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 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 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 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX with a length of 78mm, is 35mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 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 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX weighs 610g, 0% (5g) lighter than the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM's weight of 615g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM and the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 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 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 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 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 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 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX has a focal range of 17-135mm and 7.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 27.2-216mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.