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 Voigtlander 20mm F3.5 SL II 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 Voigtlander 20mm F3.5 SL II with a length of 29mm, is 84mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 83mm compared to the Voigtlander 20mm F3.5 SL II's 63mm 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. Voigtlander 20mm F3.5 SL II weighs 205g, 66% (410g) lighter than the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM's weight of 615g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Voigtlander 20mm F3.5 SL II has a 52mm 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 52mm filters that we recommend for the Voigtlander 20mm F3.5 SL II:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM and the Voigtlander 20mm F3.5 SL II has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K.
Voigtlander 20mm F3.5 SL II is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Pentax KAF mounts.
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 Voigtlander 20mm F3.5 SL II is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 20mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 32mm.
