Compare lenses

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM vs Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM and the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM if you want a brighter f/2.8 (1.0 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds. Pick the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM if you want optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM and the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM	Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
Maker	Canon	Canon
Focal length	16-35mm (zoom)	16-35mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	16-35mm	16-35mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8brighter	f/4
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF
Stabilised	no	yesstabilised
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	2.2×	2.2×
Weight	not listed	615 g
Cameras it fits	22 in this guide	22 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM: 16-35mm.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM: 16-35mm.

Aperture

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM: f/2.8 wide open.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM: f/4 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

22 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.