

Example: Photographing the interior of a historic building, where the wide angle allows for capturing the entire room without having to reposition the camera. The lens’s sharpness and color accuracy help in showcasing the architectural details and design elements.

Night Photography

The f/2.8 aperture of the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM makes it suitable for night photography. The wide aperture allows for faster shutter speeds and better performance in low-light conditions, helping to capture cityscapes, star trails, and other nighttime scenes with clarity.

Example: A nighttime cityscape with bright lights and long exposures. The lens’s ability to handle low-light situations and minimize flare and ghosting ensures that the city lights are captured with vibrant colors and sharp details.

Action and Event Photography

While not primarily a lens for fast-moving subjects, the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM can still be effective for capturing dynamic events. Its wide angle allows for a broad view of action scenes, and the fast aperture helps in maintaining sharpness even in challenging lighting conditions.

Example: A wide-angle shot of a sports event or concert, where the lens captures the energy of the scene and the crowd. The wide field of view and low-light performance help in documenting the event with vivid details.

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Wide Aperture: The constant f/2.8 aperture provides excellent low-light performance and creative control over depth of field.
2. Sharpness: The lens delivers outstanding image quality with sharpness across the frame, making it suitable for professional use.
3. Weather Sealing: The weather-resistant construction allows for use in various environmental conditions, providing added durability.
4. Build Quality: The robust construction and comfortable handling make the lens reliable for extended use.
5. Versatility: The 16-35mm focal length range offers versatility for a wide range of photographic applications, from landscapes to architecture.

Cons

1. Price: The lens is relatively expensive, which may be a consideration for those on a tighter budget.
2. Size and Weight: The lens is larger and heavier than some other wide-angle zoom lenses, which might be cumbersome for some users.
3. Lack of Image Stabilization: The lens does not feature image stabilization, which could be a disadvantage for handheld shooting in low-light situations, though its wide aperture helps mitigate this issue.
4. No Touchscreen or Advanced Features: Unlike some newer lenses, the 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM does not include advanced features such as touchscreen controls or built-in filters.

Conclusion

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM lens is a top-tier wide-angle zoom lens that offers exceptional performance, build quality, and versatility. Its combination of a constant f/2.8 aperture, wide focal length range, and advanced optical design makes it a valuable tool for a variety of photographic applications.

Whether you’re a professional photographer or a serious enthusiast, the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM provides outstanding image quality and reliability. Its wide aperture enhances low-light performance and creative control, while its sharpness and color accuracy ensure that images are rendered with clarity and detail.

While the lens is on the higher end of the price spectrum and may be larger and heavier than some alternatives, its performance and durability justify the investment. The weather-sealed construction adds an extra layer of protection, making it suitable for challenging shooting conditions.

In summary, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is a premier choice for those seeking a high-performance wide-angle zoom lens. Its combination of optical excellence, build quality, and versatile focal length range makes it a valuable addition to any photographer’s toolkit.