Lens Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM

This lens is great for wide angle shots and you can't go wrong with a 35mm lens so I really like this range. The only thing I run into issues with is the end distortion (sometimes people like wider than usual) in photos but for the most part it's correctable in post production and editing. It's pretty lightweight and versatile. It's a good lens for your collection if you don't have a 35mm already.

This lens delivers exactly what we should expect from this third generation Canon wide-angle zoom: high quality and strong performance all the way to the corners. My main use is for family and, as to be expected, the lens will have a rather strong fisheye effect at the widest zoom and barrell at the narrowest. The lines are very straight at about 24mm. All deformations are very continuous and easy to correct/photoshop after shooting. Great all-around piece of equipment.

A Great Lens

I have nothing but praises to Canon for this lens. This lens covers all of my wide angle needs. The lens has some vignetting in the corners, but it is to be expected in a wide angle lens. This can always be corrected in post processing. The vignetting, I have found, is sometimes desirable.Other than the aforementioned trait, the lens performance is superb.A Great Lens!

Excellent lens for a wider perspective.

I went out on a limb buying this lens. Having just stepped back into photography with a 80D using my USM lenses from the early 90's I found that I needed a wide angle lens to compensate for the crop factor and to photograph projects in the tight confines of a machine shop. I considered the other L series lens in the range and decided to purchase this lens for the speed over image stabilization. Besides, who doesn't want to have at least one high end lens in their kit?I have not been disappointed.It produces excellent results inside a poorly lit building without using a flash. It's wide angle takes beautiful landscapes both on and off a tripod. It has also proven very handy taking pictures of school activities when the flash use is discouraged and fast moving ... MoreI went out on a limb buying this lens. Having just stepped back into photography with a 80D using my USM lenses from the early 90's I found that I needed a wide angle lens to compensate for the crop factor and to photograph projects in the tight confines of a machine shop. I considered the other L series lens in the range and decided to purchase this lens for the speed over image stabilization. Besides, who doesn't want to have at least one high end lens in their kit?I have not been disappointed.It produces excellent results inside a poorly lit building without using a flash. It's wide angle takes beautiful landscapes both on and off a tripod. It has also proven very handy taking pictures of school activities when the flash use is discouraged and fast moving children present a unique challenge to parents and photographers alike.Finally, I have one use for this lens that I am eagerly awaiting to pursue... I live in Alaska, and aurora season is upon us.

Outstanding Customer Service!

This was my first time using Lens Rentals and it certainly won't be the last. Everything was fantastic and the equipment was all in great shape. The best part about this company though was definitely the customer service. They were all fantastic and went above and beyond to help me when I needed it and treated me with care. I felt very valued as a customer and was very happy with the whole experience. I will certainly be renting again. Thank you so much!

Sharp but with drawbacks

Just some background information, I am a landscape photographer and I have been using this lens since it came out with the 5DSR. The major strength of this lens is that it is incredibly sharp corner to corner. I've also heard and read that this lens is a significant improvement over its predecessor. My personal problem with this lens (which DEFINITELY doesn't apply to everyone) is its heavy vignetting wide open. During the day of course it's easily fixed by stopping down or in post. However, the problem becomes much more obvious at night. I enjoy shooting a lot of astrophotography and was excited to find out that this lens renders stars very well-sharp, no evidence of coma. But due to the combination of the vignetting and the camera's limited dynamic range at high ... MoreJust some background information, I am a landscape photographer and I have been using this lens since it came out with the 5DSR. The major strength of this lens is that it is incredibly sharp corner to corner. I've also heard and read that this lens is a significant improvement over its predecessor. My personal problem with this lens (which DEFINITELY doesn't apply to everyone) is its heavy vignetting wide open. During the day of course it's easily fixed by stopping down or in post. However, the problem becomes much more obvious at night. I enjoy shooting a lot of astrophotography and was excited to find out that this lens renders stars very well-sharp, no evidence of coma. But due to the combination of the vignetting and the camera's limited dynamic range at high ISOs, any attempt at correcting the vignette in post would render unusable corners. In my case with the 5DSR, the corners become very very purple. After some testing and research, I found that the corners of the lens produce near 4 stops of vignetting! Another thing to take note of, I use this with a LEE filter system and the vignetting does get worse. So in conclusion, it's not a jack-of all trades landscape lens. If you shoot mainly during the day at low ISOs, then by all means, you will be incredibly satisfied with this lens. However, if you are like me and likes to venture out at night, then I would suggest looking somewhere else. Perhaps the new Tamron 15-30mm, which I don't own but has read raving reviews about.

