The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II and the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L 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 24-105mm F4L IS II is the longer of the two lenses at 118mm. The Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM with a length of 103mm, is 15mm shorter. On the other hand, there is no difference between the max diameters of these lenses, both coming at 84mm.
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. Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM weighs 600g, 24% (195g) lighter than the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II's weight of 795g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II and the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM 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 24-105mm F4L IS II and the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L 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.
Focal Range
Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II has a focal range of 24-105mm and
4.4X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
38.4 - 168mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L 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.