The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tokina AT-X 14-20mm F2 Pro DX and the Canon 35mm f2 IS 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. Tokina AT-X 14-20mm F2 Pro DX is the longer of the two lenses at 106mm. The Canon 35mm f2 IS USM with a length of 63mm, is 43mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tokina AT-X 14-20mm F2 Pro DX also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Canon 35mm f2 IS USM's 78mm 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 35mm f2 IS USM weighs 335g, 53% (390g) lighter than the Tokina AT-X 14-20mm F2 Pro DX's weight of 725g.
Filter Threads
The Tokina AT-X 14-20mm F2 Pro DX has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Canon 35mm f2 IS USM has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tokina AT-X 14-20mm F2 Pro DX:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 35mm f2 IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tokina AT-X 14-20mm F2 Pro DX and the Canon 35mm f2 IS USM 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 AT-X 14-20mm F2 Pro DX is also available in the Nikon F (DX) mount.
Focal Range
Tokina AT-X 14-20mm F2 Pro DX has a focal range of 14-20mm and
1.4X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
22.4-32mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 35mm f2 IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 35mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 56mm.