The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM and the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L II 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 f2.8L II USM is the longer of the two lenses at 112mm. The Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM with a length of 40mm, is 72mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L II USM also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM's 69mm 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. Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM weighs 165g, which means it is 470g (74%) lighter than the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L II USM which has a weight of 635g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM has a filter size of 43mm whereas the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L II USM has a 82mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 43mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM:
And these are the 82mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L II USM:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L II USM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 16mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
25.6mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L II 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.
