Canon EF EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM 16-35mm
The constant f/4 aperture and 4-stop Optical Image Stabilizer deliver sharp, consistent results across the 16-35mm focal range. Weather-sealed construction with fluorine coatings and a lightweight 21.7oz body make it rugged yet portable for on-the-go shooting. It's best for landscape and wildlife photographers who value a weather-resistant wide-angle zoom with fast, quiet autofocus.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
Score slid from 88 to 75. User sentiment dipped to 80/100. Fresh rivals like the Sigma 16-300mm and Tamron 18-300mm bring more versatility. The Nikon 28-400mm and Viltrox 13mm F1.4 also shake things up. This lens is no longer the easy pick it once was.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews — so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 110 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 16 |
| Focal Length Max | 35 |
| Elements | 16 |
| Groups | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 |
| ED Elements | 2 |
| Coating | Super Spectra coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | 22 |
| Min Aperture | 4 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.4 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 77 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | USM |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 280 |
| Max Magnification | 0.23x |
vs Competition
| Spec | Canon EF EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM 16-35mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR | Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES50200 | Sony E SELP1650 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 16-35mm | 16-300mm | 18-300mm | 28-400mm | 50-200mm | 16-50mm |
| Max Aperture | 22 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Canon EF | Sony E | Fuji X | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | false | true | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 615 | 615 | 92 | 726 | 655 | 116 |
| AF Type | USM | HLA | VXD linear motor | STM | linear motor | Stepping motor |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | telephoto | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EF EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM 16-35mm | 94.5 | 28.4 | 58.3 | 34.6 | 90.1 | 24.5 | 37.3 | 75.5 | 91.7 | 92.5 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.9 | 84.6 | 58.3 | 85.9 | 98.9 | 77.5 | 0 | 99.6 | 78 | 99 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.2 | 75.5 | 96.4 | 87.8 | 74.3 | 77.5 | 30.3 | 99.2 | 83.1 | 81.1 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Compare | 86.6 | 78.4 | 50.8 | 81.2 | 97 | 71.8 | 0 | 98.9 | 83.1 | 98.2 |
| Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES50200 Compare | 98.2 | 86.4 | 54.6 | 22.8 | 95.9 | 84.1 | 91.7 | 88.3 | 65.9 | 96.3 |
| Sony E SELP1650 Compare | 86.6 | 75.5 | 93.6 | 35.1 | 64.4 | 77.5 | 63.6 | 83.5 | 74.1 | 92.5 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Amazon 2 offers From $674
Newegg 9 offers From $930
Adorama 1 offers From $1,149
B&H Photo 1 offers From $1,149
Price History
Read more
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you want the best zoom range for your dollar. The Sigma 16-300mm and Tamron 18-300mm cover more ground. If you shoot Nikon Z, the 28-400mm is a smarter long-term bet. Astro and wide-angle shooters should grab the Viltrox 13mm F1.4 instead.
Verdict
The score drop reflects a tougher market. New glass from Sigma, Tamron, and Nikon offers more range or speed for similar money. This lens still has its moments, but the competition caught up fast. If you already own it, you are fine. If you are buying new, look at the updated top 5 before swiping your card.
