16-35

By: Fred Miranda
NOTE: The image samples are 100% crops of full images. There was NO image editing performed to any of the below crops. I only resized and sharpened thumbnail examples to better represent how the images should look in real life.
All full size images were 16-bit Tiffs converted from RAW files. The parameters used were: Normal sharpness, Normal contrast and Normal saturation.
Introduction
Prior to the release of the new 16-35mm f/2.8L, the Canon 17-35mm f/2.8L lens was the professional photographer's only choice for the ultra wide zoom range. Both are excellent choices considering the flexibility and image quality they provide.
However, some people have expressed negative comments about the 17-35L, particularly about the image quality when shooting wide open. I found that the 17-35L can sometimes produce soft images when certain focal lengths are combined with large apertures. For example, when shot at 35mm f/2.8, images are noticeably softer then when shot at 20mm f/2.8...