The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 and the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM 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 Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 with a length of 84mm, is 29mm shorter. On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has a larger diameter of 87mm 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. Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 weighs 470g, which means it is 145g (23%) lighter than the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM which has a weight of 615g.
Filter Threads
The Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 and the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM 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.
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is also available in Pentax KAF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 18mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
28.8mm.
On the other hand, the 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.