The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX and the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS 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 24-105mm F4L IS II is the longer of the two lenses at 118mm. The Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX with a length of 97mm, is 21mm 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. Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX weighs 610g, which means it is 185g (23%) lighter than the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II which has a weight of 795g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
Both the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX and the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II 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 Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX and the Canon 24-105mm F4L IS II has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3.
Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX is also available in Nikon F (DX) mount.
Focal Range
Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX has a focal range of 16-50mm and
3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
25.6-80mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the 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.