Sharp throughout, great bokah

I picked up this lens a few weeks ago, having decided to sell a Canon EF 11-24 and having previously owned both the previous version of the 16-35 f/2.8 and the f/4 version (more compact for travel). It is superbly sharp throughout the frame on a full frame body, and a notable improvement over its previous version in corner sharpness. The bokah is pleasing and the 35 end at f/2.8 adds something to group portraits close up. Colors are also nice and crisp and I like the color balance. I decided to sell a Canon 11-24 based on it rarely being used at 11-15 mm and it being bigger and heavier with the bulbous front element and no ability to take filters. Being able to attach a polarizing or ND filter are big pluses for me on the 16-35. I also own a 35mm f/1.4 II prime ... MoreI picked up this lens a few weeks ago, having decided to sell a Canon EF 11-24 and having previously owned both the previous version of the 16-35 f/2.8 and the f/4 version (more compact for travel). It is superbly sharp throughout the frame on a full frame body, and a notable improvement over its previous version in corner sharpness. The bokah is pleasing and the 35 end at f/2.8 adds something to group portraits close up. Colors are also nice and crisp and I like the color balance. I decided to sell a Canon 11-24 based on it rarely being used at 11-15 mm and it being bigger and heavier with the bulbous front element and no ability to take filters. Being able to attach a polarizing or ND filter are big pluses for me on the 16-35. I also own a 35mm f/1.4 II prime and its sharpness is (not surprisingly) greater than the 16-35 f/2.8 at f/2.8 or greater. The prime's lack of versatility means that it is less often used.I've also played with and briefly owned the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G lens and recent full frame Sony bodies. The Sony was every bit as sharp as this lens (some may say sharper) but the bokah and colors were less pleasing to me. So even for landscapes I prefer the Canon version.

Super Easy, Super Awesome

Love renting from Lensrentals. I live in an area where there are no rental shops available within less than a 2-hour drive, so I started using Lensrentals. Receiving and shipping orders is made incredibly easy with the provided label and tape. The gear always arrives on time. The equipment is always in great condition. There's a wide selection of gear available to rent and it's always fairly priced. You can't beat it! Thanks Lensrentals!

Tested

While I have not used this lens on a job yet, I did spend a few days testing it. Having already seen scientifically done test data on-line, I did more of a real world eye test for sharpness and vignetting. Using a Canon 5ds and shooting at various focal lengths/aperture combinations, I compared the results side by side with my Canon 35mm f/1.4L. Surprisingly the 16-35mm outperformed the prime at certain settings and seemed to at least be equal at most others. So I am (almost) satisfied. Vignetting as reported, is dramatic, especially wide open. However, the newest Adobe Lightroom has correction settings for this lens that for most part fix the vignetting and the distortion. If you are not shooting raw, there is also in-camera correction available. Incidentally, I ... MoreWhile I have not used this lens on a job yet, I did spend a few days testing it. Having already seen scientifically done test data on-line, I did more of a real world eye test for sharpness and vignetting. Using a Canon 5ds and shooting at various focal lengths/aperture combinations, I compared the results side by side with my Canon 35mm f/1.4L. Surprisingly the 16-35mm outperformed the prime at certain settings and seemed to at least be equal at most others. So I am (almost) satisfied. Vignetting as reported, is dramatic, especially wide open. However, the newest Adobe Lightroom has correction settings for this lens that for most part fix the vignetting and the distortion. If you are not shooting raw, there is also in-camera correction available. Incidentally, I did have to make some minor tweaks for this lens in my 5Ds AF micro-adjustment settings. The main reason I am giving this lens a 4/5 is because in general, the 50megapixel resolution of the 5Ds has exceeded the capabilities of this Canon lens and others. Canon needs to step up its game with new lens designs to keep pace. Even if they cost more, there are those of us that will pay for the sharpness.

Worth the hefty price

I have used this lens for 8 months on my 5DIV and occasionally on my 7DII. Main use is for landscapes along with some night sky photography. I find it excellent for landscape work. If Im using it for candid people shots it acquires fast and accurate focus on both cameras, regardless of focus method Im using. Manual focus is a breeze, the focus ring is easy to adjust and feels just firm enough, not too sloppy or not too tight. Colors and contrast are excellent. If I do my job right images rarely require post work, with the exception of milky way and star images which usually need adjustments. Though this is not marketed as a night sky photography lens, it does a great job for me. Shooting wide open into the night sky.. this lens produces sharp images across the frame ... MoreI have used this lens for 8 months on my 5DIV and occasionally on my 7DII. Main use is for landscapes along with some night sky photography. I find it excellent for landscape work. If Im using it for candid people shots it acquires fast and accurate focus on both cameras, regardless of focus method Im using. Manual focus is a breeze, the focus ring is easy to adjust and feels just firm enough, not too sloppy or not too tight. Colors and contrast are excellent. If I do my job right images rarely require post work, with the exception of milky way and star images which usually need adjustments. Though this is not marketed as a night sky photography lens, it does a great job for me. Shooting wide open into the night sky.. this lens produces sharp images across the frame with crisp stars and foregrounds. I chose this lens over the 16-35 f/4 because I wanted the extra light gathering capabilities for twilight and night shooting and find that it does just what I wanted it to do.