Canon - 16-35 F/2.8 L USM

This is the "bread and butter" lens for photojournalists: One of Canon's widest-angle zoom lens. It's equivalent to a 21mm when used on my EOS1D Mark II (with a crop factor of 1.3). Close-focusing down to 11 inches at all focal lengths. It takes 77mm filters...the same size as the 70-200. Get a skylight or UV filter for the front...it will save you hundreds in repairs, should you break or scratch the front element.

This is a another sweet piece of glass. I rely on this lens every single day. Beautifully designed, rugged and weather resistant. The only complaint I have is the lens hood...unless you look down and line up the red dots, it's easy to mis-thread. Frankly, the lens hood on my 70-200 f/2.8 is equally as difficult to apply. Canon should take a lesson from Nikon in terms of hoods that are easy to put on. When I grab my Mark II out of the bag, and go to apply the lens hood (which is stored in a backward position) I should be able to do it, by feel, without looking, but often times I have to look down at the lens, and line up the dots. This may not sound like much, but as a photojournalist, you're approaching a scene, trying to determine where to get the best angle, where the action is going to be, you're checking the lighting and background and perhaps even stepping over debris, or whatever...having to take time to put your lens hood on is a pain in the butt. C'mon Canon, get this right and you'll make a lot of us really happy.

Anyway, the lens is fantastic...sharp edge to edge, fast and you can either create, or eliminate distortion by aiming it, so as to achieve the look you are going for.

I get probably 75% about of my salable shots from this lens.

It sells for about $1400 bucks but it's worth every penny. You might be tempted to get a cheaper slower lens with a similar focal length, and that's probably OK, unless photojournalism is your business. The big difference between this lens and the cheaper, slower ones is the ability to shoot in low light. If you plan on shooting in good light all the time, or in the studio, save your money with a slower f4 option, but if, like me, you find yourself shooting in challenging lighting situations all the time, you will never regret the purchase.

Be reassured...if you ever have to sell this lens on Ebay you can probably get close to what you paid for it (perhaps only a few hundred dollars less, about the equivalent to the cost of renting it half a dozen times). If you don't believe me, check completed auctions on Ebay...also peruse current auctions for it...you will find that there are not many out there, and when they do come up, they sell fast and at high prices.

Consider this lens an "investment" in your business that will depreciate very little over time. I wish my Canon Mark II bodies held their value half as well as this lens !

If you need one, just Click here for the Adorama page featuring this lens.
. .