Canon EF wide angle lenses

see also:

• Canon EOS camera system
• Canon EF lenses
• super wide angle lenses
• see Canon Australia prices
• NB. prices here are indicative only, I do not sell any lenses or cameras

• most seem to feel that older Canon's wide angle lenses don't really make the grade on full frame sensors
• Canon has attempted to remedy this by bringing out mark II versions and their unique 17mm tilt shift lens

• Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L USM:
  • 114deg angle of view; 0.25m macro; drop in filters; weather resistant; 5 blades; RRP $A4500; ($A2649 online)
  • significant purple fringing even at f/11 - see http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/14mm/14mm_test_5.html

• Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 fisheye:
  • 180deg diagonal field of view; 0.2m macro; drop in rear gelatin filters; 5 blades; RRP $A1500; ($A985 online)

• see Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L tilt shift lens

• Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM:
  • 94deg field of view; 0.25m macro; 72mm filters; 5 blades; used $US260; RRP $A1049;

• Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM:
  • 84deg field of view; 0.25m macro; 77mm filters; 7 blades; RRP $A2800; ($A1869 online)
  • this is a great lens although soft in the corners on full frame
  • it is now matched in image quality by Nikon's new 14-24mm f/2.8G which has better corner sharpness
    • see http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/nikon_14_24mm_1/nikon14_24mm_a.html

• Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM:
  • revised lens designed for more resolution and nicer bokeh

• announced Feb 2015
• 15 elements in 11 groups
• 9 rounded diaphragm blades
• close focus 9.8“
• new full-time manual focusing mechanism
• 3.2in X 3.6in and weight of 665 g
• $US849

• Canon EF 24mm f/2.8:
  • 84deg field of view; 0.25m macro; 58mm filters; 5 blades; RRP $A769;

• announced Feb 2012

• new mark II version

• for good star shapes in astro work, need to stop down to f/5.6 so may as well use the cheaper f/2.8 lens at f/5.6.

• announced Feb 2012

• a favorite prime lens for many pros. ($A1869 online)
• appears to be a lens specific issue with AF/MF switch tendency to be damaged - see here

• Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM:
  • 82mm filter allows polarisers without vignetting; weatherproofed; ($A2095 online)
  • corners almost as sharp as centre at f/4 on full frame but still soft wide open.
  • best resolution at 24mm but CA can be a problem
  • barrel distortion at 16mm
  • better image quality than the EF 17-40mm f/4L, but at 24-35mm, neither of these comes close to a EF 24-70mm f/2.8L
  • at last Canon has a lens that beats the Olympus OM 18mm but it still has problems in the corners on a full frame sensor.
  • http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_1635_28/index.htm
  • http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/canon1635ii_a/c1635ii_a1.html

• EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM:
  • 108 to 63deg angle of view; 0.28m macro; 77mm filters; weather resistant; 7 blades; RRP $A3200;
  • some vignetting wide open even on 1.6x crop; soft corners; lens flare and CA a problem;
  • prime focus lenses such as Zuiko 21mm easily beats this lens at f/8 see here
  • http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/16-35.shtml

• Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8L USM:
  • 77mm filter; $US900; 0.42m macro;
  • sharp from 20mm upwards and stopped down to f/3.5; big hood; does not focus as close as the 16-35mm;
  • vignetting and lens flare an issue on full frame at wide angle;

• Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM:
  • 74 to 29deg angle of view; 0.28m macro; 77mm filters or rear drop in; weather resistant; 7 blades; RRP $A1600; $US600-800 Ebay;
  • unfortunately significant distortion on the edges with full frame cameras.

• Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM:
  • 94 to 63deg angle of view; 0.34m macro; 77mm filters; 5 blades; RRP $A859;

• Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM:
  • RRP $A2700 great lens but no IS and its heavy.
  • reverse zooming mechanism with maximal extension at wide angle means lens hood is much more effective than the one on the 24-105mm
  • seems there is some variability in optical quality between lenses
  • http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_2470_28/index.htm

• announced Feb 2012, 10mm shorter than Mark I version; zoom lock for transit; weatherproofed;

• Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM:
  • 77mm filter; 670g; 3 stops IS; a great travel lens; RRP $A2000
  • similar image quality to the 24-70L but lighter, more range and IS thus better for stationery subjects whereas the f/2.8 on the 24-70mm means its better for moving subjects.
  • CA at wide angle f/4; not weather resistant; some vignetting on 5D at < 50mm focal length; more distortion than the 24-70mm.
  • http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/28-105.shtml
  • http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_24105_4_is/index.htm

• Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM:
  • RRP $A4400