Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L USM vs Canon EF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM

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EF 16–35mm f/2.8L USM compared with EF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM

	CanonEF 16–35mm f/2.8L USM	CanonEF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM
Overview
Released
Released	December 2001	March 2016
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length
Focal length	16–35 mm	18–135 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/3.5–5.6
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22–36
Optical construction
Optical construction	Fourteen elements in ten groups	16 elements in 12 groups
Special elements
Special elements	Three aspherical elements, comprising ground-and-polished, replica and glass-moulded types, plus two UD elements according to Photozone	One UD and one aspherical element
Coatings
Coatings	–	Super Spectra coatings
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	–	Minimum f/22–36 with one-third-stop increments; f/22–38 with half-stop increments
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Seven blades; circular aperture according to both reviews	Seven blades with a circular aperture
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF-S
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	APS-C
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EF cameras with full-frame or APS-C sensors	Canon EF-S mount APS-C cameras
Adaptor support
Adaptor support	–	Canon UK supports EOS M cameras with an EF-EOS M mount adaptor
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.28 m	0.39 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.22×	0.28×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	–	Yes
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Ring USM autofocus with full-time manual focusing in One Shot AF according to Photozone	Nano USM; Canon claims up to 4.3× the STM predecessor's focus-lens driving speed when focusing from minimum distance to infinity at 135 mm through the viewfinder
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Floating optical system according to Photozone; non-rotating filter thread according to both reviews	Electronic manual focusing requires an awake camera; manual override in One-Shot AF requires a half-pressed shutter and enabled electronic manual focusing (The Digital Picture)
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	–	Maximum 0.28× at 135 mm
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	–	Four-stop optical Image Stabilizer with automatic panning detection
Video features
Video features	–	Optional PZ-E1 power zoom adaptor attaches beneath the lens (The Digital Picture)
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	No
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	77 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	83.5 mm	77.4 mm
Length
Length	103 mm	96 mm
Weight
Weight	600 g	515 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Separate focus and zoom rings, focus-mode switch and distance window	Focus and zoom rings; AF/MF, stabiliser and zoom-lock switches (The Digital Picture)
Zoom design
Zoom design	Constant outer length with some internal tube movement according to Photozone	Extends towards longer focal lengths; zoom lock retains the retracted position (The Digital Picture)
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Canon identifies water and dust resistance at the lens mount, switch panel, zoom ring and focusing ring	No full weather sealing or mount gasket (The Digital Picture)
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	–	77.4 mm maximum diameter × 96 mm length according to Canon Camera Museum
Lens hood
Lens hood	EW-83E hood and LP1319 soft pouch according to The Digital Picture	Optional EW-73D; optional LP1116 pouch (The Digital Picture)
In the box
In the box	Lens, hood and case according to Canon Camera Museum	Lens, E-67 II front cap, Lens Dust Cap E and user manual
Release detail
Release detail	Canon Camera Museum records December 2001 marketing; no first-sale day is given	Marketed in March 2016 according to Canon Camera Museum