The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Venus 12mm f2.8 MF and the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM 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. Venus 12mm f2.8 MF is the longer of the two lenses at 77mm. The Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM with a length of 40mm, is 37mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Venus 12mm f2.8 MF also has a larger diameter of 77mm 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, 65% (315g) lighter than the Venus 12mm f2.8 MF's weight of 480g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Canon RF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Canon RF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Venus 12mm f2.8 MF has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM has a 43mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Venus 12mm f2.8 MF:
And these are the 43mm filters that we recommend for the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Venus 12mm f2.8 MF and the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM has the same Canon RF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon RF lenses are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50.
Venus 12mm f2.8 MF is also available in the Sony E , Nikon Z and Leica L mounts.
Focal Range
Venus 12mm f2.8 MF is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 12mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
18mm.
On the other hand, the 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.
