Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III USM vs Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

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EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III USM compared with EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

	CanonEF 16–35mm f/2.8L III USM	CanonEF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Overview
Released
Released	October 2016	January 2007
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	16–35 mm	50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/1.2
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/16
Optical construction
Optical construction	Sixteen elements in eleven groups	Eight elements in six groups
Special elements
Special elements	Two large-diameter glass-moulded aspherical elements, one ground aspherical element and two UD elements	Large-diameter, high-precision aspherical glass element according to Canon's manual and Camera Museum
Coatings
Coatings	Air Sphere Coating and Subwavelength Structure Coating; front and rear fluorine coatings according to The Digital Picture	Super Spectra coating according to Canon UK's store
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine circular blades	Eight circular blades according to Canon Camera Museum
Angle of view
Angle of view	Horizontal 98°–54°; vertical 74°10′–38°; diagonal 108°10′–63°	46° diagonal, 40° horizontal and 27° vertical
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Full-frame and APS-C Canon EF DSLRs	Canon EF full-frame and APS-C cameras
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Extenders cannot be used; the manual also states that no compatible close-up lenses are available	EF 1.4X II and EF 2X II cannot be used according to Canon's manual
Adaptor support
Adaptor support	Canon UK lists EOS M use with the EF-EOS M mount adaptor	–
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.28 m	0.45 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.25×	0.15×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Ring USM with full-time manual override; keep the shutter half-pressed after autofocus when adjusting focus manually	Ring USM with mechanical full-time manual focus; Canon's manual permits adjustment after One Shot AF while holding the shutter button halfway
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	At 35 mm, EF12 II gives 0.65×–0.36× and EF25 II gives 1.14×–0.80×; both tubes are incompatible at 16 mm	EF12 II extension tube gives 0.24–0.39×; EF25 II gives 0.53–0.67×; Canon recommends manual focus with extension tubes
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	82 mm	72 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	88.5 mm	85.8 mm
Length
Length	127.5 mm	65.5 mm
Weight
Weight	790 g	580 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate zoom and focus rings, AF/MF switch and distance window	AF/MF switch, focusing ring, distance scale, depth-of-field scale and infrared index according to Canon's manual
Zoom design
Zoom design	Constant outer length with inner front-tube movement according to both reviews; the manual advises zooming before focusing	–
Filter detail
Filter detail	One front filter may be fitted; the manual specifies the 82 mm Canon PL-C B polariser and removing the hood for adjustment	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Sealed construction and rubber mount ring; the manual recommends an 82 mm Canon PROTECT filter for best dust and water resistance	Canon's manual requires a separately sold 72 mm Canon PROTECT filter for dust and water resistance because the front element moves when focusing; without the filter it is not dust or water resistant
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Length measured from the mount surface to the front; front and rear caps add 24 mm	85.8 mm diameter × 65.5 mm length according to Canon UK; manual measures length from the mount surface to the front, with caps adding 21.5 mm; Canon USA instead lists 85.4 mm diameter
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 790 g for the lens alone, excluding accessories, in Canon's instruction manual	Canon UK's specification page lists 580 g; its store, Canon Camera Museum and the manual list 590 g, while Canon USA lists 545 g lens-only; the manual states its weight excludes accessories
Lens hood
Lens hood	Reversible EW-88D hood with release button	Supplied ES-78 hood; reversible for storage according to Canon's manual
In the box
In the box	Lens, EW-88D hood, LP1222 case, E-82 II front cap, rear cap E and user manual	Lens, E-72U cap, Lens Dust Cap E, ES-78 hood, LP1214 case and user manual according to Canon UK's store
Release detail
Release detail	Canon Camera Museum records October 2016 marketing; no first-sale day is stated	Canon Camera Museum and Canon's 2021 retrospective record January 2007 release; the August 2006 Japanese announcement initially planned late November 2006