Wide Canon L choice: 14L II 2.8 or 16-35 II 2.8

[Michael_pfh]

I have tried the Zeiss 21mm on my colleague's 5D3 and was quite impressed. However, it won't be that much wider than the 24mm you currently got. The 16-35 II is good but definitely not as good/sharp as the Zeiss 21mm and Zeiss 15mm which got much less distortion as well. Cannot comment on the 14L but what I read about it so far was all extremely positive.

[Daniel Flather]

I'll recommend the ef 20mm f1.8 L ....oh, wait.

[@!ex]

5) filters.  "what?" you say, "but mr knowitall K dbag says that the zeiss is superior because it takes filters and the 14 mm does not".  While it does take screw on filters, this is not what you want with an ultra wide, you want sliding plate filters for landscapes, not vignette inducing, non-horizon-shifting screwons.  in order to get these plate filters you need a lee, or cokin, or lucroit (I just ordered the lucroit holder with the adapter for the 14mm, and a reverse grad ND and 10 stop ND, anxiously awaiting arrival) system to attach the plate holder to the lens, and you need a nice tight couple to the glass, which seems like it would be impossible with the zeiss because of the huge protruding petals on the front element.

Not to mention the Zeiss takes 95mm filters.  I thought 82mm were expensive, who knows how much 95's are.  So do you have the filter adapter for the 14mm?  I know they have that little spot for them on the back of the lens, but I don't even know where to get those type of filters.

Ya the back gels don't have much flexibility, so I go the Lucroit system.  An engineer in spain came up with a filter holder that goes beyond anything Lee or cokin has, in that it is for mono block UWA lenses that are too wide for any conventional filter holder system (adaptors are available for the nikon 14-24, canon 14, and a bunch of the samyang and sigma UWA and fisheyes) .  I just got it in the mail yesterday along with a cool new piece of black glass (10 stop ND) .  All the filters for this system are 165mm and made by HiTech.  I'm going to get a reverse ND grad next.  I just unboxed it and put it on, now I'm off to go play, just need to find some water to shoot...

[terrellcwoods]

I had this same exact question a few months back and lik you I do not make money doing this. The recommendation that I got was overwhelmingly to get 16-35. And they were right. For the money and its versatility I have been extremely happy with the choice. The fact is i rented first before I bought!

[nightbreath]

I find that even if I have a full range of focal lengths I am only really be able to "think" and see in subsets of these ranges, and I find that if given the chance to zoom in or out I would often take the safest, most simple composition, which is often boring and usually not that creative.

I agree with that. However you can use zoom and limit yourself by choosing only 3 focal lengths for example (16mm, 24mm and 35mm in this case). Framing using zoom ring gives really bad results for me, because you stop using compression creatively, you just moving your ring.

I'm using this approach, because I have only a zoom lens that covers wide angle, however I'm planning to buy 14mm when I have budget 

Here's one zoom-lens shot for now:

[arcanej]

@!ex,

I love the pictures you posted. What software do you use for HDR? Thank you!

[@!ex]

@!ex,

I love the pictures you posted. What software do you use for HDR? Thank you!

Thanks.  I use the old standby, photomatix.

[AndreiD]

Hello guys,

I decided after all to go with the 16-35 despite the x2 price. I'm not sure now the cost is justifiable but i plan to keep those lenses for a very long long time, so i consider it a long term investment. Moreover, another user helped a lot by pointing out that the bigger aperture can be helpful in lower light conditions such as indoor real estate photography which i can use.

Thank you all for the kind replies

[IIIHobbs]

I decided after all to go with the 16-35 despite the x2 price. I'm not sure now the cost is justifiable but i plan to keep those lenses for a very long long time, so i consider it a long term investment.

You won't be disappointed. I originally had the 17-40, sold it when the 16-35 II came out. Much better results, especially indoors.

I have sold the 16-35 recently for the 24 f 1.4L II (change in image philosophy).

[Razor2012]

I just bought the 16-35II today.  So far I'm impressed with it, and lovin the 16mm wide end.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I just bought the 16-35II today.  So far I'm impressed with it, and lovin the 16mm wide end.

Mine shipped today, so it should be here by Friday.  I never warmed up to my 17-40mmL, so I am hoping I like this one.  Right now, I have a old Tokina 17mm f/3.5 Prime that I do like, but I have a use for the zoom.

[Razor2012]

I just bought the 16-35II today.  So far I'm impressed with it, and lovin the 16mm wide end.

Mine shipped today, so it should be here by Friday.  I never warmed up to my 17-40mmL, so I am hoping I like this one.  Right now, I have a old Tokina 17mm f/3.5 Prime that I do like, but I have a use for the zoom.

Nice.  I was hoping to get the 24-70II first but it's not happening.  I do like the UW end of it and should keep me happy for the next couple of months.

[@!ex]

I just bought the 16-35II today.  So far I'm impressed with it, and lovin the 16mm wide end.

Mine shipped today, so it should be here by Friday.  I never warmed up to my 17-40mmL, so I am hoping I like this one.  Right now, I have a old Tokina 17mm f/3.5 Prime that I do like, but I have a use for the zoom.

Nice.  I was hoping to get the 24-70II first but it's not happening.  I do like the UW end of it and should keep me happy for the next couple of months.

Just a prediction, and I'm not trying to be debbie downer.  You will use the wides end of the 16-24 90% of the time.  And as  time goes by, you will notice that you'll wish it was a bit wider...  Next thing you know you will be wishing for the 14... 

This aside, enjoy the new lens...

[Razor2012]

I just bought the 16-35II today.  So far I'm impressed with it, and lovin the 16mm wide end.

Mine shipped today, so it should be here by Friday.  I never warmed up to my 17-40mmL, so I am hoping I like this one.  Right now, I have a old Tokina 17mm f/3.5 Prime that I do like, but I have a use for the zoom.

Nice.  I was hoping to get the 24-70II first but it's not happening.  I do like the UW end of it and should keep me happy for the next couple of months.

Just a prediction, and I'm not trying to be debbie downer.  You will use the wides end of the 16-24 90% of the time.  And as  time goes by, you will notice that you'll wish it was a bit wider...  Next thing you know you will be wishing for the 14... 

This aside, enjoy the new lens...

Thanks, your probably right.  I'm hoping that Canon brings out a 14-24L.