The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM and the Tokina 17-35mm f4 Pro FX for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 113mm. The Tokina 17-35mm f4 Pro FX with a length of 94mm, is 19mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tokina 17-35mm f4 Pro FX has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM's 83mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Tokina 17-35mm f4 Pro FX weighs 600g, 2% (15g) lighter than the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM's weight of 615g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Tokina 17-35mm f4 Pro FX has a 82mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM:
And these are the 82mm filters that we recommend for the Tokina 17-35mm f4 Pro FX:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM and the Tokina 17-35mm f4 Pro FX has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Tokina 17-35mm f4 Pro FX is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
Focal Range
Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM has a focal range of 16-35mm and
2.2X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
25.6 - 56mm.
On the other hand, the Tokina 17-35mm f4 Pro FX has a focal range of 17-35mm and 2.1X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 27.2 - 56mm.