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 12-28mm f4 Pro DX 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 12-28mm f4 Pro DX with a length of 90mm, is 23mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tokina 12-28mm f4 Pro DX has a larger diameter of 84mm 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 12-28mm f4 Pro DX weighs 530g, 13% (85g) 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
Both the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM and the Tokina 12-28mm f4 Pro DX have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM and the Tokina 12-28mm f4 Pro DX 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 12-28mm f4 Pro DX is also available in Nikon F (DX) 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 12-28mm f4 Pro DX has a focal range of 12-28mm and 2.3X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 19.2-44.8mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.